Mesa Public Schools board approves reorganization that eliminates five assistant superintendent posts, creates two chief roles

Mesa Public Schools' Governing Board on Aug. 14 approved a personnel request to eliminate five assistant superintendent positions and create two chief-level posts — chief of academics and chief of schools — as part of a district reorganization aimed at reducing central office staffing and saving money ahead of the 2026–27 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Straum told the board the redesign is intended to “streamline and become more efficient” so that school-based staff can focus on students as the district faces declining enrollment and budget pressure. “We do anticipate having a 9 to $18,000,000 budget shortfall heading in into 2627,” Dr. Straum said during the board’s study session presentation.

The reorganization will reduce district-office full‑time equivalents (FTE) roughly from 147 to 104 — a reduction the administration described as approximately 40 FTE — and estimated to save about $2.5 million to $3.5 million annually from the district office redesign alone. The district also expects additional savings from other measures and from natural attrition at schools.

Why it matters: Mesa Public Schools projects continuing enrollment declines through 2028 that will reduce state funding tied to student counts. The district forecasted a three‑year enrollment drop of about 4,000–5,000 students and highlighted a roughly 2,500‑student contraction at the high‑school level over that period — an effect the superintendent said would be more severe for the budget because high‑school pupils carry a higher ADM weight.

What the board approved: The personnel motion on the consent/action calendar authorized the elimination of five assistant superintendent positions and the addition of two chief positions, with those chiefs expected to start on July 1, 2026. The board also authorized internal, employees‑only postings for the two chief positions initially; the administration said it will post externally only if internal applicants are not qualified.

How the reorganization will work: Under the new structure, the chief of schools will oversee school systems and operations, supported by executive directors aligned to high‑school regions and feeder patterns. The chief of academics will oversee curriculum, related services, data and accountability, and other learning functions; both chiefs will be followed by a domino hiring process in which executive directors and director‑level roles will be posted and designed in collaboration with the newly hired chiefs. The administration said gray boxes in the presented org chart represented positions and job titles to be defined after hiring the two chiefs.

Timeline and hiring process: District leadership notified affected employees beginning July 9 and said the two chief positions would be posted internally the day after board approval, with recommendations for hires planned at the Aug. 28 meeting. The administration described a multi‑stage interview process led by Human Resources with large and small panels and finalists interviewed by the superintendent and Mr. Wing; district staff said the superintendent and Mr. Wing will not serve on the larger interview panels.

Board and public questions: Board members and several public commenters pressed the administration on protections for specific programs and employees, fairness of an internal‑only posting, how job descriptions would be finalized, and how special education leadership and services would be maintained after the elimination of assistant superintendent roles. Mr. Wing said the district intends to create executive‑director roles that will include related services (special education) under the chief of academics; he also said many job descriptions will be drafted after the two chiefs are hired so those leaders can help design the roles.

Budget and enrollment context: The administration explained that when new students enroll the district receives a per‑pupil dollar but that only about 60% of that typically funds classroom instruction in Arizona; the remaining approximately 40% covers operations and district functions, items the superintendent called “the hardest part” to trim during declining enrollment. The district offered detailed estimates: a projected loss of roughly 1,800 students for 2026–27 would reduce revenue by an estimated $12.5 million (hence the presented shortfall range of $9 million to $18 million, contingent on federal and state funding).

Vote and next steps: The board approved the personnel request, including the addendum, by a recorded vote of five yeas. The administration will post the two chief positions internally, recommend hires at the next meeting and then proceed with a domino hiring process for executive directors, directors and other roles with an aim to complete the initial hiring before winter break.

Ending: District leaders said the redesign is intended to preserve school‑based positions as long as possible and to prioritize class‑size ratios as one of the last budget levers. The board asked the public to submit questions and ideas through the governing‑board contact page as the district refines job descriptions and implements the reorganization.