Sunday, October 11, 2026·Focal News

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Peoria board sends question of possible executive-session disclosure to Arizona AG

Peoria Unified’s governing board voted Thursday to refer a possible disclosure of confidential information about an investigation involving two former teachers to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Board member Heather Rooks denied sharing executive-session discussions and said she had spoken about her concerns over the district’s handling of the case.

Peoria board sends question of possible executive-session disclosure to Arizona AG
The Peoria Unified School District governing board voted Thursday to refer a possible disclosure of confidential information to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, after a board member was accused of discussing an investigation involving two former Centennial High School teachers. Board President Jeff Tobey said the district was not making a final judgment about whether a disclosure occurred, but the questions warranted a referral. The board did not identify the member accused during the meeting. Heather Rooks addressed the allegation publicly, saying she had not shared confidential discussions from an executive session with a local news outlet. She said she had expressed her views and concerns about accountability in the district’s handling of the investigation. The investigation concerns former Centennial teachers Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka, who are accused of grooming or sending sexually explicit videos to the same student. The district investigation began in July 2025. No criminal charges had been filed against either woman as of Oct. 11, 2026. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has returned the case to Peoria police for further investigation twice. Prosecutors sent it back in early April; police resubmitted felony charges that month, and the county attorney returned the case again in August. The attorney general’s review will address the question of whether confidential information was disclosed. The board’s referral is not a finding that Rooks or any other member violated confidentiality rules.

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