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Board designates Desert Sun Academy as K–12 alternative and special education campus; administrators outline small start and accreditation plan
Summary
The board approved re‑designating Desert Sun Academy as a K–12 alternative and special education campus. Administrators said the campus will initially serve four students already receiving district services, expand slowly (12 students by December is the stated aim), and pursue alternative‑school accreditation next year.
The governing board approved a resolution May 13 to designate the Desert Sun Academy campus as a K–12 alternative and special education school for the 2025–26 school year, a step administrators said is required to start the process with the Arizona Department of Education and to pursue accreditation and program expansion.
Dr. Jensen presented the recommendation and said the district will begin with four students who are already receiving services at the district office; the program will continue current services, use a board‑certified behavior analyst (BCBA), a social worker, a teacher and a principal, and operate on a small ratio to meet student needs. Dr. Jensen said the plan is to grow deliberately and that by December the program could serve roughly 12 students; ultimate size was described as modest and based on student need rather than a fixed cap.
Why it matters: Administration framed the designation as both a student‑services measure (to provide appropriate in‑district alternatives to private placements) and a fiscal measure (reducing tuition and transportation costs associated with sending students out of district for specialized services). The designation allows the district to pursue an alternative‑school accreditation so that, in the future, diplomas and program structures can be issued from the designated campus rather than from a sending school.
Program and funding details: Administrators said current staffing will include a BCBA and social worker and that the district already provides services to the initial students. Funding for the program can come from multiple sources depending on individual students’ needs (special education funds, IDEA, instructional-improvement funds, dropout prevention dollars and other grants when allowable). Dr. Pletnick and other administrators said they will carefully balance funding sources and noted federal grant requirements and auditing rules when using restricted funds.
Alternatives discussed: Board members and public commenters asked about private providers such as SESI (Specialized Education Services, Inc.), which a public commenter said had offered a model and proposal; administrators said SESI had expressed interest but noted contract pricing and minimum seat commitments and that district staff believed they could start smaller with district staffing. Public commenter Carrie McCulloch urged the board to consider SESI’s proposal, which she said had a record of transitioning students back to home campuses.
Outcome: The board voted to approve the Desert Sun Academy K–12 designation. Administrators said this action does not require immediate expansion but provides the necessary designation to move ahead with conversations with ADE, pursue accreditation and plan program details.
Ending: Staff said they will continue program planning, finalize staffing and curriculum choices, bring cost details in the upcoming budget packet and keep the board informed of implementation steps.
