2/11/26
Take Action: Peoria Unified School District Meeting Thursday
We’re calling upon residents of the Peoria Unified School District to speak up.
This Thursday, February 12, Governing Board President Heather Rooks plans on attempting to revise District Policy 5-301, which relates to Student Freedom of Expression.
In recent days, Rooks has expressed support for ICE; called immigrants criminals, rapists and murderers; and denigrated students who exercised their right to free speech by walking out to protest ICE in their communities.
Given her public statements, we’re expecting her to attempt to create a policy that would stifle students’ speech and ability to exercise their right to peaceful protest.
Students who participate in walkouts should not be punished for their participation. Instead, their actions should be recognized as an important exercise of civic engagement and rewarded as a representation of putting education and citizenship into action. Peaceful protest is a meaningful form of learning that helps students develop democratic values, community awareness, and responsibility.
Additionally, agenda item 7.1 would reinstate a policy requiring board members to follow a code of Board Member Ethics. We support this, and recommend that you do, too.
Please take action by attending this Thursday’s meeting and/or contacting the PUSD governing board, Superintendent Somers, and board admin assistant. You can address any or all of the above points.
Meeting details:
Peoria Unified School District
6330 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, Arizona 85306
Doors open at 6:00 PM (get there early)
Heather Rooks hrooks@pusd11.net
Jeff Tobey jtobey@pusd11.net
Janelle Bowles jbowles@pusd11.net
Melissa Ewing meewing@pusd11.net
Becky Proudfit rproudfit@pusd11.net
Superintendent Somers: Ksomers@pusd11.net
Board Admin Asst: ndonner@pusd11.net
To view the agenda, click here, then click on the green “Agendas” button. Under “Meetings,” select “Regular Board Meeting” then “View the Agenda.” See Discussion Items 7.1 and 7.2.
Want to get more involved? Join the Peoria United Parent Council (PUPC). This district-wide parent group has been organized to offer parents opportunities to be influential voices in the decisions that affect our children’s education.
Click here to learn more or contact PUPC at peoriaupcmail@gmail.com.