Tolleson Union High School District land purchases, lease to Isaac and controversial development deals draw JLAC scrutiny and public complaints

Several Tolleson Union High School District community members and former district officials addressed JLAC about recent district land purchases, a $25 million lease/purchase deal with Isaac Elementary School District and a proposed long‑term land lease to a private developer.

Speakers from a new community group, Citizens for Schools Accountability, and longtime Tolleson residents urged JLAC to investigate whether Tolleson’s board and superintendent acted transparently and responsibly when the district approved a lease‑purchase arrangement that would provide $25 million to Isaac and when the board approved purchase and lease agreements for multiple parcels outside Tolleson’s core service area.

Diana Morrow, representing Citizens for Schools Accountability, criticized the $25 million transfer to Isaac and asked why Tolleson would move district resources out of its own district: “The pace of this generous spending of taxpayer dollars is unsustainable,” she said. Longtime educator and former Tolleson assistant superintendent David Briggs described the Isaac lease purchase as “a poor investment,” recounted the sequence of January board actions and questioned how Isaac would repay Tolleson. Briggs also flagged academic performance concerns in Tolleson: he cited falling proficiency rates in math and English and said the district lacks a board‑adopted curriculum and common assessment program.

Community members also questioned why Tolleson purchased multiple parcels and proposed a new district office outside the district’s center while owning roughly 33 acres available for development within Tolleson. Adan Morado and Kim Owens told JLAC the public had limited opportunity to weigh in on major land deals, asserted the board moved some agenda items into consent agendas and raised transparency and civics concerns about public comment procedures.

JLAC co‑chairs and members noted Tolleson officials were invited to the hearing but did not attend; the committee’s staff has said Tolleson’s counsel declined direct appearance and requested pre‑submitted questions. The committee signaled it will extend further invitations and, if necessary, explore compulsory attendance options available to legislative committees.

Speakers asked JLAC to examine whether district spending priorities (land buys, a proposed $380 million estimated cost for a new high school project reported by residents, and a large stadium component reported in community materials) are consistent with district academic needs and statutory procurement and conflict‑of‑interest rules. Several residents asked for document searches and public‑records reviews for communications between Tolleson leaders and Isaac officials; JLAC members requested those records from available presenters and said staff will follow up.