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Parents protest district’s quick switch to Steer staff, say program model risks students with disabilities
Summary
At a special April 27 meeting, multiple parents urged the Liberty Elementary School District board to halt use of staff tied to a program called Steer, saying its handbook and model are inappropriate for students with disabilities and that the sudden closure of Sierra Schools left families without services and with unanswered questions about contracts and payments.
Parents and guardians packed the Liberty Elementary School District special meeting on April 27 to demand answers after the district moved to replace services previously provided by Sierra Schools with staff affiliated with an entity referenced as Steer.
"They ignore individual differences ... and they pose real risk to a child's emotional well-being," parent Elena Arpino told the board, arguing the Steer model relies on uniform discipline rather than individualized supports required by IDEA and Arizona law cited in public comment. Several other parents, including Marcella Owens and Dominique Rodriguez, urged the board to reject aspects of the Steer handbook they said would harm students with autism and other disabilities.
Parents reported abrupt disruption after Sierra Schools closed, with April Carr saying families learned of the closure from the program director, not district leadership, and that students and families were left without a clear transition plan. Another speaker said she believed Sierra had not been paid since October despite a voucher the board approved on April 13, raising concerns that unpaid providers and poor planning produced the overnight disruption.
Board members asked staff and legal counsel for clarification. Legal counsel told the board that, for the remainder of the school year, Steer will be a service provider providing three certified teachers (two on the Liberty campus and one at Rainbow) and that other staffing agencies and district staff would also be used to ensure IEPs are implemented. "Steer as a unique program as described in its handbook is not what will be being used on your campuses," counsel said, clarifying that backpacks would be allowed, there would be no peer discipline, and behavioral expectations would not change for students currently enrolled.
Parents pressed for specifics the district did not provide publicly: whether there is a signed contract for 2026–27, what funding source will pay providers, what training Steer staff have in special education, and how required services (speech, counseling, behavioral supports) will be delivered. Dominique Rodriguez asked the board to explain "what experience Steer has serving students with disabilities" and whether the program is approved and funded, requests the district did not answer in public session.
Board members directed staff to prepare follow-up materials, including procurement and contract status, and also signaled interest in investigating communication failures that left families unaware of the transition. The public comment period included allegations about district leadership and calls for personnel action; the board did not take personnel action in public session on April 27.
The district reconvened following an executive session and approved, by public vote, direction given to the board attorney related to the matters discussed in executive session. The board also asked staff to report back on outstanding items including contract/payment status, the state auditor general findings relevant to IT and records, and legal cost breakdowns tied to public-records requests.
What happens next: Board members requested written reports and updates; parents asked the board to pause any long-term contracts or program decisions until the district provides documentation showing how IEP services will be preserved and funded.
