A second alleged victim has served Peoria Unified School District with a notice of claim stemming from the Centennial High School sexual misconduct case involving former teachers Hailey Beck and Angela Burlaka.
Arizona Globe reached out to board members Janelle Bowles and Heather Rooks who confirmed a second alleged victim had come forward.
In January, the district received a $20 million notice of claim from the initial alleged victim at the center of Peoria PD’s Centennial investigation. The plaintiff is accusing PUSD leadership of failing to protect him from sexual abuse. The district also came under fire for failing to follow mandatory reporting laws. Although PUSD publicly stated that former Centennial principal Scott Hollabaugh had not violated the law, public records reveal that he had received a written reprimand for mishandling complaints against Beck and Burlaka.
The district didn’t place Hollabaugh on leave and didn’t notify police.
In May, Peoria PD submitted a formal records request to the district—likely pursuing evidence that detectives would have obtained through mandated reporting protocols. Thereafter, when police sought additional information via an authorized criminal search warrant, the district rejected the summons citing student privacy and attorney-client privilege.
PUSD’s compliance failure led to a second search warrant with an accompanying police raid at district headquarters in Glendale.
The new notice of claim prompted Rooks to request an executive session for the October 8 board meeting. Board president Jeff Tobey—who voted with board members Becky Proudfit and Melissa Ewing to remove Rooks as board president earlier this year—seconded the request.
Rooks also sought a discussion to potentially waive attorney-client privilege and surrender all requested documents to Peoria PD. However, Tobey interrupted her and deferred to interim superintendent Thalya Visintainer, who said that she’d consider the request when setting the agenda.
During a Mike Broomhead interview in July, Tobey was asked about his role in blocking the search warrant. Tobey said that reports of his interference were “misinformation” since he serves as the “legal liaison between the board and the attorney” and the decision was at the district’s discretion.
A few weeks prior to that interview, PUSD spokesperson Danielle Airey told 12 News, “Because the governing board has not voted to waive attorney-client privilege, legal counsel has an obligation to preserve those protections and comply with federal student privacy laws unless directed otherwise by the board or ordered by the court.”
As board president, Tobey has the authority to set agenda items requested by board members and call for a vote to waive attorney-client privilege without permission or approval from administrative subordinates.
The next scheduled PUSD governing board meeting will be Thursday, October 8 at 6pm.
It’s not too late for anyone with information to come forward - even in “good faith.” Peoria PD Centennial HS tip line: 623-773-8132. Peoria PD non-emergency line: 623-773-8311.