Exclusive State 48 News Recording: Superintendent Jeremy Calles Responds to Allegations on District Travel Policies

Suspended Tolleson Superintendent Jeremy Calles sat down with State 48 News for an exclusive, on-the-record audio interview addressing district travel policies and a report from the Goldwater Institute alleging over $75,000 was spent on multi-day retreats at luxury resorts in Sedona and Tucson. The report, brought forward by Chris Thomas, former Arizona School Boards Association attorney and now Goldwater's director of legal strategy for education policy, claimed improper spending and insufficient meeting records from the retreats.

Calles, disputing the allegations, stated in this morning’s West Valley View that both he and the district have been transparent, cooperating with state statute throughout Goldwater’s investigation—a process he says has been conducted twice this year. He attributed the report to spite from a former attorney, asserting that the district followed the state-mandated 50-mile travel rule for retreats and intentionally selected the four-star venues in Tucson and Sedona to host recorded, agenda-driven discussions for the upcoming school year.

The Goldwater Institute criticized the expenses, particularly $22,000 in catering at the JW Marriott Starr Pass, and argued such meetings could have been held locally for less. Calles defended the district’s practices, emphasizing their compliance with legal requirements and reiterating their commitment to transparency.

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