A large group of parents, staff, alumni and students used the public comment period at the Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board's Dec. 16 meeting to urge the board and superintendent to retain Estrella Mountain Elementary principal Lindsey (Lindsay) Boris.

What happened: More than two dozen speakers addressed the board during the public comment segment. Multiple speakers gave similar testimony about Mrs. Boris' leadership, student performance and community support; speakers said a petition gathered about 1,879 signatures, roughly 70% of which came from residents inside the district.

Key claims and evidence offered by speakers

- School outcomes and leadership: Several speakers said Estrella Mountain achieved an A rating three years running under Boris. Teacher Heather Hegatus said the principal's instructional background is "invaluable" and told trustees, "We are a family at Estrella. We lift each other up, encourage each other, and rise to meet challenges together." Parent Suzanne McAvoy told the board removing the principal could "alienate the majority of the constituents who have come to trust and support Mrs. Boris' leadership."

- Petition and community response: Multiple speakers cited a petition started in the wake of the superintendent's personnel actions. One commenter said the petition had "1,879 signatures with 70% ... coming from within our district boundaries." Several speakers said they believed removal would jeopardize community support for future bond or override funding.

- Teacher retention and costs: Commenters warned that replacing a successful principal risks losing veteran teachers and harming student achievement. Volunteer coordinator Suzanne Wolf referenced research, included in a consultant's letter to the board, that principal turnover can harm math and reading achievement for multiple years.

- Personal testimony: Current and former teachers and parents described Boris as a supportive leader who helped the campus achieve high performance and strong staff morale. A sixth-grade student told trustees Boris had made him feel welcome and supported.

Board and administration response

- The superintendent and board did not announce a personnel action during public comment. Trustees acknowledged the volume of testimony and one board member said the board will consider topics raised and pursue follow-up items at future meetings.

What's next: The comments occurred during the board's public comment period; no formal personnel action was announced in open session during the meeting. Petition supporters urged the board to act to retain the principal; the board may address the matter in future agenda items or in executive session as allowed by law.

Ending note: The public comment portion of the Dec. 16 meeting was the longest single public-comment block recorded in the transcript; speakers repeatedly emphasized student outcomes and community support as the basis for their requests.