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The use of buses to transport students from a protest back to school and a speech by a prominent activist has made a local school district the continued target of a state legislator.

And more schools are likely to be criticized this week for their actions during recent student demonstrations against proposed immigration laws.

Rep. Jonathan Paton, a Tucson Republican, sent a letter to Tucson Unified School District officials last week, questioning the use of employee time and pay to send buses Downtown to pick up kids and take them back to schools as far away as the Palo Verde High School, on the East Side, after students cut class to protest March 29 and 30.

Paton said Tuesday that he sent the letter only to TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer as it was the only district about which students complained.

But upon learning Tuesday that other schools sent buses to pick up students — specifically Amphitheater — Paton said he would consider sending similar letters to superintendents in those districts.

In the letter sent to TUSD, he asked how much the district paid to pick up the students and whether drivers received any overtime pay for their work.

"I've had a lot of TUSD parents and employees calling me," said Paton, whose district partially covers TUSD. "The consistent message was that TUSD was encouraging students to stay in school, but on the other hand, by providing the buses, it was like condoning the demonstrations in the first place."

Also of concern to Paton was an April 3 speech by labor activist Dolores Huerta at Tucson High Magnet School, where she said, among other things, "Republicans hate Latinos." Paton said the school day should not be interrupted for political speeches, no matter the message, and has asked the district about her speech.

Paton heard from students who attended that they were not allowed to choose to study in the library instead because the library was locked. Paton said the students' only option was to return to the speech.

TUSD officials said last week that the speech was educational and Huerta's remarks were taken out of context.

Paton also said he was looking into a speech made by U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva on Tuesday morning at Tucson High. Grijalva spokeswoman Natalie Luna said the Democrat spoke to students about immigration, detailed his role in the bill that's stalled in Congress and answered questions students had about the bill's future.

Paton has given TUSD until Thursday to respond to the 11-question letter. District spokeswoman Karen Gallagher said the response is "in the process of being finalized."

Paton also has invited Pfeuffer to attend a legislative committee hearing next week, in which districts from across the state will speak to legislators on their actions during the recent student demonstrations. No other Tucson district has been invited to the hearing, Paton said.