Under Fire for $491K Earning Potential, School Superintendent Defends Pay and Unveils Affordable Housing Plan
State 48 News is first to report on a school district's proposed affordable housing project—a move raising legal and ethical questions about the role of public schools in real estate development.
A superintendent making nearly half a million dollars a year responds to our ongoing investigation into taxpayer-funded superintendent salaries. On the May 8th episode of the Tolleson Union High School District’s “Education Exchange” podcast, Superintendent Jeremy Calles defends his compensation and issued a challenge to the media. Calles argues his salary is justified given the scope of leading a growing school district and his accomplishments, noting it doesn't come close to what CEOs in other industries typically earn.
State 48 News first brought you the data investigation into taxpayer-funded superintendent salaries across Arizona’s public schools. While most district leaders earn around $250,000 annually, one stands out: Tolleson Union’s Superintendent Jeremy Calles, whose total compensation package could reach $491,000 next year when factoring in bonuses, allowances, vacation payouts, and other perks.
Watch the entire episode here.
In a recent episode of Tolleson Union High School District’s Education Exchange podcast, the district’s Public Information Officer Sara Clawson opened the 15-minute segment by stating, “Media wants to know how much you get paid.”
Superintendent Jeremy Calles responded, “Yes. Which we’ve always complied with every public records request,” adding, “It’s not something I shy away from or feel shameful about.”
Superintendent Calles explains that evaluating salaries involves comparing roles across sectors, not just within public education. He suggested using a market study to assess comparable positions—citing examples like charter operators, nonprofit CEOs, and even private-sector roles. Key factors include employee count, budget size, and job scope, all of which, he argues, help justify superintendent pay.
In response to comparisons made in our investigation—where his $491,000 earning potential exceeds that of the superintendent in Arizona’s largest district—Superintendent Calles argues the comparison is flawed. He explains that districts face different challenges depending on whether they are growing, declining, or remaining stable. “When your student population is constant, that’s a lot easier to run,” he says. “But when you’re declining, or when you’re growing, there are different types of challenges... So that should also be taken into consideration when you’re figuring out who’s a valid comp.”
Calles adds, “It’s not as easy as just looking at student count and saying, ‘well Mesa has the highest student count in the state, therefore, they should have the highest superintendent in the state. It doesn’t work quite that way.’”
Superintendent Jeremy Calles argues that any study comparing superintendent salaries should include national context. “I get offers all the time to be a superintendent in other states,” he says, adding that Arizona spends significantly less on administrative costs than other states. “That means that you either have less people who are doing the administrative work or that you are just paying your people less. But either way, we are well below the national average.”
Calles says a fair analysis should also consider historical pay trends and internal equity. Using his own district as an example, he explains: “Back in 2017, Tolleson was paying base salary for the superintendent $220,000. That was very comparable.” He notes that district policy ties superintendent raises to those of certified staff. “Since 2017, our district has done the most with increasing employee salaries. For all employees which would include the superintendent.”
He outlines how his base salary increased from $220,000 in 2017 to $334,800 in 2025—a 52% increase. But he emphasizes that others in the district saw larger raises: teachers, 125%; administrative assistants, 98%; bookstore managers, 102%; and bus monitors, 149%. “So when you look at the internal equity, for our district, the internal equity since 2017 has improved significantly.”
Calles also references broader debates about executive compensation. “One of the things you saw come out in the media when there was employee strikes in other industries was that you had CEOs who were making 200–300 times their average employee. And they said the industry standard, if you go across industry, should be 10 to 1.” He continues, “Our average teacher salary is $80,000. That would be a number of $800,000. I don’t make $800,000.”
Calles notes that his longer 260-day contract compared to teachers’ 187-day contracts makes salary comparisons misleading, stating that an $80,000 teacher salary annualized to his schedule equals an additional $111,000.
If compensation should reflect merit, Superintendent Calles points to a list of accomplishments under his leadership—including five credit rating upgrades that he says have positioned Tolleson as the highest-rated school district in Arizona. “It’s a $900M upgrade from how we were running things before,” he says, framing the financial turnaround as a key justification for his compensation.
Calles also states he secured a $125 million award to fund a new high school—an achievement he says occurred while he was on administrative leave under the direction of the district’s previous board president.
Superintendent Calles points to rising state performance scores as another key accomplishment, noting that at least one—possibly two—schools in the district may earn an A letter grade this year.
Calles also highlights an affordable housing development in the works, aimed at supporting both staff and the broader community. “We are working on an affordable housing development that not only would provide affordable housing for our staff and our community members, but also would net the district $4M upfront and an ongoing revenue of $250,000 with a 3% escalator,” he says. “The district would financially benefit from that but also our community and some of our staff members would benefit from that.”
State 48 News is working to learn more about the legality and scope of Tolleson Union High School District’s proposed affordable housing development. While school districts are not permitted to directly provide housing, some have partnered with cities to sell or lease excess property—allowing municipalities and developers to build affordable units. Critics argue such efforts push the boundaries of a district’s educational mission. “School districts exist to educate students, not to act as housing developers,” one source noted, adding that the approach—described as aggressive and politically liberal—is raising red flags among some policy groups.
State 48 News has invited Superintendent Jeremy Calles to join our podcast to discuss these topics further and share his perspective directly with our audience.
We’ve got our eyes on three school board meetings happening tonight—each in a district that’s been at the center of community conversations, controversy, or change. These are three of the most-watched districts in Arizona right now, and State 48 News will be tracking what unfolds.
1. Tolleson Union High School District:
Tensions are expected to be high at tonight’s 4:30 P.M. board meeting, where community members plan to protest with signs reading “No Bonds Until You’re Gone!” amid mounting frustration with Superintendent Jeremy Calles. Sources say a recall effort may be on the horizon. Community members allege Mr. Calles is planning to propose new bond measures this fall.
2. Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD):
The SUSD Governing Board is expected to vote tonight on whether to approve a controversial social studies curriculum, estimated at $674,542.13, for high school classrooms beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. One of the proposed curricula, published by SAVVAS Learning Company, includes units on Black Lives Matter, January 6, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and police brutality. The proposal has drawn significant criticism from community members, law enforcement representatives, and groups like Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, which has urged parents and stakeholders to voice their concerns to board members ahead of the decision.
3. Liberty Elementary School District:
Only State 48 News was present yesterday as Liberty Elementary School District’s Governing Board held a virtual special meeting to determine the future of Superintendent Dr. Cort Monroe. Less than 50 minutes later, the board returned to public session and voted unanimously, 5–0, to “take action as instructed by the Governing Board.” No further details were released. Tonight, the district will honor 11 retiring staff members at 4:45 P.M., followed by a regular board meeting at 5:30 P.M. The retirements come amid a turbulent period for the district, which is grappling with low student proficiency scores, board member resignations, a superintendent pay controversy, recall efforts, and an ongoing staff exodus. As of today, Liberty ESD has 94 open positions across its eight schools and district office.
Around the 48 Lands in Mohave County…
Pastor David Rose, President of the Lake Havasu Unified School District (LHUSD) Governing Board, wasted no time making an impact in his first year. He led the charge to clean up what’s on our kids’ lunch trays, becoming the first in Arizona to push for a ban on harmful additives like Red Dye 40, brominated vegetable oil, and titanium dioxide—substances already banned in other countries. His efforts through the Child Nutrition program put LHUSD on the map for putting student health first, echoing the legislative push by Rep. Leo Biasiucci for better food in schools across the state.
Rose is tackling DEI head-on in his district. Take a look:
Beyond Mohave County, Rose has been serving on the national stage, helping to launch the White House Faith Office under President Trump—created to combat anti-Christian bias in federal agencies. The office, led by Paula White-Cain, is working to restore religious liberty and protect people of faith from being sidelined by government bureaucracy.
🚨 BREAKING: Goodyear, Arizona may be heading toward a major shift in how land is managed—with potential implications for districting.
City leadership, including alumni of the LEAD program, have been asked to weigh in on updates to the city’s Zoning Ordinance, a foundational document that defines how land is used, how neighborhoods are shaped, and how the city is divided into districts.
The city is collecting public input through a new survey as it considers changes that could affect everything from open spaces and building dimensions to how Goodyear grows and governs in the future.
State 48 News is tracking this story.