Tolleson superintendent pledges transparency amid state audit

By Stacy Mantle
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The Tolleson Union High School District will be getting  special state audit following disputes between the district and legislators.

The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met Oct. 8 to hear testimony on the potential for an audit before members voted unanimously to direct the Arizona Auditor General to conduct a special audit examining the district’s finances, contracts, public records management and personnel practices.

The decision came after a tense hearing where former principal Felipe Mandurraga alleged misconduct and mismanagement within the district.

Arizona lawmakers cited concerns about a $25 million lease-back agreement with Isaac Elementary District, possible conflicts tied to Superintendent Jeremy Calles’ private consulting business and whether district attendance numbers were overstated to increase state funding.

Testimony also included claims a teacher accused of sending inappropriate photos to a student was allowed to resign rather than be terminated or reported to law enforcement.

Mandurraga said the district’s handling of that case and others reflected a pattern of secrecy and retaliation against staff who raised concerns.

Mandurraga further claimed that when state Rep. Matt Gress requested two years of financial transaction data, the district responded by imposing more than $26,000 in fees. 

Calles defends district, calls accusations 'politically charged'

At a follow-up press conference that same week, Calles denied any criminal wrongdoing and said the district has “nothing to hide.” 

“Do I expect the Auditor General to find areas that don’t align with best practices? Probably. But do I expect them to find criminal activity? Absolutely not,” Calles said. He added the claims about attendance manipulation and misuse of funds are “completely false.”

The questions didn’t stop at finances. Lawmakers also pressed Calles on how the district handled a separate case involving a teacher-student messaging allegation. 

“What was shared with me is we had an incident with a teacher that was viewed as being overly familiar and were going to move forward with resignation and termination,” Calles said in reference to a teacher accused of being “overly familiar” with a student by allegedly sending an inappropriate photo.  Calles said he was never shown the alleged photo and that human resources managed the resignation according to policy. 

Mandurraga then alleged Calles permitted a student to return to class after reports the student brought a gun to school. Calles said an expulsion could not proceed without evidence, explaining the claim was based solely on hearsay.

Audit to test system-wide trust

The special audit  will examine Tolleson’s financial operations, transparency, land and bond deals as well as public-records practices. Legislators say the goal is to ensure consistent accountability standards across all public districts.

Calles, meanwhile, has filed a defamation claim against Gress, arguing statements made during the hearing misrepresented his record and the district’s operations.

The controversy reflects a broader tension across Arizona’s education landscape: how to balance local autonomy with state-level oversight. Public school leaders say repeated investigations and political disputes erode morale and distract from student needs.

Education advocates note that transparency requirements often vary across school systems, leaving room for confusion and distrust.

As the audit moves forward, observers say the Tolleson case could help shape a blueprint for stronger oversight statewide.

 The Auditor General’s findings are expected by early 2027, though officials may issue preliminary recommendations sooner. Calles said Tolleson will publish new transparency measures “well before then.”

Calles said the district has begun turning over requested documents to the Arizona Auditor General and will “fully comply” with the state’s investigation.

“We’ll continue serving our students and our community with integrity,” Calles said. “This district has nothing to hide.”

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please 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.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.