Arizona State Representative Matt Gress, having deep concerns over a lease-purchase agreement between two school districts, is demanding answers from Attorney General Kris Mayes. Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee, questions the deal's legality and has officially called upon Mayes to come clean on the specifics of her office's review of the agreement, which involves the financially troubled Isaac Elementary School District securing a last-minute financial bailout from Tolleson Union High School District.

In a firmly worded letter, Gress outlined his worries stating, "This agreement raises glaring legal and financial red flags". The Isaac School District's historical fiscal mismanagement is a clear cause for concern, and Gress is positioning himself as a guardian of taxpayer dollars and student futures. Gress' inquiry into the agreement spans several points, including the potential violation of school district governance laws, the creation of conflicts of interest, and the improper transfer of financial burdens onto local taxpayers, Arizona Republic.

A significant aspect of Gress's inquiry is whether this agreement complies with Arizona's statutory laws, particularly A.R.S. § 15-341, which governs the general powers and duties of school districts. Gress asks, "How does the agreement comply with this statute, given that Tolleson is attempting to control school property entirely outside of its own district?" This question highlights the discomfort with where control lies and the impact on the communities involved. Furthermore, he is pressing Mayes for details regarding who examined the agreement in her office and the specific Arizona statutes considered during their review, Arizona Republic.

According to a report by the Arizona Republic, a spokesperson for Mayes' office indicated that the agreement was reviewed with no objections. Gress, however, is not satisfied with just a statement. He demands records including "all documents, drafts, and emails sent or received by any employee of your office from any person between November 1, 2024, and February 5, 2025, that contain any of the following keywords: 'Isaac', 'Isaac Elementary', 'Isaac School district', 'Tolleson', 'Tolleson Union', 'Tolleson School District', 'lease-purchase agreement' 'lease agreement', 'Mario Ventura', 'Patricia Jimenez' ,'Jeremy Calles', or 'bailout'." Gress underlines his scrutiny by mentioning the public's right to transparency in matters that directly affect them, and the underlying importance of student well-being in school financial matters.

With a deadline on Monday, looming for Mayes to respond, there is a sense of urgency for clarity, legislative compliance, and perhaps most importantly, for solutions that will prevent such precarious financial arrangements in the future. Given Gress's leadership position in education policy within the state's legislature, the outcome of this enquiry could very well influence the management of school district finances moving forward.