9 Dec 19th-Dec 25th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Mitchell to ballyhoo Kayleigh’s Law, the two reportedly fell out in 2023 over another Kozak-backed law, and Kozak was disinvited from being the keynote speaker at a victim’s rights conference in Phoenix. Earlier this year, Kozak endorsed Mitchell’s GOP primary rival, Gina Godbehere, whom Mitchell handily beat en route to a nine-point general election victory. Kozak’s lawsuit makes a point of stating that despite Mitchell’s “history of publicly attacking Kozak,” Kozak filed her complaint on Nov. 7, two days after the general election, “to circumvent any claims from Mitchell that Kozak sought to harm” Mitchell’s re-election bid. Secret recording The lawsuit makes explosive allegations about current Liberty Elementary School Board President Bryan Parks. The suit references a recording of Parks, made by an unnamed parent after the district had been served with Kozak’s notice of claim, in which he allegedly downplayed the seri- ousness of Kozak’s abuse. Kozak’s suit describes Parks as laughing, stating of the notice of claim, “This is it? I mean, I don’t want to minimize it, but it’s like, really?” He adds, “I expected to see penetration or this or that …” The recording was recently posted to “The Truth About Liberty Elementary School District #25,” a private Facebook group. In the recording, a male speaker, identified by the post as Parks, calls himself “one of the top officials in the school district.” He then describes reading the notice of claim. “As board members, because we’re defending the school district, I have every- thing,” he says. “I was reading through it, and I’m just like, this seems a little over the top for what happened.” He added, “What I see here is a lot of somebody who is not willing to put it behind them and move on in life. It’s sad to me.” In emails to Phoenix New Times, Parks said the quotes were from edited record- ings that had been taken out of context. According to Parks, some of the quotes were referencing different, more recent incidents in the district related to student- on-student violence. Parks also claimed that his “private phone conversations with my wife, close friends and family” had been “edited and posted all over social media.” He wrote, “I have never heard these recordings. I don’t know who recorded them, and quite a bit is not something I would say publicly to anyone.” About the quotes referenced in the lawsuit, he wrote, “I disavow the entire transcription.” Parks noted he joined the board in 2021, while Kozak’s complaint regarded abuse that occurred more than 20 years ago. “It was not my intention to downplay anything,” Parks wrote. “This is a serious accusation. I have zero tolerance for any sexual assault of any kind.” He added, “I have great respect and admiration for Mrs. Kozak. I’m horrified by what took place.” In a follow-up phone conversation, Parks said his previous cell phone had been compromised and was now in the hands of the FBI. He complained of people going through his garbage and calling Child Protective Services on him, which he blamed on disgruntled employees and others. “We’re making huge changes,” Parks said, “and some people do not like it.” The district and its governance are sources of community contentiousness. The private Facebook page about the school district is rife with criticism of Parks and the district’s current superintendent, Cort Monroe, who took office this year. Monroe was the subject of controversy at a recent meeting of the district board, which voted 3-2 to increase a performance-based bonus to up to 20% of his base pay of $185,000. Monroe did not respond to a request for comment. Tough on Crime? from p 7 A secret recording that purports to be of Liberty Elementary School District Board President Bryan Parks allegedly reveals Parks downplaying the seriousness of Kayleigh Kozak’s abuse two decades ago. (Courtesy of Liberty Elementary School District No. 25)
