The Arizona Attorney General's Office recently issued a disposition letter to the Litchfield Elementary School District regarding Open Meeting Law (OML) complaints filed in reference to meetings in the months of March and August of 2022. The link above will provide access to the letter in its entirety, stating their findings. Below are brief statements which were included in the letter to provide context:
"The Office has concluded its review of the allegations pertaining to the events discussed below, which were the subject of the inquiry letter this Office sent to the Board on November 17, 2022. We find that that Board members Kimberly Moran, Melissa Zuidema, and Danielle Clymer did not violate the OML at the March 15, 2022 Board meeting when they adjourned the meeting early. We further find that Board member Jeremy Hoenack violated the OML at the August 30, 2022 Board meeting by discussing matters that were not noticed on the agenda.
The violation found here occurred more than a year-and-a-half ago and Mr. Hoenack is no longer a member of the Board. Accordingly, the only remedies this Office requires are: 1) the Board must share a summary of the contents of this letter at its next regular meeting; and 2) the District must post this letter prominently on its website for six months from the date of this letter (until November 14, 2024). The Board must provide evidence of compliance with the foregoing requirements no later than November 29, 2024.
Working toward student achievement and excellent outcomes for all students is the essential work of school boards.
Litchfield elementary school district Governing Board
The Board is authorized under the laws of the state of Arizona to adopt all needed policies and regulations for the organization, evaluation and governance in the District (Policy BBA - Board Powers and Responsibilities). The Board performs the following basic functions necessary to the discharging of its responsibilities - legislative, executive and appraisal:
- The legislative function is the policy-making aspect of the school system. It is the policy of the Board to retain and exercise full legislative authority and control over the schools by adopting general policies or by acting directly in matters not covered by its policies.
- The executive function of the Board is concerned with placing in operation existing Board policy. Most of this function is delegated by the Board to its executive and administrative officer, the Superintendent.
- The appraisal function involves the determination of the efficiency of the school operation and an evaluation of the educational program of the District based on the policies as outlined in the policy manual.
- Board members are unpaid elected officials.
Five Governing Board members are elected for staggered, four-year terms. They serve without compensation. The Governing Board sets policy for the management of the District, and the Superintendent and cabinet are responsible for the execution of these policies.
Each member of the Governing Board is elected to serve a four-year term. Every two years, either two or three positions are filled during the November general election. Board candidates must reside within the district boundaries for one year prior to being elected to office. Arizona law does not limit the number of terms a member may serve.
Contact the Governing Board
Individuals interested in contacting the Governing Board may do so by sending an email to the individual email addresses of the Governing Board members or by submitting a contact us request. In order to comply with the Governing Board’s communication protocols, any individual email responses may be limited.
| Board Member Name | Board Member Email Address |
|---|---|
| Danielle Clymer | danielle.clymer@lesd.k12.az.us |
| Kimberly Moran | kimberly.moran@lesd.k12.az.us |
| Ryan Owens | ryan.owens@lesd.k12.az.us |
| Melissa Zuidema | melissa.zuidema@lesd.k12.az.us |
| Michele Wallace | michele.wallace@lesd.k12.az.us |
Under Arizona Law, email to and from public entities may be public records subject to release upon request. All written or electronic correspondence sent to Governing Board members or LESD staff is subject to public records requests and may be viewed by the public or media. Additionally, correspondence sent to Governing Board members may be copied to the Superintendent and the district legal counsel for review, possible response, or redaction before being made available to the public or media.
Public Notices
Notice of Governing Board Meeting Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 38-431.01, notice is hereby given to members of the Litchfield Elementary School District Governing Board and the general public that the Litchfield Governing Board will convene a board meeting. All notices of board meetings will be posted. The designated posting locations for Litchfield Elementary School District shall be electronically on the district's website, and physically beside the entrance doors to the district offices located at 272 E. Sagebrush St., Litchfield Park, AZ. The district office location provides physical public access at all time.
Governing Board Policy AC-Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity
The Governing Board is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, and disability. This policy will prevail in all matters concerning staff members, students, the public, educational programs and services, and individuals with whom the Governing Board does business.
