Author: sjedlowski

Here’s your quick May wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa renewed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to continue the FAFSA Peer Coach Project, which trains student leaders to help peers complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and boost college‑going rates. 
• The Board extended its Head Start partnership through June 2027, ensuring continued services for preschool children with disabilities in compliance with federal requirements.  

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• Chandler Unified renewed its Intergovernmental Agreement with Maricopa County Head Start to continue providing preschool services, including services for children with disabilities for three‑ to five‑year‑olds. 

• The Board approved a wide variety of updates to CTE course costs, student course fees, and school meal prices to keep pace with rising costs of goods and services and to cover materials needed for hands‑on courses. 

• The Board also approved a 2025 bond project to convert stadium lights at Basha, Casteel, Chandler, Hamilton, and Perry High Schools to energy‑efficient LED systems, cutting energy use by 40–65% and saving about $40,000 annually. The upgrade will also improve field lighting while reducing glare and preserving darker skies for nearby neighborhoods. 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert Public Schools approved several major maintenance and facility upgrades, including gym floor refinishing across all high schools and junior highs, design work for Desert Ridge High’s roofing replacement, new flooring at South Valley Junior High, concrete repairs at Patterson Elementary, and sound/lighting/AV upgrades at Gilbert High School’s auditorium.  

• The Board also approved a $412,155 refresh of CTE lab technology, adding new desktops, laptops, and monitors to support programs such as biomed, programming, marketing, agriculture, automotive, and digital communications. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• PVUSD approved several maintenance and facility updates, including roofing renovations at Desert Trails Elementary, Sonoran Sky Elementary, and Whispering Wind Academy, along with awarding a new districtwide contract for paint and painting supplies. 
• The Board also voted to call two Special Override Elections for November 2026: one for its 15% budget Maintenance & Operations (M&O) override and one for its $6,730,000 or 10% of its revenue control limit for a period of not to exceed seven (7) years District Additional Assistance (DAA) override, with August 7, 2026 at 5 p.m. set as the deadline to submit arguments for or against either measure to the Maricopa County School Superintendent. 

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale Unified held an in‑depth discussion on its 1:1 technology model, outlining plans to expand parent options to increase transparency into student device use, and finalize a new Technology for Learning Framework that emphasizes instruction‑first, balanced screen time, and strong digital citizenship. The district will schedule a special board meeting for continued discussion. You can view the full presentation here. 

• The Board approved resolutions calling for a Special Bond Election on November 3, 2026, asking voters to consider a new $375M bond package to support district capital needs; the Board also released the accompanying bond presentation and election materials for public review. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria Unified approved a comprehensive PreK–12 English Language Arts curriculum adoption, selecting Teaching Strategies for Pre‑K; Amplify CKLA for K–5; Amplify ELA for grades 6–8 (including the Cactus Cluster); Great Minds’ Wit & Wisdom, Geodes, and Fundations for Peoria Traditional School; and Savvas MyPerspectives for high school core ELA. The Board also adopted new Bedford, Freeman & Worth supplemental materials for Pre‑AP, Honors, and AP English courses. 
• The Board also approved updated 2026–27 schedules of course fees, non‑class fees, KidZone rates, and preschool fees for the upcoming school year. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• The TUSD school board approved updated personnel actions and a slate of new assistant principal appointments across multiple campuses, filling key leadership roles for the 2026–27 school year. 

• The Board also approved major weatherization projects at Catalina High School and Hollinger K‑8, funded through the School Facilities Division, to improve building protection and extend facility life. 

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Here’s your quick April wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa Unified approved a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) to rename and expand the former Mesa K‑Ready program into “Mesa K‑Ready and Beyond,” a broader early‑literacy and kindergarten‑readiness initiative. The expanded program will support families as children’s first teachers and strengthen connections to local human and social services through city and community partnerships. 
• The Board also approved a $550,000 renewal for Social Studies supplemental software for grades 6–12 and a $2 million increase for student technology purchases, allowing the district to buy 6,000 high school laptops early to avoid cost increases and ensure timely summer configuration and deployment. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• Chandler Unified approved a $3.65 million contract with McCarthy Building Companies to begin summer renovations of Chandler High School’s Culinary Arts classroom and long‑lead cafeteria components. The project updates early‑2000s facilities to current industry standards, including new back‑of‑house kitchens and a converted front‑of‑house instructional space aligned to CTE Culinary Arts requirements. 

• The Board also approved an MOU with Gabriel’s Angels to bring registered pet‑therapy teams to selected schools from July 2026–June 2027. 

• Chandler Unified placed the new 7th‑grade OpenSciEd science curriculum into the required 60‑day public review period. While the curriculum is free, the district will purchase $177,421 in materials to support labs and student learning before bringing it forward for final approval. 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert Public Schools approved the purchase of Defined Learning as a supplemental inquiry‑based curriculum for K–6 gifted students, offering real‑world performance tasks and project‑based learning to deepen critical thinking and cross‑curricular understanding. 

• The Board approved the appointments of Erica Helfrey as principal of Campo Verde High School and Johnny Stegall as principal of Mesquite Junior High, both beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• Paradise Valley Unified approved the districtwide K–12 science learning materials adoption, following the committee’s full evaluation of materials across all grade levels. The adoption includes Imagine Learning Twig for K–8 and a range of high school resources—CK12, McGraw‑Hill Inspire Biology, OpenSciEd, SAVVAS Experience Chemistry, OpenStax, HMH Dimensions, and Cengage—along with supplemental tools such as AP Classroom, code.org, and the American Modeling Teachers Association. 

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale Unified highlighted strong achievements within the Native American Education Program, including students collectively passing AP exams and earning meaningful college credit savings. Check out the full presentation here. 

• Scottsdale Unified approved the 2026–2027 Governing Board meeting calendar, which includes 11 regular meetings and 5 special/study sessions. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria Unified approved a resolution to place a 13% Maintenance & Operation Override renewal on the November 3, 2026 ballot, with August 7 set as the deadline for submitting pro and con arguments to the County Superintendent. 
• The Board also voted to place a separate November 3, 2026 Special Election question before voters, seeking authorization to sell, lease, or exchange identified district properties, including the District Administration Center and the closed Kachina Elementary School. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• The Board received an overview of the district’s school‑closure, consolidation, and boundary‑review process, including statutory requirements and community‑input steps, with findings scheduled to be reported to the Governing Board in December. 

• Tucson Unified approved override‑funded compensation increases for 2026–27, including a $3,000 raise for teachers on TDR‑A/B and Exceptional Education schedules and a 4% increase for all other eligible employees, funded through the voter‑approved 15% M&O Override. 

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Here’s your quick March wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa School Board members voted to renew the architectural and engineering services contract for up to $3,500,000 to ensure uninterrupted access to licensed firms and maintain continuity for facility assessments, design work, and capital improvement projects beginning April 1, 2026. 

• They also voted to increase the asphalt, concrete, and related services contract by $3,000,000 to fully utilize newly approved Adjacent Ways Levy funds and support expanded repair and replacement projects across district facilities. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• Chandler School Board members voted to approve the hiring of Dr. Anna Battle as the district’s next Superintendent and to authorize her employment contract for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. 

• They also voted to approve the purchase of fifteen Blue Bird All‑American 84‑passenger buses for $3,999,413.06 funded by 2019 and 2025 bond dollars. 

• Lastly, they voted to approve an education affiliation agreement with Empire Southwest to provide CTE automotive students with industry‑aligned training, internships, and workforce pathways in diesel and heavy‑equipment technologies. 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert School Board members voted to approve a new Superintendent Employment Agreement for Dr. Jared Ryan for the term of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. 

• They also voted to approve the appointment of two new principals to lead Mesquite High School and Gilbert Classical Academy. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• PVUSD Governing Board members voted to approve flooring replacements at Desert Shadows Middle School, Larkspur Elementary, Quail Run Elementary, Pinnacle High School, and Horizon High School, as well as lighting upgrades for the Horizon High School Performing Arts Center. 
• Board members also voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Phoenix Children’s Chorus to expand advanced choral opportunities for students, provide professional learning for music educators, and support district arts programming through the 2026–27 school year. 

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale School Board members voted to approve a National Center for Construction Education and Research grant for Saguaro High School’s CTE program to fund products, curriculum, professional development, and industry certifications totaling an estimated $13,250. 

• The Board also voted to approve offering half‑day Pre‑School and Pre‑Kindergarten tuition at $500 per block as part of a pilot program at Anasazi for the 2026–27 school year. 

• Scottsdale School Board members voted to approve renaming Laguna Elementary to Laguna Prep after a naming committee review and a parent survey in which 73% of families participated and 93% supported the change. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria School Board members voted to approve the closure of Kachina Elementary School with students reassigned to Canyon Elementary beginning in the 2026–27 school year; they also approved the closure of Pioneer Elementary School with students reassigned to Foothills Elementary for 2026–27; they further approved reconfiguring Cactus High School to a 7–12 grade model to include incoming 7th and 8th grade students starting in 2026–27; and they additionally approved designating the new Cactus High School 7–12 program as a voluntary choice option for Oakwood Elementary’s 7th and 8th grade students while keeping Oakwood as a K–8 campus. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• Tucson Unified School Board members voted to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement and addendum with Pima County JTED to continue offering joint technical education courses retroactive to July 2025. 

• They also voted to approve a $131,849 grant from the Tohono O’odham Nation to renovate student restrooms at Pueblo High School. 

• They further voted to approve a $75,000 increase to the Occupational and Physical Therapy Services contract to support additional special education staffing needs. 

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Here’s your quick February wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa School Board members approved a grant for Eisenhower Center for Innovation to apply for $540,000 in funding that would support free after‑school tutoring, enrichment, and childcare through the Boys & Girls Club from 2026–2031, covering staffing and resources for participating students. 

• Board members also approved a grant for Stevenson Elementary to apply for $540,000 in funding that would support free after‑school tutoring, enrichment, and childcare through the Boys & Girls Club from 2026–2031, covering staffing and resources for students. 

• Lastly, board members approved a proposal for Sirrine Montessori Center to allow 4th–6th grade students to take a field trip to Biosphere 2 and the Arizona‑Sonora Desert Museum in March 2026 with more than 100 parents submitting surveys in support of the field trip. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• Chandler Unified School District board members approved closing Hill Academy @ ICAN beginning in 2027 as part of the transition to Ken “Chief” Hill Learning Academy, which has the space to absorb remaining students and already has a transition plan in place for families and state reporting. 

• The board members also approved a series of campus upgrades, including $1.52 million in renovations to convert Culinary Arts classrooms at Basha and Casteel high schools into industry‑standard instructional spaces, funded with CTE capital dollars. They also approved flooring replacements across Andersen Elementary, CTA Independence, CTA Freedom, Ryan Elementary, and Payne Junior High, each replacing aging carpet and vinyl, using 2025 Bond funds for a combined investment of more than $1.47 million. 

• CUSD board members approved a $125,082 contract to refurbish two aging cooling towers at Perry High School’s central plant, using 2019 bond funds to complete the preventative maintenance needed to keep the school’s cooling system operating reliably. 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert Public Schools board members approved continuing their intergovernmental agreement with the City of Mesa so the district can keep receiving solid‑waste and recycling collection services. 

• Board members also approved routine budget revisions, updating their unrestricted capital budget to reflect changes in state funding, carry‑forward balances, and interest earnings. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• Paradise Valley Unified School District board members approved several furniture refresh projects to fund new classroom furniture across Palomino Intermediate, Quail Run Elementary, Greenway Middle School, and Cactus View Elementary, updating classrooms with new furnishings through District Contract 23‑16PV. 

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale Unified School District board members reviewed recommendations from the K–11 and upper‑level math adoption committee to approve and purchase new math curriculum materials for use in classrooms beginning in the 2026–27 school year. 

• SUSD board members approved revised attendance boundaries for Pima Elementary following the school’s planned repurposing for the 2026–27 school year. A boundary committee of staff and parents reviewed multiple options, and the board held a public hearing in February to gather community input before finalizing the new boundaries. 

• Lastly, board members approved new instructional materials, including NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training for the CTE Sports Medicine pathway, Medical Terminology: Mastering the Basics for the CTE Nursing Services program, and All Things EQ Academic & Leadership Skills for Desert Canyon Middle School. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria Unified School District board members voted to begin the process of interviewing candidates to replace Superintendent KC Summers, who is resigning and will step down on June 1. 

• Board members also approved updated cooperative contracts that allow the district to continue purchasing cybersecurity services, sports‑court maintenance, and sheet music and instrument services. The new agreements replace older contracts that recently expired and designate updated vendors for each service area. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• Tucson Unified School District board members approved a $350 supplemental curriculum purchase for 9th‑grade English at Pueblo High School, using Title I funds to add a modern mythological fiction text that supports students’ study of The Odyssey with more accessible language. 

• TUSD board members also approved a new dual‑credit course, Administration of Justice (AJS) 109 – Criminal Law, which will allow 12th‑grade students to earn college credit through Pima Community College while also meeting their high‑school government requirement. The course introduces students to the criminal justice system, constitutional law, ethics, and policy‑making, with an emphasis on college‑level research and writing. 

• Lastly, they approved a lease agreement allowing Premium Parking to use 22 spaces at Carrillo K–5 Magnet School during non‑school hours for downtown event overflow parking, with the district receiving 50% of net revenue and staff retaining free access to the lot at all times. 

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If you missed January’s update, you can read it here.

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Back from Break & Back to Business

School boards across the state started the year strong with some big decisions that affect our communities, from school closures and budget deficits to new programming and choosing new governing board presidents. We’ve recapped it for you here. 

Now here’s your quick January wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Members elected Courtney Davis as Governing Board President for the 2026 calendar year. 

• Mesa voted to approve a $2,000,000 contract increase to buy new technology, including teacher laptops, before prices go up, ensuring the tech team has time to get them ready for staff this summer. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• The Chandler Governing Board narrowly approved a vote on a complex set of staff cuts totaling $12 million for the 2026–27 budget after multiple long meetings and significant community input. The final plan includes reductions to teachers, media center staff, and district‑level positions. 

• The board approved spending $1,051,498 through an Omnia Partners contract with Daktronics to install new scoreboards and videoboards at Basha, Chandler, Casteel, and Hamilton High Schools as part of the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority grant. 

• The board also approved spending $266,064.20 through a 1GPA contract with Precise Sign Company to remove old units and install new Daktronics scoreboards at Basha, Casteel, Chandler, and Hamilton High Schools as part of the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority grant. 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert Public Schools governing board members voted to close Pioneer Elementary School at the end of the 25/26 school year due to declining enrollment and budget shortfalls. 

• The board also approved expanding the attendance boundaries of Carol Rae Ranch, Harris, and Val Vista Lakes Elementary to absorb parts of Pioneer’s current boundary beginning in 2026–27. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• The governing board voted to table a measure that would increase pricing for community education programming across the district. Instead, they will host a study session on the issue before voting.  

• The district held its third and final reading of a policy to follow state policy, which requires schools providing routine student health services to share health care credentials and emergency response training information upon parent request without releasing any personally identifiable employee information. 

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale scheduled a public hearing to gather input on proposed new attendance boundaries for students in the Pima Elementary area following its December 9, 2025, decision to close and repurpose the school, with a final vote set for the February 10, 2026 governing board meeting. 
• The board approved a revision to establish a Planning and Boundary Design Advisory Committee (PABDAC) and waived the second read, creating a formal advisory process to support transparent, long‑range planning for attendance boundaries. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria Unified School District voted to re-elect Heather Rooks as President of the board for the 2026 calendar year. 

• The board approved notifying Glendale Community College by certified mail that Peoria Unified will relocate its early childhood program to another district elementary school for 2026–27, with the letter reviewed by district legal counsel. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• To fill upcoming vacancies on the Tucson Unified School District Budget Advisory Committee, the board is pushing forward two community members, Corissa Shepard and Krista Millay. 

• The board also voted to extend the current superintendent, Dr. Trujillo’s contract with the district to June 30, 2029.  

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Even though schools were out of session for winter break most of December, that didn’t stop our school boards from voting on big items like budget revisions, approval of new contracts, and stamps of approval on new construction. 

Now here’s your quick December wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, and Tucson school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa voted to approve a contract to replace the roof at Smith Junior High School. 

• The board also made small revisions to the FY2025/26 budget, specifically the Classroom Site Fund and District Additional Assistance, and briefly outlined the expected solutions for shortfalls that will impact FY2027.  

• They also approved an extensive list of supplemental materials for courses across Mesa Public Schools to help achieve college, career, and community preparedness. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• CUSD board members approved a motion to rebuild Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, aiming to reduce overall repair and maintenance costs for the aging campus.  

• The board also made revisions to the FY2025/26 budget in line with the core pillars of CUSD’s Journey to Excellence.

• Additionally, a contract with EMCOR was approved to replace the outdated HVAC system at Chandler High School.  

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert approved a consent agenda item to replace the failed electrical supply service that supports the land lab at Mesquite High School.  

• They also approved a project to replace refrigeration systems at the Meats Lab Space at Gilbert High School.  

• Last on the approval list, GPS approved a proposal to replace the elevator’s hydraulic cylinder at Gilbert High School. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• PVUSD board members approved a series of policies in line with new statewide legislation to adjust the Governing Board policies, including: 
  • Changes to the student wireless communication device policy to limit acceptable student use of cell phones to educational purposes, in the case of an emergency, or if a student requires access for a medical condition. Social media use is limited to educational purposes. 
  • Changes allowing parents to opt their student out of a school-administered assessment if the student takes a different nationally recognized test outside of school and submits the official score to the school district, and to allow districts to use nationally recognized tests not administered by the district. 

• The board also approved a partnership with Soles4Souls to provide students experiencing homelessness with access to free new shoes and other essential items.  

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• Scottsdale Unified School District board members voted 3-2 this month to move forward with the closure and repurposing of Echo Canyon K-8 and Pima Elementary School beginning in the 2026/27 school year. These closures come at a time of declining school enrollment and budget shortfalls. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria adjusted its starting pay scale to reflect the new AZ minimum wage this month. In January 2026, the AZ state minimum wage will increase from $14.70 to $15.15. 

• Peoria also adjusted its Student Code of Conduct cell phone policy to include Pre-K in the K-8 cell phone away all day restrictions. 

• The board also approved an updated contract with OMNI RFP for a 2026 learning management system. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• TUSD approved the construction of a new building at Davis-Romero Bilingual Elementary Magnet School. The building will serve as the home for the school’s Mariachi program and include three additional classrooms to expand access for waitlisted students. 

• Board Members also approved the construction of a new building at Rincon/University High School to replace the current portables with permanent structures. 

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Many school districts opted to condense their two monthly meetings into a single, packed night this month due to November break.  

School letter grades are out, and as always, it was an eventful month for AZ school boards! 

Now here’s your quick November wrap-up for Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Peoria, Tucson AND, for this special edition, Amphitheater school districts: 

School Board Members: Courtney Davis, Lacy Chaffee, Sharon Benson, Marcie Hutchinson, and Rachel Walden  

• Mesa Public Schools received an overall B letter grade as a district with over 24 schools receiving As and 37 schools receiving Bs.  

• Mesa School Board Members voted 5-0 to approve a lease agreement for a portion of the property at Smith Junior High School to be utilized by Polaris Academy LLC, a specialized school for autistic and neurodivergent children. 

School Board Members: Patti Serrano, Barb Mozdzen, Claudia Mendoza, Kurt Rhors, and Ryan Heap 

• The Board approved a contract with Norcon Industries, Inc. for new outdoor aluminum bleachers for the baseball and softball fields at Perry High School and to repair the bleachers at Arizona College Prep High School.  

• They also approved a contract with Progressive Roofing to replace the roof at Bogle Junior High School with grant dollars approved and administered through the AZ Department of Administration. 

• School Board Members heard recommendations for new K-5 Math and AP World History curriculums. Requests for Information and more information can be found here on the district website.  

P.S. We wanted to share the wonderful news that BOTH the Chandler Unified School District Bond and Override passed this November. Thank you to all the parents, community members, alumni, and leaders who supported these measures! 

School Board Members: Jessie Brainard, Chad Thompson, Dr. Blake Robison, Jill Humpherys, Shana Murray 

• Gilbert School Board Members voted to approve inflationary increases to school meal prices for Fiscal Year 2027. 

• They also voted to approve changes to the 2026/27 school course catalog with some new additions to available courses, internships, and EVIT/CTE programs. 

School Board Members: Sandra Christensen, Anne Greenberg, Dr. Amanda Lim, Jessica Wani, and Tony Pantera 

• The PVUSD Governing Board approved a contract with Pueblo Mechanical to replace outdated heating and cooling chillers at Horizon High School. 

• The board had a second read of the revised PVUSD course catalog for the 2026/27 school year.  

School Board Members: Carine Werner, Mike Sharkey, Dr. Matt Pittinsky, Dr. Donna Lewis, and Amy Carney 

• The SUSD Governing Board approved additions to the High School Planning Guide for the 2026/27 school year. A few new course offerings include Construction Management Tech I & II, Education Professions I & II, AP-CTE Cybersecurity I & II, and IB French, Mandarin, Spanish, and Math Applications. 

• They also approved a new curriculum for the Introduction to Statistics course for the 2025/26 school year.  

• Lastly, a discussion was held on the option of repurposing Echo Canyon Elementary School into Scottsdale Arts Academy, an arts-focused magnet school designed to elevate Scottsdale’s long-standing identity as an arts-centered community. 

School Board Members: Melissa Ewing, Becky Proudfit, Heather Rooks, Jeff Tobey, Janelle Bowles 

• Peoria Unified updated its Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with West-MEC to include the addition of two additional attachments to the already existing agreement that clarify funding and support for district staff. 

• They approved a contract with SAVE IFB for art class ceramic supplies to replace the expiring contract with another business.  

• The board also approved an emergency measure, so the district can quickly buy the grocery items needed for classes and programs while long-term contracts are still being finalized. This approval lets the district temporarily skip the normal bidding process to keep culinary, science, and other programs stocked with essential grocery items. 

School Board Members: Jennifer Eckstrom, Dr. Ravi Shah, Natalie Luna Rose, Val Romero, and Sadie Shaw 

• TUSD voted to approve a delegating authority to individual school councils to hold the required public meetings for D-rated schools (Hudlow Elementary School, Grijalva Elementary School, Manzo Elementary School, and Vesey Elementary School) due to short, required timeline windows. 

• They also approved a contract with ASPIRE to provide curriculum around substance abuse beginning in Spring 2026. This is in line with the implementation plan to address both prevention and intervention, K-12 districtwide passed in May 2025.  

School Board Members: Susan Zibrat, Deanna M. Day, Vicki Cox Golder, Michael Gemma, and Matthew A. Kopec 

Our team wanted to highlight Amphitheater Unified School District in this wrap-up due to the recent news of plans to close four schools across the district. The district spans 112 miles and covers parts of Catalina, Oro Valley, and Tucson, and has been serving students for 132 years. 

This month: 

• Amphi teacher Michaela Rodrigues, a third-grade teacher at Innovation Academy, was honored at the governing board meeting as the Arizona Science Teachers Association’s Elementary Science Teacher of the Year. 

• Mandi Cordell and Ashlee Manley Watson from Innovation Academy were named finalists for the Raytheon Leaders in Education Awards, and their dedication and commitment to Amphi students were celebrated at the meeting.  

• 11 of the district’s 21 schools achieved an A rating by the state A-F letter grade system for 2025. No schools received D or F ratings. 

• Supplemental texts were approved for the district CTE Culinary (9-12), REACH Honors English 11 (11^th), and ELA courses (K-2). 

If you are an Amphi parent, student, or community member who would like to provide feedback on the news of school closures, you can complete the district feedback survey here.  

Thanks for reading this month’s update! 

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