[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6667194,"mediaKeyId","2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4","parentId",2264687,"title","Parents, former board member criticize handling of San Tan Foothills employee; board moves to appoint hearing officer","audioSeconds",79,"startMs",4123000,"endMs",4044000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4&start=4123&end=4044","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4/thumbnail_4123000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667194/Arizona/Parents-former-board-member-criticize-handling-of-San-Tan-Foothills-employee-board-moves-to-appoint-hearing-officer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667194-014a66f4bc5695034b7ed615285fdb64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133835&Signature=eS-RsHrmR4s1Nj~MX~OPv08BE~zkhAa-WeSDlDTc7XKamiThGpBE4iV9aack4zQ9Bvgvh5kbPzDVwDHWk49Qxn~sdk7B7mARNi1gIsA0-NBRXxI-5IkGlZypju1YFkiXf3Ct~P2wVZwN~ulbqa3thzs1sBXqUDbI0pYN9xioox1keC5JNBIS-Y3RuKc2jNKjiNmQViwNfbiD~FY4d9f4U~8ypVpYixPfOUs9fkzPiWoEMPsaLY4vgz7nZRBlVpF0nPJ9mDFq4xfuOK-oai3~NQ7BNfcz9SmEiMSAW~wwWjIfiAVROFlnNxOEDSoka1N-1~siX~EozBdAUFYGJuhiiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florence Unified School District (4437)","date","2025-02-12T02:18:16.38Z","article","At the Feb. 11 Florence Unified School District Governing Board meeting, public speakers criticized the district’s handling of a personnel matter involving a long‑time San Tan Foothills employee and the district’s contractor and asked the board to ensure due process. Board President Beatty then asked for a motion to allow the superintendent to appoint an employee discipline hearing officer under policy GDQD; the meeting transcript records the motion and a second but does not record a vote tally for that item.

The issue drew several speakers during the public‑comment period. Sherry Cole, a former board member, told the board she had researched the matter and said the employee, Rick Romero, had “dedicated over 20 years to Florence Unified School District” and “truly cares about the students and works harder than most employees.” Cole said she believed Romero had been asked to resign, later rescinded that resignation, and that a form was placed in his personnel file marking him as non‑rehireable.

“I have serious concerns about how the situation unfolded,” Cole said, adding that Romero and his family had at times cleaned his school campus “for free” after reporting alleged cleaning problems. Cole asked the board where due process had been in the district’s response.

Parent Lindsay Anderson urged the board to reconsider the district’s actions and warned of staff morale and safety consequences, saying, “You threw away someone with 23 years of dedicated service.” Anderson also called for investigation of the district’s contracted cleaning company, identified in public comment as SSC, which she said still holds a contract with the district.

Renee Musselli, speaking for families associated with San Tan Foothills, described Romero as “an amazing employee” and said the district’s handling felt unfair. “The punishment does not fit the crime,” she said, urging the board to review procedures and ensure fair process.

During board business later in the meeting, a motion was made that “the governing board approve for the superintendent to appoint an employee discipline hearing officer pursuant to policy GDQD.” The motion and a second are on the public record; the transcript does not include a recorded vote or a vote tally for that specific motion.

The meeting record also shows the resignation item for the employee was removed from the published agenda before the meeting, a fact commenters cited when asking the board for transparency and clarification.

No board member statements adopting or rejecting the public commenters’ factual claims appear in the meeting record; the public comments and the motion to authorize a hearing officer are documented in the transcript. The district did not provide additional detail about the personnel file action, the contractor’s internal practices, or the disciplinary timeline during the meeting.

The board did not take further public action on staffing changes during the meeting; other agenda items proceeded as noticed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FUSD Board Meeting - FEB 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Feb. 11 Florence Unified School District Governing Board meeting, public speakers criticized the district’s handling of a personnel matter involving a long‑time San Tan Foothills employee and the district moved to authorize the superintendent to appoint an employee discipline hearing officer under policy GDQD; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not record a vote tally for that item.","taxTitle","Florence Unified School District (4437), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12980,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6667185,"Board members warn loss of federal education funding would hit district programs; Title budget roughly $3.4 million, district serves about 2,100 students with I",81,1117000,1198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4&start=1117&end=1198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4/thumbnail_1117000.jpg","/articles/6667185/Arizona/Board-members-warn-loss-of-federal-education-funding-would-hit-district-programs-Title-budget-roughly-34-million-district-serves-about-2100-students-with-I","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667185-b480b6e079363d9e5bb360d6f9d48fa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175376&Signature=cwwY22hHA-E2RVpv42shd01SaQ8Hf-jfjoORAyo9CY2bsYuHOh2lkm3s2Ew9knEfo7w~41FMMPy2ph5Vd0rPuxpy8piAv~nAGps5c5F3L9r1ICEqDyROTKVgDbx8L3B6ytLboL97B0F456EW2O-pmEjdVV8WCWnGY74jBm2WVwZC9~R7yR080SgwBJc6nQPYtQH~8p3TcgR~~2dTN1HL3sk4QWyh9BxRkHHMjzRE1xwDETzzt8hOdCq7r-vPtDRbdIfWUw1WusuA5EFuQB2kHKNe0GHzNNUP2YRfDIALl1DKqZvXbE4z9S7CUTylIzkwZllQO3gjXz7s-5AOg4wIgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During board reports at the Feb. 11 meeting, board members discussed federal education funding and warned that elimination of Department of Education programs would significantly affect district services. Board member Quist framed the topic as personal and urged the community to stay informed about possible federal changes.

Quist, referencing Title programs, asked district staff for figures. Cruz, who presented district salary‑scale information earlier in the agenda, told the board, “Our full Title budget is about $3,400,000 annually.” When asked how many students receive special‑education services, Cruz said, “We should have about 2,100 students with an IEP.”

Cruz told the board that those federal funds primarily support interventions and efforts to reduce student‑to‑staff ratios: “Our district's primary use of title funds is for interventions, like direct intervention for students that would be high need or in need of additional services outside of your traditional [classroom].” He added that replacing those funds “would be a very challenging puzzle to figure out how to continue to fund it with the alternative sources.”

Quist said the discussion was not political but personal: “This isn't political. This is personal. This is personal to me,” referencing her family's experience with Title I services. Board members emphasized the role of federal programs in funding special education, career and technical education, Pell Grants/FAFSA supports and civil‑rights protections that oversee educational equity.

No formal board action on funding occurred at the meeting; the discussion was presented as a board report and included staff responses to members’ questions.

","Board members discussed potential impacts if the U.S. Department of Education were dismantled, noting the district's Title funding and special‑education caseload.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6667189,"Governing board approves parent support organizations for 2024–25, adds Santan Foothills baseball boosters",112,4231000,4343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4&start=4231&end=4343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2264687-01580ddd4292fd8fdf176ecf5de1bdc4/thumbnail_4231000.jpg","/articles/6667189/Arizona/Governing-board-approves-parent-support-organizations-for-202425-adds-Santan-Foothills-baseball-boosters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667189-1d2df18a7c46b61858f45c278c43bf15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175376&Signature=CnND5bK9tGuyXqpUdM~CqlCYsytCrsbkc2It-j22159mnw9ee69pnUa-jK8cEjAXirHv4Re0hDqxrufbq7jSxiWKpRj5iwyTuVROuo-l7Qz26vyRzpfBNkp7hdyw7rTmc0PXMi03OhP1CyY45AsvpHEiSX~Qj4wv3HOj7AdGR5NXNQonnVYiWftHv1W0WJSuDL2u-klL0kZf9zQ5q-a1YeP2fZHY2G8rubP8f9-Vy4vUurX~~VnzHCU8VuZD9V82DsTRwyVmVGBtcB1ywno~DVtZ4yuUBP4xIDhtXANHslTl~IV-1JbGzp2axVkoaYmmF5CDK-fUYGMJVRbOugeBhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 11 meeting the Florence Unified School District Governing Board approved the district’s list of Parent Support Organizations for the 2024–25 school year and added a new booster club for Santan Foothills High School baseball.

Board President Beatty read the list into the record before the board voted to approve. The approved roster included elementary and K–8 parent groups — Eagles PTA (Anthem), Skyline Ranch K–8 PTA, San Tan Heights PTO, Florence K–8 PTO — and multiple high‑school booster organizations, including Florence High School boys basketball, cheer, football, wrestling, softball and volleyball boosters; Poston Butte boys basketball and spirit line boosters; Santan Foothills cheer boosters; and the newly added Santan Foothills High School baseball booster club.

A board member moved the approval and the motion was seconded; the meeting record shows the board then voted to approve the list as presented with the Santan Foothills baseball booster added.

Board members and administrators thanked volunteers and parent groups for their support of school activities and said the groups help sustain extracurricular programs. The approval keeps the listed organizations recognized by the district through the next approval cycle date.

","The Florence Unified School District board approved a roster of parent support groups for the 2024–25 school year, including the addition of a Santan Foothills High School baseball booster club.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, former board member criticize handling of San Tan Foothills employee; board moves to appoint hearing officer

Board members warn loss of federal education funding would hit district programs; Title budget roughly $3.4 million, district serves about 2,100 students with I

Governing board approves parent support organizations for 2024–25, adds Santan Foothills baseball boosters