Thompson Ranch Elementary students gathered outside for a past veteran's event.
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Under the new principal, our elected PTO president was removed through a motion that I believe was handled unfairly and without appropriate transparency.”
Olga Perez, Thompson Ranch Elementary School parent and volunteer
Two El Mirage parents asked the Dysart Unified School District governing board to investigate why the Thompson Ranch Elementary School Parent Teacher Student Organization president was removed.
Despite the board advising the superintendent, Dr. John Croteau, to follow up with the speakers and inform the board of his findings, district administration is unable to intervene.
During the Sept. 21 meeting in Surprise, El Mirage residents Monica Aguayo and Olga Perez, whose children attend Thompson Ranch wanted to know why Aguayo was dismissed from her volunteer role with the PTSO.
Aguayo told the board she got involved when people were needed to join the parent group. She exerted herself and elevated the PTSO by increasing volunteers and funding for the organization that only had a “party of one,” she said.
Inviting parents to join the PTSO, an October 2025 post for people to be a part of students’ educational experience is still displayed on the school’s site. Aguayo began volunteering at Thompson Ranch last September.
She was concerned about the secrecy that took place to unseat her from the volunteer position she took the lead on when “they didn’t have one,” she said.
Noting her dismay about the school’s Sept. 16 PTSO meeting at a local pizzeria, where it was “very difficult to hear, very loud,” Aguayo said under the principal’s notes there was a motion to vote her out of the PTSO at that meeting.
“Me, his number one volunteer who brought back programs ...” said Aguayo, who signed up to join and was eager to help the school in any way she could by recruiting more parent volunteers, organizing events like book fairs, father-daughter dances, getting T-shirts and more.
She added how she raised $5,000 for programs to help fund various events last year.
“Under the new principal, our elected PTO president was removed through a motion that I believe was handled unfairly and without appropriate transparency. I am concerned that nonmembers were involved in the process and that there may have been a predetermined or personal agenda behind the action,” said Perez, who also addressed the board on her concerns about the recent PTSO actions.
When the Independent sought an update on the status of the parents’ request, DUSD Director of Communications and Public Relations Renee Ryon stated parent organizations are operated as separate entities from the district and schools.
“They have their own bylaws and organizational structure, and the district is not involved in their operations. Any questions relating to the PTSO would need to be addressed by those involved,” Ryon said.
Meanwhile, Perez added she has encountered barriers when requesting basic PTO documents and making records requests as if the asks were “unreasonable” or unable to be fulfilled.
“These are basic documents that should be accessible when trying to understand how decisions are made. I am not asking the board to assume that wrongdoing or fraud occurred, I am asking for transparency and an impartial review of the circumstances, including the membership voting process and meeting records,” said Perez.
She noted the organization should be about supporting students, families and schools, not personal agendas. She wants the board to assist in assuring proper procedures, accountability and transparency are maintained.
“The PTO exists to support families, teachers and school, not to serve the personal interests of any individual. I believe disagreements can be resolved appropriately when there is transparency, accountability and respect for established procedures,” said Perez, adding her goal is to protect the integrity of the PTO and ensure fair treatment of volunteers.
Delarita Ford can be reached at dford@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Delarita Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.
Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.
Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories.
Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.
Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.
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