Chandler residents urge board to open superintendent search to community
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Summary
Multiple speakers at public comment urged transparency and community involvement in the district’s superintendent search; the board has contracted a search firm and scheduled a public planning session.
Several residents, parents and community members used the Oct. 8 public‑comment period to press the Chandler Unified School District governing board for a transparent, community‑centered superintendent search.
Eleven members of the public spoke during the meeting’s open‑comment period. Speakers raised similar themes: publish the search timeline, disclose candidate qualifications and backgrounds, include town halls or forums with finalists, and ensure the district conducts an open process rather than a private special‑session selection.
Cindy Barnes (commenter) said she expected more community involvement when the district initially selected a superintendent in 2021 and urged the board to involve the public in the current search. Leslie Minkas (commenter) and Lou Anne Savolt (commenter) each urged formal community input mechanisms such as town halls, surveys and focus groups so voters and families can evaluate finalists and consider likely fiscal challenges, including projected enrollment declines.
Eloyce Gillespie (commenter) and several others urged transparency about the selection firm and timeline; the board’s agenda packet notes Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) was selected to conduct the search. Board staff said a public planning session with HYA is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 a.m.; that meeting will set milestones, stakeholder input opportunities and next steps for the search process.
Why this matters: The board will select a superintendent who will set district priorities and handle an expected multi‑year enrollment decline and its fiscal consequences. Public speakers said broad stakeholder involvement would increase trust in the process.
What’s next: The district posted a board planning session with the contracted search firm on Oct. 17 and the board said HYA will provide formal updates at future board meetings. Board staff also said planning‑session meetings are public and will include opportunities for community input.
