TOLLESON, Ariz. — Tolleson Union High School District has a new governing board president after the now-former president was voted out amidst allegations of sexually harassing the district superintendent.
During Wednesday's board meeting, board members voted to replace Dr. Elda Luna-Najera following an investigation involving claims of sexual harassment that were filed by Superintendent Jeremy Calles in August.
Calles claimed that for months Luna-Najera made unwanted sexual advances toward him.
"Everything I've been saying for months now, was substantiated in the claim," Calles said after the board meeting.
Standing next to his wife, Calles spoke for the first time since the investigation started.
"I want to thank my wife for standing by my side throughout this process, which has been very difficult for us," he said. "I'm hoping that we can get to a point where we can move forward, that our district can heal from this and and grow strong."
During public comment two members of the Tolleson Union Education Association members called on Luna-Najera to resign from the board following the investigation's findings. Calles also said he believes she should resign.
The investigation report has not been released to the public and Calles said he's only seen a redacted summary of the investigation.
Following the two educator's comments Luna-Najera, for the first time, publicly addressed the allegations.
“I’m not sure you read the same statement I read, as far as the investigation goes, the word consensual was in there,” Luna-Najera said.
She's referencing a statement provided by now governing board President Dr. Kino Flores following a special meeting held Monday. It lasted for hours as the board discussed the findings.
It claimed that the investigation found there was a sexual relationship between Calles and Luna-Najera. It also said Luna-Najera's alleged actions were "egregious" and inappropriate, "even if that relationship they shared was fully consensual" because of the power she holds over him as governing board president.
It also said the investigation found that evidence suggests Luna-Najera attempted to have a physical relationship with Calles even after he made "some effort" to stop it.
Part of the full statement can be read below:
We’ve concluded the investigation, and we would like to share with the school community and stakeholders our findings and conclusions. There was a sexual relationship between the Superintendent and the Governing Board President. Dr. Luna-Najera holds a powerful position on this Board, and she is often able to determine the result of contested issues placed before the Board. In light of her role as a Board member, and especially in light of her powerful position, it was inappropriate for her to engage in a relationship with Superintendent Calles, even if that relationship was fully consensual between the two individuals. While it was inappropriate for both parties to engage in the relationship they shared, Dr. Luna-Najera’s role in that relationship was considerably more egregious due to power that she held, and still holds, over Superintendent Calles. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that Dr. Luna-Najera pursued a physical relationship with Mr. Calles even after he made some effort to discourage her advances.
When 12News asked Luna-Najera if the relationship was consensual she said that's what it said in the report. She then said that she doesn't agree with all the findings of the investigation. When asked what she doesn't agree with, Luna-Najera declined to comment.
"There was no consensual activities," Calles said.
When asked if there was a sexual relationship between him and Luna-Najera as the district statement alleged, Calles said nothing consensual took place.
The superintendent said the report will detail what exactly happened. He also disagrees with with the governing board statement and said legal action may be taken.
"There are certain words out of the statement that were in the investigation and taken out of context," he said.
Despite the investigation and change of leadership, Luna-Najera still sits on the board. Steven Chapman another TUHSD board member said they don't have the power to dismiss other members.
"It's important for the community to know at least that we did everything we could up to the point where we're legally allowed to," Chapman said.
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