[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6665142,"mediaKeyId","2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537","parentId",2364148,"title","Board approves K‑8 ASPIRE gifted program at Arredondo; some parents and one board member opposed","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4409000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537&start=4409&end=4409","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537/thumbnail_4409000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6665142/Arizona/Board-approves-K8-ASPIRE-gifted-program-at-Arredondo-some-parents-and-one-board-member-opposed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665142-9d8265f40b7228c23d56165cd88e8db6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775811807&Signature=EWwMXQiwbJVxXOzf255Ybs7BefsT-V-26iSeofzXd31zQby4K-52HOSxr08igcp3q0YC-L1WCyUndlgtAT9pCTTCM9CdMHzAyQKjCA7VQBw~DWwFrJ8~pTGIDSrgZkisvZdwfm3CnpJoRVUPYRnZCBjoCgsmP6FFrS5VHBvDU-pxdEbuyx~Y1Qk3HkWs-vlABByDkdNOEZSwIVZnha9IHGRPv6LEUlDsAZfCqE8V4rmV6zeiLYvQ307H7~jOJZh3aKCNg7TNpe4ZwJTK8F83peaVUHYmkDWd0bjWI4BWTBKwLfudHnd3JAx826eSfdKjfHrDYvdOBS08rIkT1fMzYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tempe School District (4258)","date","2025-02-20T18:19:55.17Z","article","The Tempe Elementary School District governing board approved a K‑8 ASPIRE gifted program at Arredondo Elementary School and authorized boundary changes for Aguilar and Fuller Elementary Schools for the 2025–26 school year, carrying the motion on a 4–1 recorded vote.

Board and staff presentations described the ASPIRE program as a self‑contained gifted option the district says will provide a concentrated gifted curriculum while preserving access to services at neighborhood schools. Superintendent Dr. Driscoll advised a phased approach for students already in the district: students currently enrolled in Connolly’s ASPIRE program would remain there through their cohort, and a full K‑8 implementation at Arredondo would be phased in as younger cohorts (beginning with incoming kindergartners) progress.

Several parents said the timing of the boundary changes and program launch creates practical hardships. Jeff Nielsen, identified as a parent of a student at Arredondo, asked the board to delay the change for a year so families could make after‑school care and open‑enrollment decisions. \"If we don't know where our kids are gonna be going to school, we don't know where to apply for kids zone,\" Nielsen said, referring to before‑ and after‑school care registration.

Board member and council participant Mr. Terry delivered prepared remarks opposing both the middle‑school career exploration proposal and the Arredondo ASPIRE proposal; he said he had received many negative emails and comment cards and that, in his view, the proposals risk pushing families away. \"I'm voting no on agenda items 3 and 4,\" Terry said during public remarks before the vote.

Board supporters argued the program will help retain families and provide specialized services that nearby districts already offer; several members emphasized the district’s limited time to adjust to declining enrollment and the need to offer distinct choices. The board asked staff to preserve access to gifted services at neighborhood schools for families who choose to remain and to present a detailed phased‑in timeline for the Arredondo implementation.

The board recorded a 4–1 vote in favor; staff said they will follow up with phased implementation details, open‑enrollment timelines and communications for affected families.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2-19-2025 Governing Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The governing board approved establishing a K‑8 ASPIRE gifted program at Arredondo Elementary and corresponding boundary changes for Aguilar and Fuller for 2025–26. The vote was 4–1; board debate and public comment stressed timing, family hardship and phased implementation.","taxTitle","Tempe School District (4258), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",13627,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6665146,"Board approves Fees College Prep middle‑school career‑exploration program and boundary shifts for 2026–27",1987,2392000,4379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537&start=2392&end=4379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537/thumbnail_2392000.jpg","/articles/6665146/Arizona/Board-approves-Fees-College-Prep-middleschool-careerexploration-program-and-boundary-shifts-for-202627","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665146-ea22371c7ab6e368f2ce7c4bca45b7ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775811807&Signature=Esv0op1XBa~Y~DNr0n9-3e3w08ZHDbZ3AEji3zu2x9NWvSJII-Vmd8~82lhqnDT6RZryvU~otLJh5HwbMI0QcP-BaBXinZhWtrqHjqSxzBL7Hx2sUGeaKa7NHfW2KyP3m8mxTsuE22ut1GIecGfsahPWjD~vm4Idd3BMUrRxp1OVEoMqzQbm2L~7zuzuaDMR9HWACmgYJM3MRzCwcqckGVEhIqeROXvHOJWQLRGxI1CE01SvmwF4emaCFikncVa6~V17yWAj7~vYmXiGlL5V30aKyP0CI1gvEqHtpL4oE9SYuGpM8QAOfRjVo3FMTPU-ih4p~2FAZcEkxeiAT2uyZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tempe Elementary School District governing board authorized a middle‑school career‑exploration program at Fees College Preparatory Middle School and approved boundary adjustments for Moseley and Connolly middle schools for the 2026–27 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Driscoll and staff described the Fees program as a place‑based middle‑school option emphasizing career pathways and exploratory electives. Supporters said the program is designed to make middle school more relevant and attractive to families amid districtwide enrollment declines. Board Member Miller and others said the district has available capacity at many sites and that new specialized options could help retain students. \"We're not gonna teach the kids how to weave and expect them to do a prayer rug coming out of the first semester. That isn't what this is about,\" Miller said, urging exposure to a range of fields and technologies.

Public comment included concerns about potential crowding and whether boundary changes concentrate poverty; Manuel Mattis, a local resident, asked whether the proposed boundaries pull students from lower‑income neighborhoods into schools already serving those areas and warned of possible overcrowding. Staff said space exists in the district to absorb transfers and that the 2026–27 timeline gives months for planning, transportation and operational work.

The motion to approve the Fees career‑exploration program passed on a 4–1 recorded vote. Board members directed staff to continue planning, address transportation logistics and report back with program details before implementation.","The governing board approved a career‑exploration middle‑school program at Fees College Preparatory Middle School and authorized corresponding boundary changes for Moseley and Connolly for the 2026–27 year after public comment and discussion about enrollment and program design. The motion passed 4–1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6665153,"Tempe Elementary board approves early‑childhood center at Carmonati and corresponding boundary changes",75,480000,555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537&start=480&end=555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537/thumbnail_480000.jpg","/articles/6665153/Arizona/Tempe-Elementary-board-approves-earlychildhood-center-at-Carmonati-and-corresponding-boundary-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665153-a945655ac083c92225636952a0fc68ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775811807&Signature=YbYvmnbpzyQ0CBJBSlR1maJ9cg-LD7gvqHevWaclT8ofA1h9Xmu5d8j7ViU9Rc2c8ooZNRhP~9e9WLK0Pcxayoa7kXYmFqx2mYjWE~d~XsPyvZBMFy63R5XqnYDaCDd8zIZvH4~6PQROWfNUIDSOU0I0PVcT7TozDD9beijgZESXwLSQorZvJT2f5YWHHe2irVMNz1ryCeWs4sd14rRPlJ3ysbzRzxuwm3udVJGS~fh98s~MX8wA2RoW3n3TFX3neCJn8lsFM5G96~JvRQlAoR5PXgi8M5ebAa6tiI90j6oe6aKh95d0A4JAfMrLTkU0jXOdmXBWKCZysUjA7PuaVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tempe Elementary School District governing board voted to implement an early‑childhood center at Carmonati Elementary School and to authorize corresponding elementary boundary changes for the 2025–26 school year.

Board members and district staff framed the action as part of the district’s strategic plan response to declining enrollment. Superintendent Dr. Driscoll told the board the district’s demographer projects continued declines and that staff examined district properties for new uses. “One of the things that we have been looking at is how can we provide choices to our families,” Dr. Driscoll said during a presentation that cited earlier demographer briefings and a multi‑year planning process.

Under the approved plan, Carmonati would become a center focused on children from birth through age 5; students who live in portions of Carmonati’s current attendance area would be reassigned to Holdemann and, in some areas, to other nearby elementary schools. Staff said Holdemann and other receiving schools have capacity to absorb additional students. The superintendent described public engagement steps completed under Board policy JC: postcards to residents, required public meetings and a comment‑card process. \"We had meetings at Carmonati, Fees, and Arredondo...we answered the comment cards there,\" Dr. Driscoll said.

Board members raised questions in public discussion about impacts on GETS (the district program that serves preschool‑age students with specialized instruction), how many out‑of‑district peers attend GETS and facility costs to license and retrofit older elementary classrooms for early‑childhood use. Dr. Driscoll said the district is required to continue specialized services for qualifying students and that GETS enrollment is mostly district residents. \"I would say roughly 0, maybe 1 or 2,\" he said when asked how many GETS peers come from outside the district. On construction costs, staff told the board final figures will depend on architectural work and licensing reviews; Moseley’s full rebuild cost was cited as an illustration of escalating construction costs but staff emphasized the Carmonati change is a remodel and would be substantially less than a rebuild.

Public commenters expressed support and concern. Board Member Lemon, speaking during the agenda item, said the district must consider empty seats and reusing buildings: \"What spaces do we have and where might a different type of programming be more successful?\" Parent and community speakers at public comment highlighted equity and neighborhood impacts; one commenter asked the district to consider long‑term effects on neighborhoods and whether reassignments would concentrate poverty in particular schools.

The motion to implement the early‑childhood program and authorize boundary changes passed in a recorded voice vote; the board announced the motion \"passes.\" Staff said further details — including cost estimates, licensing steps, and a communication plan for affected families — will be developed and returned to the board.","The governing board approved converting Carmonati Elementary to an early‑childhood center for the 2025–26 school year and authorized boundary shifts that move affected students to Holdemann and other nearby schools. Board members discussed enrollment trends, special‑education peer models and uncertain remodeling costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6665155,"Tempe Elementary board approves memorandum with HealthCorps to pilot health-career programming",104,349000,453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537&start=349&end=453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2364148-2e753768c0390ab94a936509252d3537/thumbnail_349000.jpg","/articles/6665155/Arizona/Tempe-Elementary-board-approves-memorandum-with-HealthCorps-to-pilot-health-career-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6665155-5442fb011992b2c73292ed444fa28c9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775811807&Signature=alQCFYvSKOZ7RRt8DMdTgczgyz3xvLSftvKMDhVAplLARA66PHv7kq7ws8JmYsPVmQpsL064Z-HwiAZmnwJDLyBTk9wXNf-9ABcmMqbcpoUt92lEX9R9MnIe-2Bc8ZsAtA56r7umsSJu9BrEjglcCBFUp94CiFgqnEUPDV1o91LGXz1Yrg~hsEt19ZV1-GKArLvur83LXuOxF8Ax7tnciXalpIjIfXAqKVGCdMhLxKj6cyfAWpq20v~MUeOMLQiXw75yGOo6PNVx17kt4o8F2cqqNVOrK0mgzNqwySXsldXohHEC~4JyIPp74p6YTzvgGnLPgThjcX4Bl-UiwZn4Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tempe Elementary School District governing board on Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding with HealthCorps to pilot health-career programming in district schools.

The agreement, presented by Michelle Grimaldi, will bring HealthCorps volunteers — often college students studying health fields — into school settings to deliver career-exploration lessons and health promotion activities. \"Their mission is to teach kids about, career paths in health related fields,\" Grimaldi told the board, adding the program serves students from fifth grade through high school and includes leadership projects chosen at each school.

District Superintendent Dr. Driscoll said the board's approval lets administrators proceed with a pilot and begin contracting and coordination with school sites. The board voted by voice; members voiced assent and the motion \"passes\" was announced.

The memorandum ties the district to an organization Grimaldi said is sponsored by the Arizona Education Economic Commission and operates in multiple states. The district did not publish a dollar amount tied to the MOU during the meeting; Grimaldi described the program scope, grade levels served and a plan to pilot HealthCorps at one or more sites connected to existing extracurricular programming.

Board members did not request additional conditions or amendments before voting. With the vote complete, staff said they will return to the board or post updates as the pilot's site selection, schedule and operational details are finalized.

The governing board recorded the action under the consent agenda before discussing it publicly; the motion passed by voice vote and was announced as carried.","The Tempe Elementary School District governing board approved a memorandum of understanding with HealthCorps to pilot health-career programming using near-peer mentors at district sites, the board heard on the motion and approved it by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves K‑8 ASPIRE gifted program at Arredondo; some parents and one board member opposed

Board approves Fees College Prep middle‑school career‑exploration program and boundary shifts for 2026–27

Tempe Elementary board approves early‑childhood center at Carmonati and corresponding boundary changes

Tempe Elementary board approves memorandum with HealthCorps to pilot health-career programming