Embattled ex-school leader launches advisory group

The state’s largest elementary school district is contemplating cutting ties with the Arizona School Boards Association and employing the services of a another policy provider.

A newcomer, Copper State Education Alliance, has submitted a bid.

According to the proposal sent to the board,

, ASBA’s former executive director who resigned following controversy over falsely claiming to have a bachelor’s degree, and Texas-based attorney and former ASBA general counsel Nick Maddox, are at the helm.

Copper State Education Alliance’s foray into the district policy space places Del Palacio in direct competition with his former employer and the Model Policy Program under the Arizona Risk Retention Trust, a property and liability coverage pool funded and governed by districts and community colleges.



The slow growing universe of district policy providers creates a wider conversation about districts’ options and the weight the choice can carry, especially as a flaw can put a district in violation of state law or regulation and open the door to costly litigation.

“You want to make sure that your policies comply with the law, are consistent with law, and basically, have been researched by people who know the law,” said Chuck Essigs, director of governmental relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials. “Poorly written policies or policies that don’t comply with the law could lead to a very, very large lawsuit.”

 

A district’s policy is a set of rules formally adopted by school boards to govern practices and procedures in line with state and federal laws and regulations, and district policy providers work to ensure district policy is responsive to changes in law, caselaw, regulations and school board needs.

ASBA was previously the sole policy provider to districts in the state. But in September 2022, the Arizona Risk Retention Trust launched the Model Policy Program, in response to members' bids for alternative policy options.

The Washington Elementary School Governing Board, the governing body overseeing the largest elementary school district in the state, sought alternate policy providers in a meeting on May 29, and Model Policy Program and Copper State Education Alliances submitted proposals.

Copper State Education Alliance’s single-page website notes it offers legal, policy and leadership development services to districts, and government relations and advocacy, but the organization is not registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission. The website does not list any names either, but the proposal to the Washington Elementary School Board was signed by Del Palacio and Maddox.

Del Palacio’s time at ASBA was marked by controversy as an external inquiry during his hiring revealed he falsely claimed to have a bachelor’s degree on his resume. ASBA’s Executive Board voted to hire Del Palacio anyway, causing months of inner turmoil among members, bringing on a handful of resignations, resolutions and strongly worded letters from ASBA’s past presidents.

In December, amid pressure from board members, Del Palacio resigned.

Maddox saw some backlash after ASBA announced he would be coming on as general counsel. Some members raised concerns given his lack of license to practice law in Arizona. Maddox is no longer with ASBA and is still not licensed with the State Bar.

Del Palacio and Maddox’s new endeavor offered to take on policy services for the district for $1 for the first year and $5,000 for the second year. Meanwhile, the trust offered policy services for $1,495.

During the May 29 meeting, board members split on Copper State.

 

Board member Tamillia Valenzuela stayed steadfast in her support and said she would like to see the board “take a chance” with the new group.

“Yes, Copper is new. They also have expertise in education. They also have lawyers that are specifically education lawyers,” Valenzuela said.

But board member Lindsey Peterson was skeptical, noting the slim website and lack of information about who would be managing policy services.

Peterson responded to Valenzuela later: “You’re saying these people are great people, they are school board members, they know schools. There’s nothing on this site to tell me who these people are. I don’t have anything other than a website and a bid with two names on it It’s like a picture of something I could buy and then it could show up and not be anything at all like I wanted it to be, and then we’re in a really bad situation.”

She continued, “I’m not ready to be a guinea pig for an organization that is not proven. We’re too big. We’re the biggest elementary school district in the state. And I think with that comes a lot, a big responsibility for us to make choices that are good for our students.”

The board tabled a decision on changing policy providers and plans to bring it up again later. None of the WESD board members responded to requests for comment, nor did Del Palacio or Maddox.

 

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