Heather Rooks was elected president of the Peoria Unified School District governing board on a 4–1 vote after a long governance retreat and public comment period. The board also selected Jeff Toby as clerk by the same margin. The elections came after public testimony from parents, teachers and community members and a day-long set of study sessions on governance, student achievement, facilities and the district budget.

The new leadership follows a full-day retreat in which the board spent the morning on vision and purpose alignment and the rest of the day reviewing the superintendent's goals, a facilities master plan, student achievement data and the district fiscal outlook. After public comment in the evening meeting, board members nominated and voted for officers. A first self-nomination failed before the board voted to select Rooks and then Toby.

The contested session drew more than a dozen public commenters who urged the board to pick leaders who will be transparent, collaborative and student-focused. Several speakers specifically supported Rooks; others urged unity and civility as the new team moves into a year of difficult policy and budget choices. Heather Rooks thanked the community and recognized a number of staff, parents and community members for their support during the campaign and transition.

Why it matters: The governing board president and clerk set the tone for board meetings, help shape agendas and represent the board in public. Peoria Unified is approaching several high‑stakes topics this year — including long-range facility planning and attendance-area changes, a midyear review of the superintendent’s goals and budget development tied to declining enrollment — making the board’s leadership choices consequential for how the district will manage community engagement and board‑superintendent relations.

What’s next: The board will continue work already started at the retreat: community engagement on facility options, a multi‑month budget development process and an updated schedule of board meetings and study sessions. The new president and clerk will preside over those processes and will appear as primary contacts for community outreach.

Ending: Board members said they intend to focus on student achievement, community engagement and clear roles between the board and superintendent as they move into the new term. The next regular board meeting and the district calendar of public events were discussed and adopted before the meeting adjourned.