How Maricopa County superintendent candidates would manage taxpayer dollars, school boards

The race for Maricopa County School superintendent is packed with three challengers taking on the incumbent of seven years.

Republican Steve Watson has held the county's school superintendent office since 2017 and is seeking a third term.

Republican candidates Shelli Boggs and Nickie Kelley will face Watson in a primary election this month before the victor competes against Democrat Laura Metcalfe in November's general election. The three challengers have been critical of Watson's leadership.

The county superintendent supports school governing board elections and bonds and overrides elections, manages school board appointments, offers school finance assistance to school districts and maintains homeschool and private school records. The county superintendent also runs the Maricopa County Regional School District, which provides education in juvenile detention and operates an accommodation high school.

The Arizona Republic asked each candidate to answer six questions about how they plan to handle the office's key responsibilities. Here's what they had to say, in alphabetical order.

Why do you want this job?

Shelli Boggs: I attended public schools in Maricopa County, as did my children, and I now have school-aged grandchildren. My father retired from Mesa Public Schools after over 30 years as a teacher and coach. My brother has worked in the unified districts for 25 years as a teacher and a principal. For the past 20 years, I have been active in the education arena in Maricopa County, serving as a classroom teacher, school board member and education advocate. I have experienced our county’s schools through many different lenses. I am running to bring a much needed course correction. Students should come first, with a focus on academics over politics. Our schools should respect parents, encourage their involvement and repair parent/teacher relationships. This office must support our teachers and provide them with the tools they need to be successful. Our district and charter public schools must compete to become the first choice for Maricopa County families.

Nickie Kelley: I want to restore fiscal responsibility and make common sense conservative school board appointments. I also want to restore trust, protect parents’ rights and bring accountability back to the office. I want to work to instill academic rigor in Maricopa County public schools. I want to protect Maricopa County students from the negative effects of SEL (social and emotional learning) and increase parental involvement in schools/children's education. I want to work to make sure that parents are not locked out of the decisions being made about their children.

Laura Metcalfe: I worked as an administrator/leader in the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office and I worked as a district-level administrator/leader for the Maricopa County Accommodation School District. These entities provided valuable services to school districts and to students, families and communities of students who were court-involved. Neither organization has operated effectively since 2017.

I want this job because the present state of the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office and the Maricopa County Accommodation School District is nearly ruined. These organizations are close to ruin due to the failure to provide targeted services to any of the 58 school districts of Maricopa County. Only support that is statutorily required is provided.

The proven incompetence of the present elected official, who acts as both school board and superintendent, has brought both organizations a long list of documented and ongoing financial and educational failures. In addition, he has brought unnecessary embarrassment that detracts from the mission and vision of both institutions. I also believe that the staff of the Maricopa County Schools Office and the Maricopa County Accommodation School District deserve a much better leader who values their work. A leader should provide a clear and focused mission and vision without undue distractions from incompetence is paramount.

I feel a strong sense of urgency to implement effective change, which includes working with and through the Board of Supervisors, current staff and outside organizations. This can only take place with an experienced, trained and passionate educator who knows how both of these agencies operate to bring trust, integrity and functionality back to both organizations.

Steve Watson: I want every child in Maricopa County to be successful. I want parents to know that someone has their back in choosing the best educational opportunities for their children. I am committed to supporting not an ideology but quality education so that all kids will have the skills to graduate and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

I have personally put together that team to support those goals for incarcerated and academically vulnerable students in Maricopa County. I also influence that work in local school districts when I appoint school board members to serve when an elected board member resigns their position. Sometimes, school districts need support when they are doing good work. At other times, they may need pushback when not performing up to community expectations.

What prior experiences qualify you to manage school finances and steward taxpayer dollars?

Boggs: I am in my sixth year serving as a school board member in a district with a $148 million budget, so I have direct experience with school finances. I prioritized cutting administration costs and increasing teacher pay 40% during my tenure. My district has not had to go to the taxpayers for bonds or overrides. I am fiscally conservative and respect taxpayer dollars.

Kelley: As a constitutional conservative Republican, my commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparent governance aligns with the principles of managing school finances and taxpayer dollars effectively. My experiences include being a current high school math and physics teacher, former council aide at the city of Phoenix, former congressional staffer in D.C., former director of administration, where I advocated for budget transparency and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Additionally, my background with different types of financial management within the private sector and public sector has equipped me with the skills to oversee complex budgets and ensure funds are allocated to maximize outcomes. As a taxpayer myself, I understand the importance of safeguarding public funds and will diligently work to steward these resources in a manner consistent with constitutional values.

Metcalfe: My experiences and education that qualify me to manage school finances and steward taxpayer dollars include the following: Certifications as a school district superintendent and principal in Arizona; 21 years as a school and district-level administrator serving public education in small, medium and large school districts in Maricopa County; creation and execution of school, district and education agency budgets aligned with Uniform System of Financial Records, state and federal laws, and Maricopa County financial protocols in the roles of career and technical education director, director of special education, small schools administrator, director of state and federal programs, grant writer, and high school principal; managed a portfolio of state and federal grants in the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office of approximately $400,000 to meet the needs of small school districts, charter schools and private schools; experience working with the Arizona Department of Education to reverse state and federal grants on corrective action to bring these funds back into compliance with state and federal laws, and school district policies to meet program goals, student needs, and aligned budgets; experience working with the Arizona Auditor General regarding school budgets and programs not in compliance with Uniform System of Financial Records, and state, federal and school district policy; experience as an elected school board member for East Valley Institute of Technology reviewing and approving school district Annual Financial Reports; budget creation, program research and creation, implementation and execution of state, federal and private organization education program grants funded in excess of $9 million since 1999; from 1999 through 2022 all school and school district budgets passed all audits with no findings; earned doctorate of education (Ed.D.) and master of education (M.Ed.) in Educational Leadership.

Watson: Education funding is incredibly complicated and based on a patchwork of laws and band-aids applied by the courts cobbled together over many decades. I have a terrific finance team, including a new chief finance officer with extensive knowledge of school finance. She has been busy reassuring school districts in challenging times.

We’re now offering important support to school districts and taxpayers affected by a recent court decision (Qasimyar vs. Maricopa County). Unfortunately, the County Treasurer and Board of Supervisors didn’t have a good grasp on how this case was going to negatively affect school districts (not to mention fire districts, cities and towns). My team and I have been working hard to help school districts navigate this challenge in order to protect children and taxpayers.

This office is responsible for monitoring district budgets and alerting them before they overspend. My team has a very strong reputation among school districts for providing the support and stewardship that they need when navigating the challenge of school finance in Maricopa County.

What is the biggest challenge facing the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office, and how would you address it?

Boggs: The Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office has failed at budgeting for the Maricopa County Regional School District under its authority. The gross financial mismanagement required a bailout from the county that triggered a forensic audit. After reviewing the audit findings, I have identified areas to cut costs and will utilize the monies in the classroom site fund as voters intended — as compensation for our hard-working teachers. I have a track record of eliminating wasteful spending and efficient stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I will provide responsible, balanced budgets that don’t require bailouts.

Kelley: There are several challenges facing the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office. One is restoring trust in the wake of financial mismanagement from the recent forensic audit done on the current Superintendent's Office. Another is a lack of conservative school board appointments when our school boards and their board members deserve better. There has been a volitional choice from the incumbent to not appoint a person in Peoria. Leaders fulfill their statutory obligations and duties in office. I will work with our communities, families and school boards to fill school board vacancies in a timely manner and not wait for months for an election to make the decision. Another big challenge is prioritizing accountability and fiscal responsibility to rebuild confidence among taxpayers. I will implement rigorous oversight mechanisms and transparent reporting practices to ensure every dollar is spent wisely. Additionally, this means working on the funding and accounting practices for the accommodation school. This means working to fix the accounting problems while maintaining strict budgetary controls, which will be crucial to addressing this issue effectively.

Metcalfe: The biggest challenge facing the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office is the massive amount of debt that will need to be paid back by the incumbent’s illegal land sale in September 2022, as determined by the recent forensic audit. Nearly $7.5 million dollars will create a huge financial deficit for the Accommodation School District, which the Maricopa County School Superintendent's Office oversees. The Accommodation School District provides education services for some of our most vulnerable students, and those students deserve much better than this. Additionally, all findings from the forensic audit and the yearly school district audit will need to be implemented and reviewed for accuracy, and the judgments against the office and the school district will need to be dismissed once in complete compliance and sustained as such.

The school district will need to be reorganized with a new mission and vision to be attractive and relevant to these students and others. Since the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has voted to suspend financial support for this school district, student enrollment will need to increase to meet financial goals for improved student outcomes and achievement. I plan to reinstate the “Advisory Panel,” which the incumbent dismissed in 2017. The “Advisory Panel” had a strict focus on financial and operational oversight of the school district. In working with and through their members, we will also include career and technical education pre-apprenticeship programs in partnership with industry. It is my vision for high school coursework to blend with project-based learning so students can earn high school credits in core classes. It is important to include industry-recognized experience and credentials, and college preparation to provide a seamless transition into industry, apprenticeship programs or college meeting each student’s needs.

We will also work with the Legislature to expand the adult high school diploma program and career and technical education industry-recognized certification to be an option for adults in Maricopa County who do not want to earn a GED.

Watson: Unfortunately, the biggest challenge to this office is not the education of young students; it’s the education of my fellow elected officials and policymakers. We’ve got hundreds of kids held in county custody each year and despite my efforts their education and reformation is being ignored.

How will you work with the County Board of Supervisors to improve student outcomes?

Boggs: The Board of Supervisors allocates the budget to the Superintendent’s Office. I will be a good steward of those taxpayer dollars, prioritizing student academic growth by: utilizing all resources, including the classroom site fund, adopting a performance-based compensation system that includes measures of academic progress and individual teacher performance, providing teacher development programs to assist teachers in achieving their professional goals.

Kelley: To improve student outcomes, I will work with the county Board of Supervisors by implementing data-driven decision-making processes. Together, we can analyze student performance metrics and allocate resources to areas that demonstrate the greatest need for improvement in the county. Regularly sharing data and progress reports will ensure transparency and accountability in this effort. This collaborative approach will enable us to make informed decisions that enhance educational quality. Regular meetings and communication will ensure we address key issues that will arise and will make the office more responsive. By leveraging data-driven insights and auditing the current processes, we can identify areas needing improvement and implement targeted interventions. This cooperative approach will foster a unified effort toward enhancing the quality of education for all students in our county.

Metcalfe: The current relationship with the Board of Supervisors is unprofessional, stressed and hostile. The incumbent does not work well with the current Board of Supervisors, and this has been documented in meetings since his election in 2017. There is a need for change to improve student outcomes immediately. I will execute the following actions to work with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors:

• The first step to ensure improved student achievement will be to foster consistent personal and public communication with the Board of Supervisors and seek input and feedback from them.

• Ongoing communication with the Board of Supervisors to include updates, challenges, successes, and meeting of goals on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. These updates will include the progress of student achievement and agency improvements.

• Student achievement will be based on the proper use of funding to hire highly qualified teachers and staff who are passionate. Each employee will receive professional development on curriculum and state standards to help all students pass state-mandated tests and achieve a high school diploma.

• The Maricopa County Accommodation School District will be reorganized with a new vision and mission to attract a variety of students and partnerships with industry and other organizations to help it be more relevant.

• Hiring of an on-site, full-time director of fiscal compliance starting on day one.

Watson: The Board of Supervisors oversee this office’s budget. It has been my experience that they don’t see strengthening public education as part of the county mission. By state law, I operate a school within the juvenile detention facility. I also operate an accommodation school for some of the county’s most vulnerable students. While my office receives state dollars for each student taught, these two schools don’t have access to other funding mechanisms available to common school districts. This office must rely on the Board of Supervisors for any additional funds to support the instruction of these kids. The lack of supervisor support and additional county roadblocks have even triggered recent warnings from financial auditors. This unpredictability has created a situation where it is challenging to staff our programs to provide the best instruction.

I regularly invite the supervisors to tour the county accommodation school and the education program in juvenile detention. None of them have taken me up on this offer (legislators and other community leaders have been to both). This challenge isn’t unique to me and the current board. Going back generations, the Board of Supervisors frequently clashed with other county elected officials over mission and vision. I will continue to invite them to see the work we are doing, and build relationships so that we can get done the work of educating kids in Maricopa County.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Boggs: I have an action-oriented, results-based leadership style. I identify a problem, create a proposal and then implement a solution, utilizing the input and assistance of stakeholders. As an example: Youth that age out of the foster care system face abrupt homelessness and a lack of support as they attempt to transition, on their own, into adulthood and self-sustenance. Statistics show that these young people go from one taxpayer-funded system to another. I tailored a program that allows them to achieve trade certifications and/or associate degrees that will put them on the path of becoming successful, contributing members of society. This project involved collaboration with district administration, legislators, local elected officials, charter school operators and foster care organizations and required a laser focus on the goal to keep it moving forward on schedule through the pandemic. I had the honor and privilege of attending the first graduating class of the partnering charter school in May and construction of the residential unit has been completed and opens this month.

Kelley: As a conservative Republican, my leadership style emphasizes traditional values such as integrity, accountability and fiscal responsibility. As a physics and math teacher, I rely on data-driven approaches and logical problem-solving to make informed decisions. Being a mom, I bring a nurturing yet disciplined perspective, ensuring that voices are heard and respected. I prioritize clear communication and setting high expectations, fostering an environment where everyone is motivated to achieve their best. My goal is to lead by example, demonstrating commitment and dedication to our shared objectives and change in culture that will lead to serving our students, families, teachers and schools.

Metcalfe: I would describe my leadership style as participative, visionary, transformational and servant-based. All of these types of leadership have been very successful in different situations over my 30-year career in education.

Watson: When you lead a team like this, you can’t do it all yourself. I put the best people in positions to be successful and then rely on them to do their job well. I expect excellence and a certain amount of self-direction from each member of the team. We meet regularly to talk about the direction of various projects and how we can support teachers, families and students.

Describe the process by which you will make school board appointments. To what extent will you involve school district and community input, and why?

Boggs: Appointments are a critical responsibility of the county superintendent. I serve on a school board that has had a vacancy, so I have experienced the current process. I will improve it by seeking input from both the school board members, many of whom I already have established, working relationships with, and community members to gain insight into their priorities and needs. It is important to consider both to ensure the appointment is best suited to step into the role of serving their district community.

Kelley: In making school board appointments as a conservative Republican, mom and teacher, my work on the school board appointment process will need to be transparent, prioritizing candidates who uphold traditional values and demonstrate a commitment to educational excellence and fiscal responsibility. I will implement a transparent selection process, prioritizing candidates with a proven commitment to educational excellence, protecting parents' rights and fiscal responsibility. I will have school board appointees go through background checks because they will be around our children and in our schools. I will talk with and actively involve community members, families and school district officials in the selection process to ensure the appointees reflect our shared values and address the needs of our schools. By incorporating my ideas, we can foster trust with our parents and students.

Metcalfe: The process I will take to make school board appointments will be in accordance with state law, Arizona Revised Statute 15-302.A.3.

School districts will be the leaders in selecting their school board replacements, as they know who is most suited for the betterment of their school districts, communities and families. They will receive and review the resumes of interested applicants, interview and make three choices for the office. I will review the submitted recommendations through a panel interview, a personal interview and a required background check. Applicants must be supportive of public education, familiar with the values of their communities and attend training to understand the responsibilities and duties to be an effective school board member.

This office will offer the option for school districts to work with the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office to assist with organization of school board candidate recruitment, arrangement of community panels, coordination of the collection and analysis of community input, structuring of community candidate forums and other activities to ensure a fit for a school board replacement. Working with this office will be strictly optional and not required.

Watson: I have appointed over 100 school board members since becoming County School Superintendent. When a school board vacancy arises, by state law, the local school board may send my office up to three names. I also ask school districts when they make recommendations to me, to do so at a public meeting. I watch the public meeting to hear what the board and community members say about each candidate. I interview each applicant, not just their three recommendations. This is important because if 30 people apply, I will interview them and get to know 30 different perspectives about the district. At the same time, it creates disappointment for the 29 candidates who aren’t appointed.

If a district hosts a formal candidate forum, I make it a point to attend. I also invite any member of the community to email, call or text the office to ensure their voice is heard. After background checks and interviews, I make the appointment. My appointments serve until the next election when voters choose their board member representation.

Reach the reporter at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maricopa County 2024 election: Q&A with superintendent candidates