Queen Creek USD board authorizes special counsel, OKs potential legal action over EVIT satellite funding

The Queen Creek Unified School District governing board voted to retain Osborne Maladon, P.A. as special counsel on matters related to the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) satellite intergovernmental agreement and to authorize that firm to initiate legal action if needed over the district’s CTE funding statute and related matters.

Member D, a member of the Queen Creek Unified School District governing board, told colleagues before the votes that she was “voted by the citizens of Queen Creek to represent to the best of my ability that the best education is available to our students,” and said the district has expanded EVIT CTE programs on its campuses over recent years. Member D added, “This is bigger than a funding disagreement. It's about fairness, opportunity, and access.”

Board members moved in sequence to (1) retain Osborne Maladon, P.A. as special legal counsel concerning the EVIT satellite IGA, (2) approve the direction previously given to the board’s legal counsel in executive session (identified in the agenda as item 8(a)), and (3) authorize Osborne Maladon to initiate litigation on behalf of the district, if necessary, regarding the EVIT satellite IGA and the district’s CTE funding statute. Motions were made and seconded on the record; the motions were approved by voice vote. The transcript does not provide a roll-call tally.

Several board members emphasized a preference to resolve the issue without court action. Member A said the district hopes to “make an agreement with EVIT” and preserve a productive partnership for students. Member C urged more personal-level communication with EVIT to avoid litigation, saying litigation would divert funding from students. Member E, speaking from personal experience, said, “I can speak just on a personal note, having 2 kids in the program right now. If it wasn't offered through the satellite campus, my girls would not be able to attend,” and described how extracurricular commitments limit students’ ability to travel to EVIT’s main campuses.

One board member noted that Queen Creek is among nine districts that have raised the same funding concerns; the board member said all nine districts have “bonded together to fight for what is right.” Board members repeatedly framed their decisions as attempts to protect program access for students at their home high schools, citing program expansions, equipment, transportation and certification opportunities that rely on satellite funding.

Board members approved the three EVIT-related actions while several speakers emphasized that litigation remains a last resort and can be halted if an agreement is reached before legal filings move forward.

ACTIONS: Retain special counsel; approve executive-session direction; authorize counsel to initiate legal action. The transcript records motions, seconds and voice approval for each action; specific vote counts and individual roll-call votes were not specified in the record.