The Queen Creek Unified School District governing board approved installation of a gym divider at Mountain Trail Academy and received staff updates on adjacent paving projects and a new bicycle rack at Chrisman High School.

Amber Bridal recommended approval of the gym divider, saying the divider "will allow for lunch and classes to happen at the same time," a change the district identified during campus design work. Bridal told the board the project will be paid from remaining SFD dollars and that district general funds would not be used. If approved, the contractor McCarthy is expected to install the divider "probably within about 60 days." The board approved the motion by voice vote.

Board members also heard that plans and pricing for a bus- and fire-lane repaving project at Queen Creek Junior High have been submitted to the SFB and are awaiting that body's approval. Staff said the district expects to add additional adjacent projects in the coming months, including paving of other bus lanes and fire lanes.

Separately, staff reported the construction team is adding a new bicycle rack at Chrisman High School. The district said the new rack will add 244 bicycle parking spaces and that the project is being paid for through SFD funds.

Supporters said the gym divider will help Mountain Trail meet projected enrollment by allowing simultaneous use of the gym for instruction and lunch periods. The board did not request additional funding for the divider and set no further conditions beyond the installation timeline described by staff.

Details on the repaving projects remain pending SFB approval; staff said additional adjacent projects are expected but did not provide a schedule or cost estimates.