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Tolleson Union High School District board creates claims committee over member objections
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Summary
The Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board voted 4-1 at a special meeting to establish a claims committee meant to anticipate future litigation, while one board member criticized the lack of an outline, member-selection details and potential open-meeting issues.
The Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board voted 4-1 to establish a claims committee intended to prepare for potential future lawsuits, naming four board members to the panel during a brief special meeting.
Board members said the committee’s purpose is to anticipate and manage possible claims against the district, but one member said the proposal lacked necessary detail and voted no. "How are you creating a committee without having it outlined? ... we have not received information," said Dr. Luna, a board member who opposed the measure.
Board leadership moved to form the committee and then named its members as Miguel Ortega Romero; Mister Del Blasio; Steve Chapman, vice president; and Lisa Sun, president. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Lisa Sun, Steve Chapman, Miguel Ortega Romero and Mister Del Blasio voting yes and Dr. Luna voting no. The board did not specify a formal mover or seconder in the transcript.
During discussion, Dr. Luna pressed for details about who would lead the committee, how members would be selected and whether legal counsel had reviewed the proposal. A speaker asked the community watching live for patience while the board explained the committee’s purpose as anticipating "any future lawsuit against the district." Another participant raised a possible violation of the state open-meeting law; a board member responded to assert there was no violation.
Dr. Luna also said the timing of the meeting — held midday — made it difficult for school staff and community members to attend, and cited that as a reason for voting against the formation. The meeting record shows the board established the committee despite those objections and immediately named its membership.
The meeting concluded with an adjournment at 12:08 p.m.; the transcript does not record further details on the committee’s charge, reporting structure, timeline or whether outside counsel had formally reviewed the committee’s formation. The district did not provide a written outline of the committee on the record during this meeting.
