State Representative Matt Gress has taken a stand against the potential lease termination for ASU Preparatory Academy by the Phoenix Elementary Governing Board. Gress, the incoming Chairman of the House Education Committee, penned a forceful letter to Superintendent Deborah Gonzalez and Board members, advocating for a halt on the board's move to shut down the school, which currently operates on district property. "Hundreds of Phoenix families could see their school slated for closure during a last-minute special board meeting scheduled for Thursday morning," Gress said, as per the letter released yesterday.
ASU Prep, thriving in its current form, operates within a previously closed school facility owned by the district. Gress's intervention comes at a critical time when the board seems poised to suddenly uproot a successful school community. “The proposed action is causing distress and frustration among students, staff, and the entire ASU Prep community. The lack of a deliberate and thoughtful process in this instance is disappointing, and I urge the Board to reconsider its intent to terminate the lease,” Gress pointed to critically re-evaluate their decision, expressing his disappointment in the level of engagement—or the lack thereof—compared to previous school closure considerations within the district, as mentioned in the same source.
According to the press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, Gress is not only challenging the board's current course of action but also looking ahead to policy development for K-12 education in Arizona. He's initiating discussions with the Governor's Office for establishing a mandatory 90-day comment period before such significant decisions are made. "This period of public comment seems appropriate given the potential impact to a school community," Gress asserted in his letter.
As the stage is set for the board's meeting, it is clear Gress is leveraging his position to advocate for due process and respect for the impacted school community. "I urge you to treat this school community respectfully and reconsider your intent to terminate the lease with ASU Preparatory Academy," concluded Gress, according to the press release.
