Voices from Both Sides — Exclusive Reactions from Liberty Board Members and 4LibertyKids PAC Following Failed Recall and AG Report Clearing Officials
Friday’s Final 48: Liberty Elementary School District
The recall campaign against Liberty Elementary School District Governing Board Vice President Kristopher Kenyon has officially failed, following a determination by the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office that the petition did not meet the threshold for valid signatures. But the community-led group behind the recall effort, 4LibertyKids PAC1, says the public shouldn’t believe the numbers being reported.
The group submitted 3,595 signatures on June 3, confident that they had exceeded the 3,161 required to trigger a special election. But county officials ultimately deemed nearly a quarter of the signatures invalid, and the Superintendent’s website now lists the effort as “Failed to qualify.”
The recall was rooted in backlash from parents, teachers and past school board members following a chaotic year of leadership turnover, staff resignations, and allegations of board dysfunction. There were mass resignations2 over the course of the past school year. Parents accused Kenyon of enabling poor leadership and failing to advocate for the needs of educators and students. They also pointed to his inconsistent record and shifting alliances with other board members.
In an exclusive statement to State 48 News, the PAC said the public has been misled.
“The recall of Kristopher Kenyon has been full of miscommunication and inaccuracies. The motive behind recalling Kristopher Kenyon was never political,” the group wrote. “Kenyon has repeatedly dismissed concerns from parents and teachers regarding the working environment and loss of teachers over the past school year. It was made clear to us that Mr. Kenyon will go along with whatever agenda the other men on the board want to push.”
The group cited Kenyon’s shifting stance on former Superintendent Dr. Monroe as one example of his inconsistent leadership.
“When Parks was on the board, [Kenyon] parroted the misinformation Parks gave in parent emails and interviews while supporting a superintendent that bullied teachers into submission or resignation,” the statement continued. “When Parks resigned and Michael Todd was appointed, Mr. Kenyon decided that the superintendent he supported with Parks was no longer worthy of staying in our district—simply because it was the desire of Michael Todd for him to go. Kenyon is not a leader. He falls in line with whatever agenda suits him best at the time, regardless of what’s best for students and teachers. That’s what makes him dangerous for our district.”
State 48 News asked Board President Michael Todd about the resignation of the former superintendent. Todd said that while he can’t speak for Kenyon directly, it’s possible that information shared during executive session influenced his shift in position.
4LibertyKids further claims that the county’s review process was riddled with errors, some of which they believe were significant enough to impact the outcome.
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We dropped off 3,595 signatures on June 3rd but somehow the county ended up with a total of 3,601, including the 22 pages that were incorrectly pulled from the count because of an ‘admin error’ at [Superintendent] Boggs’ office,” the group said. “We also identified over 200 instances where the county’s review process was demonstrably incorrect. With those additional signatures, we would have been much closer to our goal.”
They wrote in an earlier public statement: “We had only 10 business days to analyze the report, compile affidavits, and legally respond—an extraordinarily short time frame considering the volume of discrepancies. Despite spending countless hours documenting errors, we were ultimately unable to overcome the administrative barriers.”
Despite falling short, the group sees the effort as a victory in raising awareness and building community momentum.
“We’ve done what no other district in Arizona has—mobilized hundreds of parents, volunteers, and educators to demand accountability from local leadership. We brought the truth to light. We educated the public. And most importantly, we united our community, putting aside political differences to fight for what matters most: our children.”
Though no recall election will take place, 4LibertyKids say they are now focused on the future.
“Our work is far from over. We are already preparing for the 2026 election, and we proudly stand behind two strong candidates who will represent the voices of Liberty families with honesty and integrity. The fight for accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership in LESD25 continues.”
“We will not tolerate corruption—in our schools, in our government, or in our community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to what matters most: Support Students. Support Teachers. Revive LESD25.”
“This effort ignited a movement. Our community is awake, alert, and engaged. The recall may be over, but our mission continues—and we will prevail.”
LESD Board President Michael Todd Calls for Unity, Transparency After Failed Recall. He told State 48 the following:
“This community needs to move forward, and that begins with honest, civil conversations,” said Board President Michael Todd exclusively to State 48 News, who was appointed to the board following Bryan Parks’ resignation. “The parent group had four full months to gather the necessary signatures, and while their effort fell short, it’s now time to move forward together.”
Todd emphasized his willingness to engage directly with parents and community members. “My door has always been open. My personal cell phone number is printed on my business card—I’ve made myself available to anyone who wants to talk,” he said. “But for us to truly move forward, we must commit to telling the truth. When new information comes to light or claims are proven false, it’s important that all of us—especially those leading community efforts—take responsibility and share those facts with the public.”
Todd pointed to previous claims by the PAC that the district was operating in the red, which he says were debunked by Superintendent Shelli Boggs in a letter confirming the district has never been in deficit.
Letter from Superintendent Boggs confirming that LESD did not overspend its expenditure budget in FY2025
At Monday’s upcoming board meeting, Todd said the district’s legal counsel will present the findings of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which investigated 18 complaints filed against the district. “All 18 complaints were found to be without merit,” Todd said. “This should offer some reassurance to the public.”
“We now have a strong and capable interim superintendent, and while his permanent status is still to be determined, we are confident in his leadership and vision,” Todd added. “At the end of the day, when students win, we all win. That’s what should unite us.”
Board Member Kristopher Kenyon also weighed in, telling State 48 News:
“I’m grateful the recall effort against me has failed, with nearly 25% of the submitted signatures ruled invalid. I’m also pleased to share that the Arizona Attorney General’s Office found no merit to the open meeting law complaints filed against me or the governing board—confirming that the accusations were unfounded.
When I ran for this office, I focused on three core priorities: ensuring campus safety for students and staff, supporting parental rights and involvement, and promoting academic excellence across our schools. These values resonated with the families of this district, and I was re-elected on that platform.
I remain committed to these priorities and look forward to helping Liberty Elementary School District #25 continue its progress and achieve even greater success in the years ahead.”
In February, former Chair Bryan Parks resigned from LESD after significant strife in the district.
Effective Immediately: LESD Board President Bryan Parks Resigns—“I Must Make This Difficult Decision to Step Down”
In an exclusive statement to State 48 News, Liberty Elementary School District (LESD25), Board President Bryan Parks says, “Bottom line, progressives did not like the outcome of the election and used every tactic in the playbook to overturn the voters….”
Parks weighed in with State 48 News regarding the failed recall efforts:
“I am very pleased that the Liberty 25 School Board and I have been vindicated of the false allegations of corruption and mismanagement. There is no winner in this situation, as the real harm was done to the district and the very ones we are supposed to protect, our children. I am hopeful that the board will continue to focus on professional accountability and improved student proficiency.”
The now former board president sat down with State 48 and spoke in detail about the challenges at LESD. You can watch that video here:
State 48 News was the first to break the story of a former child victim now suing the Liberty Elementary School District, as well as the leaked audio recordings connected to the case. While those recordings raised questions about potential executive session violations, the Arizona Attorney General’s report ultimately cleared former Board President Bryan Parks of any wrongdoing.
June 20, 2025 Arizona Attorney General Disposition Report- OML
You can read the report here:
Monday’s board meeting is expected to be lengthy and eventful, as the district’s attorneys are set to present the findings of the Arizona Attorney General’s report, which officially clears the board of any wrongdoing.
CORRECTION: It was previously reported that 4LibertyKids PAC is a left-leaning or a progressive group. State 48 News has confirmed that at least one of the group’s founders is a registered Republican. While the group presents itself as bipartisan, some local conservatives in Buckeye have pushed back on that characterization.
The exact number of resignations has fluctuated wildly. Some reports say 34, others up to 60. State 48 News will print the precise number when it can be verified.