Monica Diaz, who oversees the PACE program, updated the Casa Grande Union High School District board on Oct. 20, 2025, about the school’s first 53 instructional days and described curricular shifts, career-pathway work and early enrollment trends.

“We now offer a blended learning environment where students have access to their core courses through the subject.com curriculum, and then we have the in-person adviser support that provides interventions and also elective offerings to students,” Diaz said. She told the board that staff prioritized alignment between PACE’s revision and the district’s mission and priorities and that several shifts required training and adjustments.

Diaz described instructional and scheduling changes: an adjusted bell schedule with seven periods so students may take four core classes online plus up to three electives, more flexible pacing options (students can accelerate or decelerate by subject), and targeted interventions guided by weekly PLC data reviews. She said math remains a primary area for added in-person tutoring.

On career-pathway work, Diaz said PACE has started “durable skills” and internship-like experiences focused on collaboration, leadership and project planning. Health-care-related coursework includes weekly lessons supported by a peer mentor from CAC and student-led projects; students planned a community lapathon as a physical fitness awareness activity tied to service-learning and outreach to middle schools.

Enrollment and budget notes: Diaz said August began with 70 students and ended with 73; September moved from 73 to 74; October enrollment was described as stable. She reviewed a two-year budget comparison in the packet (FY25 and FY26 figures) and said the program team is aligning resources with the revision. Diaz also noted technical issues: an expected lockdown browser tool for the online curriculum was not yet functioning and staff had made interim adjustments to preserve assessment integrity.

Next steps Diaz listed include exploring dual-credit opportunities (ASU Accelerate) and continuing to expand industry credential options, guest-speaker visits and workplace visits. She said the district plans additional outreach to middle schools and early information sessions to increase awareness for transfer students.

Board members congratulated Diaz on early progress, asked follow-up questions about partnerships and encouraged outreach to local businesses for guest speakers and workplace visits. The board recorded no formal action on the PACE update; the presentation was received for information.