Parents and community speakers urge board to reconsider preschool changes, school closures and staff decisions

A sizable group of parents, teachers and community advocates used the Phoenix Elementary District Governing Board’s public-comment period on May 27 to press the board on recent school closures, changes to preschool offerings and staffing decisions.

Speakers said recent moves have created instability for students and families. Allison Gulick, a parent, told the board she had seen children “shuffled between schools” and accused the district administration of creating chaos by closing campuses and eliminating programs. “Children aren’t magically resilient,” she said. “This district belongs to the taxpayers, the parents and the students.”

Multiple speakers expressed alarm about a change in preschool access and fees. Several commenters said the district had previously indicated that closing two schools was necessary to preserve free preschool but that new messaging shifted to charging full-day preschool tuition of $500–$750 per month at some sites. Parents and staff asked for clarity on whether preschool would be offered on a sliding scale, whether tuition contracts would guarantee services such as transportation and whether fees would be prorated when families withdraw.

Joseph Leon, a Shaw Montessori parent, submitted a written comment asking whether the board or community had been involved in the decision to add tuition, whether a governing policy on fees exists and whether the new tuition proceeds would be ring‑fenced for preschool. Paul Wilford, a parent and staff member, said he felt “played” after supporting closures that were said to be necessary to preserve preschool without learning of the later tuition plan.

Community advocates also urged the board to include Emerson Elementary on the November ballot so neighborhood nonprofit G Road could pursue a long-term land lease and build a community center adjacent to the school. G Road representatives and local residents described the group’s after-school programs and urged the board to allow the lease question to go to voters.

Several speakers also raised concerns about personnel decisions: Angelica Luna named specific administrators and employees she said had been promoted or paid while teachers left the district, and other commenters described nonrenewals and reassignments that they said disrupted services for students with special needs.

Board members generally listened without engaging in extended discussion during the public‑comment period; the board later expanded the list of parcels in the ballot authorization after hearing community requests to include Emerson.