[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6621638,"mediaKeyId","2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b","parentId",2800881,"title","Board approves MOU with Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to expand college- and career-aligned programs","audioSeconds",75,"startMs",4011000,"endMs",4086000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b&start=4011&end=4086","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b/thumbnail_4011000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621638/Arizona/Board-approves-MOU-with-Greater-Phoenix-Chamber-Foundation-to-expand-college-and-career-aligned-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621638-48d414be3df85597fd67894b8ab90216/orig.mp4?Expires=1777375577&Signature=Z5b0UuRPlNmNf9G2LeV48k4vtddgCc4l2VpXj3y04orzYP~ci0XF~yh~vuw24iDBOpT06gm6~T-NJWsmUR3KNb83uCA41~dQtl0Ff5UCXDQ9n~7-Y3F7CkvH-6ffE2OalRQMDC~LzJ~CTg6Ac8XgK~fKqoUbRYrtEdEyudow0Ppk4qk4LgEk1jiCjfIpX2fUE5z2x~jjow-L0Oo~KzetHTAlLjPiLuj66TBqHyeuTWjkr3SWc5FflBDsudiRHCCkvbt9MfGE3ZA45Nc~sU4WjMwuHiLF55SRqS7qI~USwT-8EbVCE2Es4P~rf9ni1EnsaKf2rl0gfQ8qeSfxvjciNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chandler Unified District #80 (4242)","date","2025-03-27T20:18:39.67Z","article","The Chandler Unified School District governing board unanimously approved on March 26 a memorandum of understanding with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s Elevate ED Arizona initiative to strengthen alignment between district education programs and local business and workforce partners.

Dr. Edgar presented the agreement, which the administration said has been reviewed by district counsel. The MOU establishes a collaborative partnership to support students, parents, administrators and faculty with college- and career-readiness programming and stronger alignment between education and business and community partners.

A motion to approve the MOU (02/25/26 MOU, Elevate ED Arizona) was made by Trustee Michael Heap, seconded and passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The agreement formalizes collaboration intended to expand career-technical education pathways and provide workplace connections for students, aligning K–12 programming with employer needs.

Provenance: Presented and approved in the action-items section during the March 26 board meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 26, 2025, Chandler USD Governing Board Regular Business Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (Elevate ED Arizona) to support college- and career-readiness alignment between education and business in the region.","taxTitle","Chandler Unified District #80 (4242), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12979,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621643,"Arizona Department of Education finds no corrective action for Chandler Unified’s English Learner program",95,807000,902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b&start=807&end=902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b/thumbnail_807000.jpg","/articles/6621643/Arizona/Arizona-Department-of-Education-finds-no-corrective-action-for-Chandler-Unifieds-English-Learner-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621643-5aac968bce4d580f5d96d32f13d00bab/orig.mp4?Expires=1777375577&Signature=cp-b0AsJm-eZTahT5P1osLShZHjU2DFhLQGCzQ7hlOSa9wGPmFjutmIIxQTw22FNSPC9KrdtxJQ6dt87mKynaY1LRMAZtrbLJOaQmBc6wRckPDXsaPjVdHbmfTV0yeYcijcAZAZVOxM249BxfnhtGOnw-nAvksRlbhbmAL-dra343KCJWcXstklW6gb7mwyWCSAOQaYpTxw7yqiUuIpDRP8lIel-rWr5wyr6rcbGMv-QNurAIJGzSB9XjNC2MotPDwdnuPpw1MgQ5Wfbyd8MP5NmNTOexI6IgwmsMn7GKDZC1OrQDy3EalUEECJJPrNLa1RQ5njolnovWOt1HDEnNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Orlando Narducci told trustees on March 26 that the Arizona Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition Services completed a review of Chandler Unified School District’s English Learner (EL) program during an on-site visit from Jan. 27–31, 2025 and found no corrective action was needed.

Narducci read a letter from ADE stating the district’s submitted evidence and on-site visit resulted in the office informing the district that “no corrective action is needed and your school year 2024–25 English language program monitoring is complete.” The letter was signed by Adela Santa Cruz, deputy associate superintendent.

Narducci said that it is unusual for a district to receive a monitoring review without findings and commended the district’s federal programs team. Board members and the superintendent noted the result aligns with a federal programs presentation earlier that day.

Why it matters: A finding of no corrective action signals the state’s review did not identify deficiencies in EL program compliance for the 2024–25 monitoring cycle. The district said ADE offered follow-up guidance and invited districts to contact the state office for further EL program support.

Provenance: Superintendent’s report during the district correspondence section of the March 26 meeting.","State review of Chandler Unified’s English Language Learner program concluded with no corrective actions for the 2024–25 monitoring period, the superintendent announced to the board.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621647,"Board approves media-center reimagining projects at Navarette and Bologna elementaries using 2019 bond funds",1367,5187000,6554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b&start=5187&end=6554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b/thumbnail_5187000.jpg","/articles/6621647/Arizona/Board-approves-media-center-reimagining-projects-at-Navarette-and-Bologna-elementaries-using-2019-bond-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621647-1dfe4092bd0374cec6e36cca4327493f/orig.mp4?Expires=1777375577&Signature=TqcQrTFv0hi9nvaiaTkpim2y5PEHWeQb7ghk5eeTzHrIZ6QtUhjzAtqDh0rSgt5ENz0XznJfJVe84A0B4RJLu5bQ0IReBoirjJ1~3canvq3bJPHBhcBadi-OEhwHtkaycL40cz8KW9XyC1NMHbt9I0ekL~Bagxl81t7z~Sv~Lq0gN1Xvqk54S9BCF0touvuqLMhpFsHakxOLHqKeqivT30CVhjZx~m09fd9USHJ-lp8LiBpldk3Y-LWD2PG1njXP8tNTEq5TrcXFK2M5nGuHbULdyp3VCEU5qa-f1Qz5rQu0GmOn24QqWrnrcfe4CrPCDRoxHI64kYa0EN3hgJndew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chandler Unified School District governing board voted on March 26 to approve two 2019 bond-funded construction contracts to reimagine elementary media centers at Navarette and Bologna (Bologna) elementaries, awarding work to W.W. White/Willmeng Construction under the district’s cooperative procurement arrangement.

Scope and costs

- Navarette Elementary: Renovation scope includes interior demo, new storefront doors and windows, ADA restroom upgrades, HVAC/fire system work, finishes and furniture to support flexible, collaborative and career-literacy learning spaces. Contract amount: $1,825,276.87.
- Bologna Elementary: Similar scope — interior and exterior demo, storefronts, ADA bathroom upgrades, HVAC/fire-system work, immersive technology and makerspace infrastructure to support dual-language and career-literacy instruction. Contract amount: $1,951,283.04.

Board discussion and vote

Administrators said both projects were planned as part of the district’s 2019 bond program and reflect community- and site-based planning with architects and stakeholders. Trustees asked about measurable academic effects and return on investment; administrators said they will identify metrics over time and that the immediate goals include increased student engagement and career-literacy exposure that staff expect will support long-term academic outcomes.

Board member Kurt Rohrs raised concerns about spending bond dollars rather than preserving funds for infrastructure contingencies; Rohrs cast the lone “nay” on both motions. The contracts passed by 3–1 votes.

Why it matters: The projects convert traditional library space into flexible, career-literacy–oriented learning hubs with makerspace and STEM capacity, ADA upgrades and mechanical improvements. District staff said the work is intended to expand equitable access to project-based learning and early STEM/CTE exposure in elementary grades.

Funding and oversight

District staff said these projects were included on the 2019 bond capital project list previously approved by the board; administrators reported approximately $14 million of bond funds remain uncommitted and earmarked for safety and infrastructure needs. The contracts will move to procurement and construction; the administration offered to host tours of completed reimagined spaces for trustees.

Provenance: The Navarette discussion and vote occurred during the action-items portion of the March 26 meeting; the Bologna item followed and was approved by the board later in the same session.","Trustees voted 3–1 to award construction contracts for media-center renovations at Navarette Elementary ($1.825 million) and Bologna Elementary ($1.951 million). Projects are part of the district’s 2019 bond reimagining program and include ADA upgrades, HVAC and flexible learning spaces.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621648,"Chandler Unified launches $600,000 pilot to shore up bus driver workforce with stipends, PTO payout options",1057,4117000,5174000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b&start=4117&end=5174","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b/thumbnail_4117000.jpg","/articles/6621648/Arizona/Chandler-Unified-launches-600000-pilot-to-shore-up-bus-driver-workforce-with-stipends-PTO-payout-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621648-8eb9002e83bef2e131cad27522f730ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1777375577&Signature=SntHw7TS2f8VcOX3hVXHioVCYDEvYWDAqmqoNpHOtQ73ABgRIq-WZYEYgZy3COGyYy1Er1G5EZJcw5k175JTCOgkQ9jOO3Oy6tOgQQ5MiYlBCfKdsMO4A3gKoxYeEQ0Y51iDHW00plUUUw6EGk4c6CF6nULJFw0lc9PPFd0~UPS~mmecOfsdXAwa7ae7b2Ryp6FBI7y3X0MjIRVFjPcOrn8s516-sQUe4oRnvo5g6P8w-XINVkawN4SpetexE5VM5p31ip0e30Guu5Mft4p5gQxGTSOZgsxIRILH0k1U-m4yHEpBfXIbUnT~HKtHkcIJplgxvxW1EquVraYaafbvmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chandler Unified trustees unanimously approved a pilot program on March 26 to address a local and national school bus driver shortage by paying targeted stipends and allowing limited PTO payouts for transportation staff.

District presenters told the board the pilot will use one-time funds from the unreserved fund balance and is intended to incent current drivers to keep working combined or hard-to-fill routes and to attract new hires. Administrators estimated the program will cost about $600,000 in total — roughly $300,000 in the current fiscal year and $300,000 in the next fiscal year if sustained.

Key elements approved

- Combined-route stipends: Back pay for roughly 60 drivers who have covered combined routes during the current year and a $500 stipend for qualifying drivers for the fourth quarter; in the next fiscal year qualifying drivers would be eligible for $500 per quarter if they cover combined routes (up to $2,000 annually).
- Hard-to-fill route stipend: For a small set of routes identified as difficult to staff (about five routes), a $500 stipend for the current quarter and up to $500 per quarter next fiscal year (up to $2,000 annually) for drivers who take those routes.
- PTO payout pilot: Allow drivers to receive payment for requested PTO that would otherwise be banked when a driver exceeds their FTE because they worked additional hours (pilot limited to transportation department).
- One-time crisis retention stipend: A one-time $1,000 retention stipend for continuing drivers (paid $500 in June and $500 in August if the driver returns in August), modeled to match recruitment incentives already used for new hires.

District staff said drivers currently average about $22.19 per hour with a typical seven-hour day and a contract that covers 196 days; with the pilot stipends included, the district estimated average hourly compensation would effectively increase to around $24 per hour on average, with higher effective hourly rates for drivers who pick up combined or hard-to-fill routes.

Board reaction and vote

Board members thanked transportation leaders for convening an advisory group that included current drivers and for targeting compensation as an actionable item. Trustee Michael Morris noted the district currently has about 62 active drivers and roughly 14 people in CDL training. Trustee Michael Heap moved to approve the pilot; Trustee Kurt Rohrs seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Transportation shortages disrupt student access to school; the pilot aims to stabilize routes for the remainder of this school year and into 2025–26 while district leaders track whether the incentives improve retention and recruitment.

Implementation and oversight

District staff said the pilot begins immediately (presenters stated an effective date of March 27) and will run through the end of the fiscal year and into the next fiscal year for evaluation. If successful, stipend items may be incorporated into the annual budget process for 2025–26. The administration identified the transportation department and labor representatives as implementation leads.

Provenance: The transportation pilot program was discussed in the action-item portion of the March 26 board meeting, with the presentation beginning at roughly 1 hour, 8 minutes into the meeting and the board vote recorded later in the agenda.","Board unanimously approved a pilot program using one-time fund balance to pay stipends and PTO payouts aimed at retaining and recruiting bus drivers; district estimates roughly $600,000 cost spread across this and next fiscal year.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621649,"Chandler Unified approves HealthCorps memorandum of understanding after board limits sessions to after-school clubs",1224,2770000,3994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b&start=2770&end=3994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2800881-0e341d9b50b7b9e21361596424e2916b/thumbnail_2770000.jpg","/articles/6621649/Arizona/Chandler-Unified-approves-HealthCorps-memorandum-of-understanding-after-board-limits-sessions-to-after-school-clubs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621649-6d368d6569e431fa29ffc8ddbf67b3f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1777375577&Signature=U~LnUonswu~fr2KlzKtjW0D4aOQOhWZEwzfGBd2Kal-VS60c1FWE2MdfWkwxWfZ2PfrUxIzaZrmKvnDMZr1Zg0IUaFeT66xcRR2wZGe8wHGBjpQX8E98tTqF0GyYBd5s4XxYhhjepBIk7ZNHXHGrzYJ0Oy7fl6NrZE8kJbsY7nTrU2Tvb16kLqMinp8vnlTbi2tNAdoyFuXQMbEBGOo6nN6t7sFgL~6fBoOS7kpArjywi9z4qI~ODcUHVoj4ABQNe9K-xkJjjLQxVA3MoQK21yd8s3NYWHEW6atv~wkjrDCA8UvqidgayZ1uVQZStynoeJo7Wont-BQpIb2whsC8Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chandler Unified School District trustees voted unanimously on March 26 to approve a memorandum of understanding with HealthCorps Inc. that will bring a college-student–led health and wellness club to district campuses for students in grades 5–12, after board members amended the MOU to restrict any programming to an after-school, opt-in club format.

The amendment came after several trustees expressed concern that the HealthCorps activities could stray into behavioral-health counseling. Board member Kurt Rohrs said he would vote against the MOU as originally written, calling out Arizona law restricting the practice of behavioral-health counseling by unlicensed individuals. “This is sounding awful like behavioral health counseling to me,” Rohrs said, and urged legal review by the state board that licenses behavioral-health counselors before the district proceeded.

HealthCorps representative Jacqueline LaPlante and district staff emphasized the program is educational and voluntary, not counseling. “We partner with colleges and universities. We come in and teach about health topics. We’re not asking students to change behavior through counseling,” LaPlante said, listing topics such as nutrition, stress management and healthy relationships. District counselor Kristine Ryan added that the program requires written parent or guardian permission and that college-age mentors are fingerprint-clearanced before campus work.

Trustees first considered a motion to table the MOU pending review by the state Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; that motion received a tie and failed for lack of a majority. Trustee Michael Heap then moved to amend the MOU to remove classroom implementation language and limit HealthCorps sessions to after-school club settings; the amendment passed and the board subsequently approved the amended MOU. The record shows the amendment was adopted during the meeting and the final approval was recorded as unanimous.

Why it matters: The program will create new voluntary, mentor-led health and wellness club opportunities across the district for students who opt in with parental permission. Trustees debated the limits of the district’s role in supporting student well-being and sought explicit safeguards — fingerprint clearance, parental consent, and an after-school-only setting — before approving the partnership.

Details of the agreement and board direction

- Scope: HealthCorps will co-facilitate weekly health-and-wellness sessions (up to 90 minutes) and host monthly campus events; district staff said CUSD will implement the program as after-school clubs only. Participants must have parent/guardian permission and mentors undergo clearance checks.
- Legal review: District attorneys reviewed the MOU prior to the meeting; trustees requested continued diligence to avoid crossing into licensed behavioral-health services.
- Board actions: A motion to table the MOU pending external review failed on a tied vote; an amendment to restrict sessions to after-school clubs passed; the amended MOU was approved by the full board.

Quotes

“This is sounding awful like behavioral-health counseling to me,” Board Member Kurt Rohrs said during debate, urging review by the state licensing board.

“We partner with colleges and universities... We’re not asking students to change behavior through counseling,” Jacqueline LaPlante, HealthCorps representative, said, emphasizing the program’s educational scope.

What comes next: District staff said schools that express interest will pilot clubs and the program can expand campus by campus. Administrators also said they will monitor implementation and report back to the board if any concerns arise.

Provenance: The HealthCorps presentation began with the district’s item introducing the MOU at 46 minutes into the meeting and the final vote occurred later in the evening during the action-items sequence.","The Chandler Unified School District governing board approved an MOU with HealthCorps to offer health-and-wellness clubs for grades 5–12 after trustees amended the agreement to restrict sessions to after-school settings. A separate motion to table the MOU pending review by the state behavioral health board failed on a tie vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves MOU with Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation to expand college- and career-aligned programs

Arizona Department of Education finds no corrective action for Chandler Unified’s English Learner program

Board approves media-center reimagining projects at Navarette and Bologna elementaries using 2019 bond funds

Chandler Unified launches $600,000 pilot to shore up bus driver workforce with stipends, PTO payout options

Chandler Unified approves HealthCorps memorandum of understanding after board limits sessions to after-school clubs