[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6479417,"mediaKeyId","5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084","parentId",5693829,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves personnel addendum and contract increases","audioSeconds",5191,"startMs",3483000,"endMs",8674000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084&start=3483&end=8674","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084/thumbnail_3483000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479417/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-personnel-addendum-and-contract-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479417-69195a56639622e653b2997636d79975/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920810&Signature=U6tKNBHBueZ0Vh9QgSPfjEhPnKZLq3MraKlCjHiM1iWpBZozqb1PMC9E0LTIBeMbLS2BEqTIyR0W1rdVtxSNj3uoTb1TA554J4Y8cSU3cquMtaDvyyv-yuDuVNX8~a8Jpj4Oi0QhEpyXwACpQ2QLINnRSSgUoOrChijedkHZGboX-8UHRhU3ctGi4T3LY12eCziuci~ZurNDfpKerH-TkGyCYPhsmWELKf6BbCIpFGDnGLxMNOldTs3RTQYKUB0cFKddECtx5tHZc5PftijSHtF2hUUEA0e4i9TytpPyygCL5znqDzGl66HNsMTuKV9p5C9LguaAvByBTbvu2x2~ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mesa Unified District, AZ ","date","2025-08-29T16:44:25Z","article","The Mesa Public Schools governing board recorded several formal approvals during the regular meeting.

Personnel request (including addendum): The board approved a personnel request that included the creation of chief of schools and chief of academics positions and supporting executive director and director roles. The motion passed with a recorded tally of 4 yeas, 0 noes, 0 abstentions; one member was excused.

SmartTag ID cards: The board approved a contract increase of $150,000 for the SmartTag ID card system used for student identification and related systems (bus access, lunch, etc.). The motion carried, tally 4–0. Board discussion noted this item was on the sole‑source vendor list and that auditors verify sole‑source justifications.

Fire detection system replacements: The board approved a contract increase of $500,000 to replace fire detection systems. District staff said the approval is proactive while they await potential School Facilities Board (SFB) grant awards; if the grant does not come through the project would be deferred and remain on the long list of deferred maintenance. Motion passed 4–0.

All vote counts reported in the meeting were 4 yeas and no recorded dissenters on the items above; one board member (Mrs. Walden) was excused from the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Governing Board Study Session and Regular Board Meeting - August 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the regular meeting the governing board approved a personnel request including an addendum creating chief positions, and approved two contract increases: $150,000 for SmartTag ID cards and $500,000 for fire detection system replacements. All three motions passed by 4 yeas; one board member was excused.","taxTitle","Mesa Unified District (4235), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",13601,"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},6479422,"Superintendent outlines reorganization, new chief roles and participatory staffing; board approves personnel addendum",2023,5737000,7760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084&start=5737&end=7760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084/thumbnail_5737000.jpg","/articles/6479422/Arizona/Superintendent-outlines-reorganization-new-chief-roles-and-participatory-staffing-board-approves-personnel-addendum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479422-2871bd88c3b667032a19a19864f52746/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920810&Signature=CvcB2TeZc6M8x4vuvCbEMKY-~a7eCO6BnMaesISnv3DF6NSEkOuvKYA9tHILW6gQL4WjbBF-65LcokrIwg3mSDqLbl7i~7LzNSSYr-EosyiYxnUWAp7bwohdkgAkDCExkt2gCD-V5lPrzMBe3~faeFvbKfsoI~xgsCyB73YvBlSZjGWtHP8bdyOqx-fIh7~7nBkCi6pUx~mjL7T9bc~8spWzIrq8JNsw6pKjLTN~jmrM7OM36hMFXQCa5rONq7HCKf6b~8S~8PueZ0fGZ1AhVy5rFOixmjJTJiYLm~V3fxDA6ChPQE2CRJ4vNi9mbN6rIADWSP~AS~gYYCL0y5UepQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Strom and district leaders briefed the governing board on an organizational redesign that creates two executive chief positions to lead ‘‘systems of leadership’’ and ‘‘systems of learning,’’ and described next steps for hiring and community engagement.

Dr. Strom said the chief of schools will focus on leadership development for principals and assistant principals and will oversee six executive directors charged with localized support for regions. \"The chief of school's position is essentially overseeing the systems of leadership and leadership development that we have, for our principals and for our assistant principals throughout the district,\" he said. The chief of academics, he said, will lead student learning systems, data and approaches for tiered instruction and special program areas.

Board members asked how the new roles differ from prior assistant superintendent and area superintendent positions and whether internal candidates who served during a decade of declining results can drive change. Dr. Strom described five domains of key performance indicators (KPIs) that will guide expectations and accountability for schools, regions and the new chiefs and noted plans to publish KPIs and job descriptions publicly. He said the district will use a phased approach to hiring the next layer of executive directors and directors and that selection processes would include large committees with representative stakeholders and smaller finalist panels; he also proposed community-based interviews to match executives to learning communities.

At the meeting the board approved a personnel request, including the addendum to create the chief roles and several executive director and director positions. The vote on the personnel request (including the addendum) passed 4–0.

District staff also described participatory staffing, a pilot for five smaller schools (Washington Elementary, Lehi, O'Connor Elementary, Kade STEM Academy at Red Mountain Ranch and Shepherd Junior High) that will invite parents, staff and other stakeholders to develop site staffing models tailored to each school's program priorities and community needs. Wing, the district staff member presenting school opportunities, said participatory staffing is designed to give local communities more influence over how a school’s allocated revenue is spent while noting the state funding environment is constrained.

Wing also updated the board on a separate planning boundary proposal tied to converting Franklin into a K–12 option and a recommended rebounding of Wilson Elementary into neighboring attendance areas. The planning and boundary committee (PABDEC) will hold three public hearings in early September; PABDEC will revisit a preliminary August recommendation on Sept. 29 and may forward a final recommendation to the governing board on Oct. 23.

Board members and staff discussed transparency, publication of job descriptions and KPIs, community engagement and protections for staff during the reorganization. Dr. Strom said the district will continue to prioritize internal placement where possible and that the hiring timeline aims to provide clarity to employees and families while enabling regional leadership to stand up in 2026–27. \"We think this has great potential for developing a a really solid basis of learning communities in our in our 6 regions in the district,\" he said.

","Superintendent Dr. Strom described a reorganization that creates chief of schools and chief of academics positions, a regional ‘‘learning community’’ model, and a participatory staffing pilot for five small schools. The governing board approved a personnel request including the addendum by a 4‑0 vote.",{"_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},6479427,"Mesa Public Schools outlines plan to remove portables, save operating costs and repurpose sites",929,279000,1208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084&start=279&end=1208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693829-79dabd81bcda13820728380fabff9084/thumbnail_279000.jpg","/articles/6479427/Arizona/Mesa-Public-Schools-outlines-plan-to-remove-portables-save-operating-costs-and-repurpose-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479427-a781763a95adcea2f9fb3fa3b96327d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920810&Signature=NK~6iWQpHLQxH4L~bL4LaCm2jWGrE~zlr95lWKgvxAKOyC-37mwdnfA7VRlYPDOYg9mW0qPVgXbNYwBp0ZVJqSEpowwAzHwcJaVlsappvFwdy3xvgK6TiNqSjBc4RvLaFSbM~oGudVHAnmQ8otAHBtO10RyqrieoaU-1TPPTT-sQppVLTq3TuSy39SNCqAan4u1~t8LF6IC9QcAB2MiEvX9OIAEBJnVViHYt595kfoIfS7v-W49cDsL-gHXQ47RwTAm70OI~LYuV1Mm5D55j5ZR9wzkxjRBdauLH12uGYhpOwQgHs1UODj0MFoc7xGLz1G89lUqQnXa6iu3VgKaVVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa Public Schools presented a study-session update on an ongoing plan to reduce portable classroom buildings and ‘‘right‑size’’ district facilities as enrollment declines.

The presentation, delivered by district administrator Tyler Moore and operations director Mike Kramer, said the district demolished 77 portables in fiscal 2024–25 and is planning further cohorts of removals through 2027. Moore said the work aims to reduce building square footage while avoiding brick‑and‑mortar school closures.

Moore described Mesa’s history of addressing past enrollment growth with portable classrooms and noted that district enrollment began declining around the COVID period. He said Mesa currently has about 8.3 million square feet of building space and roughly 640,000 square feet occupied by portables prior to 2025. \"One of the initiatives... I will be heavily involved in as we move through this cohort is reducing building square footage with the reduction in student count,\" Moore said.

Kramer, the executive director of operations and maintenance, summarized the first cohort’s results: demolition of 77 portables in 2024–25 removed roughly 150,000 square feet (about 154 equivalent classrooms) and produced an estimated ongoing cost avoidance of about $1.1 million per year from saved utilities, preventive maintenance and capital repairs. He said reclaimed components — for example, HVAC units, plumbing and electrical fixtures — are cleaned and stocked for future use, producing additional cost avoidance.

District projections presented in the study session estimated removing about 104 portables by 2027 for nearly 200,000 square feet removed, roughly 208 classrooms and ongoing savings approaching $1.5 million per year — described in the presentation as the equivalent of 6.5 elementary schools without altering existing brick‑and‑mortar buildings.

Moore and Kramer described site work required before demolition (testing, utility disconnection, demolition permits) and showed before‑and‑after images from campuses where portables were removed, leveled and replanted as outdoor learning or play space. Kramer noted the practical steps operations takes to salvage reusable materials and the permitting and utility disconnect work required before heavy equipment arrives.

Board members raised questions about how the district calculated savings and about continuity for programs that had been housed in portables. Moore said savings estimates come from avoided costs for domestic water, electricity, mechanical and plumbing repairs, reroofing, painting and similar recurring maintenance. He said the district surveyed principals in advance and would not demolish portables without principal approval and plans to rehouse program needs when feasible. \"We did not demolish any portables without the permission of the principal,\" Moore said.

The presentation also noted facility‑use followups beyond classroom portables: the district is evaluating administrative buildings (the Administrative Services Center/ASC, Student Services Center/SSC and Curriculum Services Center/CSC) for consolidation, repurpose, lease or sale; and transportation yards for potential consolidation from three yards toward two if feasible. Moore said the district has already cleared and repurposed some ASC floors and is exploring lease opportunities, noting the city and local organizations have expressed interest.

Board members and staff said they will continue operational and financial updates monthly. Moore said the cohort plan is tentative and will be revisited annually as enrollment trends evolve.

","District leaders described a multi-year plan to remove roughly 104 portable classrooms by 2027, reclaim nearly 200,000 square feet and save an estimated $1.5 million a year in operating costs while repurposing cleared sites for campus and administrative use.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves personnel addendum and contract increases

Superintendent outlines reorganization, new chief roles and participatory staffing; board approves personnel addendum

Mesa Public Schools outlines plan to remove portables, save operating costs and repurpose sites