Trust in a school district is built over time, through classrooms, conversations and the daily work of educators. When concerns about student safety arise, that trust can be shaken quickly.
As Peoria Unified School District faces continued public scrutiny, Governing Board President Jeff Tobey is calling for a response rooted in facts, accountability and steady leadership.
His message comes as Centennial High School prepares to move forward under Principal Darien Schoolcraft. The Governing Board appointed Schoolcraft on July 16 following significant attention surrounding allegations involving two former educators.
Schoolcraft, who has served as Centennial’s assistant principal and athletic director for the past two years, received strong support from parents, educators and community members.
“Students and staff should be able to walk onto campus knowing their safety, stability and education come first,” Tobey says. “That means taking concerns seriously, cooperating fully with law enforcement and making decisions based on the facts. It also means giving Centennial the leadership it needs as families prepare for a new school year.”
Tobey says moving forward does not mean avoiding difficult questions or minimizing any allegation. It means examining each situation based on its own facts. “Our job is to listen, share accurate information when we legally can and keep strengthening the systems that protect students,” he says. “Trust has to be earned through action.”
Board Clerk Becky Proudfit adds that student safety, due process and truth are not competing priorities. “Every allegation deserves to be taken seriously. Every child deserves to be protected. Every accused person deserves due process. And every community deserves the truth,” Proudfit says.
Proudfit shares that recent reporting has connected incidents involving different employees, campuses, years and circumstances, creating the impression that each case followed the same path. She notes that families were notified during applicable investigations, concerns were reported to the appropriate authorities and employees were placed on administrative leave when circumstances required it. When investigations substantiated violations of law or district policy, employment action followed.
Both leaders say families deserve a clearer understanding of how concerns are reported, investigated and addressed.
Peoria Unified’s approach includes:
- Immediate reporting. Allegations involving possible criminal activity or threats to student safety are referred to the appropriate authorities.
- Administrative action. Employees may be removed from campus and placed on administrative leave while allegations are reviewed.
- Coordination with authorities. District officials cooperate with law enforcement and other agencies conducting independent investigations.
- Due process. Employment decisions are based on available evidence, district policy and applicable law.
- Family communication. The district communicates with affected families while protecting student privacy and active investigations.
- Continued training. Employees receive guidance on mandatory reporting, professional boundaries and escalating student-safety concerns.
“Policies only work when people understand them and follow them consistently,” Tobey says. “Employees need to know what is expected, families need to know where to turn and concerns need to be handled quickly and seriously.”
He says the alleged actions of individual employees should not erase the work of the teachers, administrators, coaches and counselors who serve students every day. For Tobey, the focus is not protecting the district’s image. It is supporting students, communicating honestly with families and facing difficult issues directly.
“Families should never feel like they have to choose between supporting their schools and asking hard questions,” Tobey says. “They can do both, and they should expect us to do both. We can protect students, respect due process and be honest about where we need to improve. That is how we rebuild trust.”
