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Tolleson board approves $450,000 EEOC settlement, renews superintendent contract and withdraws planned censure
Summary
The Tolleson Union High School District governing board voted to settle two EEOC complaints for $450,000, renew the superintendent's contract and withdraw consideration of a censure after an internal investigation and public comment.
The Tolleson Union High School District governing board on Wednesday approved a $450,000 settlement to resolve two Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints and simultaneously renewed Superintendent Gies's contract, the board announced during the meeting.
Board President Sun opened the action by presenting a statement summarizing the district's review of an internal investigation. The statement said the investigation found prior board actions and a retaliation claim tied to a previous probe and described recommendations regarding a board member's role. The board said it reached the settlement to avoid further litigation costs and to restore stability.
Why it matters: The settlement resolves two workplace complaints that the district said stemmed from events tied to a previous board and an internal investigation. The board described the agreements as a step to limit taxpayer exposure to legal fees while attempting to restore trust in district governance.
The governing board made the settlement motion on the record and approved it by roll call. The vote was: Dr. Luna Najera — abstain; Del Palacio — yes; Miguel Ortega Romero — yes; Vice President Chapman — yes; President Sun — yes. The board then moved to withdraw a previously scheduled discussion of a possible censure of a board member; that motion recorded the same abstention by Dr. Luna Najera and affirmative votes from the other four board members.
Public comment before the board voted included an attorney, Sarah O'Keefe of Shields Petite Oldham, who told the board that a published Arizona appellate decision, Barry v. Foster, "explicitly states that the board has no authority or power to censure" a colleague and cautioned that pursuing censure without legal authority could create liability. Another caller, Adam Moreno, urged the board to be transparent about an earlier 'Calderon' report and to address past issues before expanding district actions. Melissa Girmstein, president of the Tolleson Teachers Association, asked the board to consider staff and student safety amid national policy changes affecting LGBTQIA+ students.
Legal and procedural context: During the meeting the board cited portions of relevant Arizona statutes when moving into and out of executive session and referenced two EEOC charge numbers (540-2024-07096 and 540-2025-01723) that were part of the resolved matters. The district's statement also referenced the investigator's recommendation that a sitting board officer step down from a leadership role; the board said the full harassment report would not be publicly released because it contains sensitive material.
Board members said the settlement and contract renewal were intended to return focus to students and district operations. President Sun characterized the actions as part of rebuilding confidence with families and taxpayers.
The board recorded that the settlement includes the $450,000 payment and the superintendent's contract renewal; the board did not provide additional monetary or personnel terms beyond those items in the public statement.
Ending: With the settlement approved and the censure discussion withdrawn, the board moved on to other agenda items. Several members emphasized the desire to move forward and focus on student programs, while critics during public comment urged continued transparency and legal adherence.
