Shepherd Junior High expands to a new 7-12 school model with community input

The Mesa Unified District Governing Board held a regular meeting on July 22, 2025, focusing on significant developments in school expansion and staffing strategies. The meeting highlighted plans for the Shepherd Junior High to transition into a 7-12 school, which aims to enhance educational offerings and address declining enrollment.

Missus Benza, the principal of Shepherd Junior High, provided an enthusiastic update on the school's expansion plans. She emphasized the importance of community engagement, sharing that a recent survey yielded positive feedback from parents regarding the proposed changes. The school is currently working on its application process for the new structure, drawing inspiration from successful models at other schools in the area.

Benza outlined the school's vision for sports and extracurricular activities, noting that while larger sports like football may not be feasible due to space constraints, there are plans for a swim team and cross-country, among others. The school is also in the process of determining elective offerings based on community input, with several listening sessions scheduled to gather feedback from parents.

In addition to the expansion discussion, the board introduced a new initiative called participatory staffing. This program will involve five schools, including Shepherd Junior High, in a collaborative approach to staffing decisions. The goal is to engage parents and community stakeholders in discussions about staffing needs and allocations, ensuring that the schools can operate within a sustainable budget.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue gathering community feedback and refining the plans for both the school expansion and staffing strategies. The board expressed optimism about the potential positive impact these initiatives could have on student engagement and educational quality in the district.