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Peoria Unified School District, Arizona
| Peoria Unified School District |
|---|
 |
| Glendale, Arizona |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Kenneth Christopher (KC) Somers |
| # of school board members: 5 |
| Website: Link |
Peoria Unified School District is a school district in Arizona.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district’s…
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Dr. Kenneth Christopher (KC) Somers is the superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District. He was appointed superintendent effective July 1, 2024. His previous career experience includes working as a superintendent and area superintendent in Colorado.[1]
Past superintendents
- Jason Reynolds was the superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District. He was appointed superintendent effective July 1, 2020 and served until June 2024. His previous career experience includes working as an assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction, and principal for the Paradise Valley Unified School District.[2]
- Linda Palles Thompson was the superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District from 2018 to 2020. Thompson's previous career experience includes working as the district's executive director of elementary education.[3]
- Denton Santarelli was the superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District from 2007 to 2018.[4]
School board
The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board consists of five members elected to four-year terms. Board members are elected at large.[5]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria Unified School District, At-large | Janelle Bowles | January 1, 2025 |
| Peoria Unified School District, At-large | Melissa Ewing | January 1, 2023 |
| Peoria Unified School District, At-large | Becky Proudfit | 2023 |
| Peoria Unified School District, At-large | Heather Rooks | January 1, 2023 |
| Peoria Unified School District, At-large | Jeffrey Tobey | January 1, 2025 |
Elections
Board members are elected on a staggered basis in November of even-numbered years.
Three seats on the Peoria Unified School District school board in Arizona were up for general election on November 5, 2024. The filing deadline for this election was July 8, 2024.
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[6]
| “ |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public. The Board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the District, and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the District. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for the proper governance of the schools and therefore the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner. The Board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the District: A. Any individual desiring to address the Board shall complete a form (Request to Address Board) and give this form to the Superintendent prior to the start of the Board meeting. B. The form (Public Comment Request) can be submitted to the Superintendent, the Executive Secretary to the Board, or the Governing Board member who will forward it to the Governing Board President or Clerk. The individual will be invited to speak when the agenda item in question is considered by the Governing Board. C. The Board President shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining proper order, and adhering to any time limit set. Questions requiring investigation shall be referred to the Superintendent for later report to the Board. Questions or comments on matters that are currently under legal review will not receive a response. D. If considered necessary, the President shall set a time limit on the length of the comment period. In order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the Board, the President may also set a time limit for individual speakers. E. Personal attacks upon Board members, staff personnel, or other persons in attendance or absent by individuals who address the Board are discouraged. Policies KE, KEB, KEC, and KED are provided by the Board for disposition of legitimate complaints, including those involving individuals. Upon conclusion of the open call to the public, individual members of the Board may respond to any criticism made by an individual who has addressed the Board. F. Presentations for unsolicited services will not be permitted. Companies or businesses offering services of possible interest to the District should send information to the District Office for distribution to appropriate School District officials. The Superintendent shall ensure that a copy of this policy is posted at the entrance to the Board meeting room, and that an adequate supply of forms is available.[7] |
” |
School board meetings
The following articles were produced by Citizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[8]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $56,475,000 | $1,625 | 15% |
| Local: | $142,312,000 | $4,096 | 38% |
| State: | $178,416,000 | $5,135 | 47% |
| Total: | $377,203,000 | $10,856 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $340,850,000 | $9,647 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $311,200,000 | $8,808 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $184,308,000 | $5,216 | 54% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $44,080,000 | $1,247 | 13% |
| Administration: | $30,651,000 | $867 | 9% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $52,161,000 | $1,476 | 15% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $19,336,000 | $547 | |
| Construction: | $7,378,000 | $208 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $1,043,000 | $29 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $9,217,000 | $260 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025[9] | $51,000 | $66,674 |
| 2023-2024[10] | $48,000 | $54,071 |
| 2020-2021[11] | $40,114 | $45,188 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[12]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 36 | 51 | 19 | 26 | 25-29 | 41 | 44 |
| 2018-2019 | 50 | 69 | 30 | 39 | 35-39 | 53 | 57 |
| 2017-2018 | 51 | 70 | 31 | 41 | 35-39 | 54 | 58 |
| 2016-2017 | 50 | 71 | 31 | 38 | 30-34 | 57 | |
| 2015-2016 | 44 | 67 | 27 | 34 | 30-34 | 51 | |
| 2014-2015 | 49 | 64 | 33 | 38 | 40-44 | 55 | |
| 2013-2014 | 71 | 79 | 56 | 62 | 60-64 | 76 | |
| 2012-2013 | 70 | 83 | 56 | 61 | 50-54 | 75 | |
| 2011-2012 | 71 | 82 | 58 | 60 | 55-59 | 77 | |
| 2010-2011 | 70 | 81 | 60 | 58 | 55-59 | 76 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 42 | 53 | 25 | 33 | 25-29 | 47 | 48 |
| 2018-2019 | 50 | 66 | 37 | 40 | 40-44 | 57 | 56 |
| 2017-2018 | 48 | 59 | 31 | 38 | 30-34 | 52 | 55 |
| 2016-2017 | 46 | 58 | 31 | 37 | 30-34 | 52 | |
| 2015-2016 | 42 | 57 | 30 | 32 | 25-29 | 49 | |
| 2014-2015 | 47 | 59 | 33 | 36 | 30-34 | 54 | |
| 2013-2014 | 85 | 88 | 76 | 79 | 70-74 | 88 | |
| 2012-2013 | 84 | 89 | 78 | 78 | 70-74 | 87 | |
| 2011-2012 | 84 | 88 | 79 | 77 | 75-79 | 88 | |
| 2010-2011 | 84 | 89 | 81 | 75 | 75-79 | 87 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 96 | >=95 | 90-94 | 94 | >=80 | >=95 | 97 |
| 2018-2019 | 97 | >=95 | >=95 | 95 | >=80 | 90-94 | 98 |
| 2017-2018 | 95 | >=95 | >=95 | 95 | >=90 | 90-94 | 96 |
| 2016-2017 | 96 | >=95 | >=95 | 95 | >=80 | 95 | |
| 2015-2016 | 94 | 85-89 | >=95 | 94 | >=90 | 94 | |
| 2014-2015 | 90 | 90-94 | 85-89 | 89 | >=80 | 92 | |
| 2013-2014 | 93 | >=95 | 85-89 | 92 | >=80 | 93 | |
| 2012-2013 | 93 | 90-94 | 90-94 | 91 | >=50 | 94 | |
| 2011-2012 | 93 | >=95 | 85-89 | 91 | >=80 | 94 | |
| 2010-2011 | 94 | 90-94 | 90-94 | 93 | >=80 | 95 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 36,527 | -0.6 |
| 2021-2022 | 36,741 | 3.8 |
| 2020-2021 | 35,329 | -7.1 |
| 2019-2020 | 37,842 | 0.4 |
| 2018-2019 | 37,691 | 2.4 |
| 2017-2018 | 36,770 | 0.6 |
| 2016-2017 | 36,552 | 0.4 |
| 2015-2016 | 36,418 | -0.7 |
| 2014-2015 | 36,660 | -0.1 |
| 2013-2014 | 36,706 | -0.1 |
| 2012-2013 | 36,736 | 0.3 |
| 2011-2012 | 36,620 | -0.7 |
| 2010-2011 | 36,873 | -1.7 |
| 2009-2010 | 37,500 | -1.8 |
| 2008-2009 | 38,162 | -2.6 |
| 2007-2008 | 39,143 | 0.8 |
| 2006-2007 | 38,835 | 2.7 |
| 2005-2006 | 37,773 | 1.1 |
| 2004-2005 | 37,355 | 1.7 |
| 2003-2004 | 36,719 | 4.2 |
| 2002-2003 | 35,178 | 0.0 |
| 2001-2002 | 35,171 | 7.3 |
| 2000-2001 | 32,608 | 4.7 |
| 1999-2000 | 31,063 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Peoria Unified School District (%) | Arizona K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Black | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| Hispanic | 37.5 | 47.6 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Two or More Races | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| White | 48.0 | 34.9 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Peoria Unified School District had 1,900.73 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 19.22.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 16.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 112.00 |
| Elementary: | 1,134.47 |
| Secondary: | 638.26 |
| Total: | 1,900.73 |
Peoria Unified School District employed 20.00 district administrators and 93.00 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 20.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 108.00 |
| School Administrators: | 93.00 |
| School Administrative Support: | 135.01 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 394.41 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 1.08 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 38.50 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 1.34 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 37.16 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 4.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 589.40 |
| Other Support Services: | 290.32 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2021: Recall effort against two school board members fails to qualify for ballot
An effort to recall two of the five members of the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board in Arizona did not go to a vote in 2021. David Sandoval and Cory Underhill were named in the recall petitions. Both petitions failed to qualify for the ballot.[13]
The recall petition against Sandoval cited his involvement with ASBA, his vote against making masks optional for students, and his ties to the Peoria Education Association as reasons for the recall effort.[14] The recall petition against Underhill listed rudeness during board meetings and her position on requiring students to wear masks as reasons for the recall effort.[15]
Sandoval published a letter in the Daily Independent on May 19, 2021, saying, "Our students, families and the Peoria Unified School District have been through some very challenging times as we have navigated a national health crisis. My decisions to prioritize the health and wellness of all has never been without the voices of all stakeholders and objectivity."[16]
Contact information
Peoria Unified School District
6330 W. Thunderbird Rd.
Glendale, AZ 85306
Phone: 623-486-6000
About school boards
Education legislation in Arizona
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| Arizona | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Peoria Unified School District
- Arizona School Boards Association
- Arizona Department of Education
Footnotes
- ↑ Peoria Unified School District, "GOVERNING BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT," December 15, 2023
- ↑ The Glendale Star, "New PUSD superintendent brings experience, enthusiasm," August 13, 2020
- ↑ Peoria Independent, "Board, district salutes outgoing superintendent," July 2, 2020
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Denton Santarelli," accessed November 5, 2019
- ↑ Peoria Unified School District, "Governing Board," accessed February 7, 2019
- ↑ Arizona School Boards Association, "Peoria Unified School District No. 11 Public Participation at Board Meetings," accessed April 17, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Peoria Unified School District, "2024-2025 Initial Salary Placement Schedule for Certified Teachers and Guidance Counselors," accessed April 17, 2025
- ↑ Peoria Unified School District, "2023-2024 Initial Salary Placement Schedule for Certified Teachers and Guidance Counselors," accessed April 17, 2025
- ↑ Peoria Unified School District, "2020-2021 Initial Salary Placement Schedule for Certified Teachers and Guidance Counselors," accessed May 5, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "Recall Elections," accessed September 8, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "Application for Recall Petition Serial Number (David Sandoval)," accessed June 7, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent, "Application for Recall Petition Serial Number (Cory Underhill)," accessed June 7, 2021
- ↑ Daily Independent, "Sandoval: I will ensure all voices are heard, continue to lead with compassion, empathy," May 19, 2021
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