Scottsdale Unified approves IGA, lease with EVIT for career-technical programs

The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board approved two agreements with the East Valley Institute of Technology on July 20 during a virtual meeting, voting 5-0 to authorize an intergovernmental agreement for career and technical education participation and to approve a lease to host EVIT’s Fire Science Academy at Coronado High School.

The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) covers student participation in EVIT satellite and central campus career-technical education programs for the 2025–26, 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years. Board members questioned reimbursement and compliance details during discussion before voting to approve the IGA as presented.

Board member Sharkey thanked district negotiators for securing terms he said were critical for the district to participate, and other board members expressed support while noting reservations about aspects of EVIT’s approach. Legal counsel Nick Buzan addressed a specific concern about Exhibit B, the agreement’s compliance rubric, saying the district had negotiated protections. "I think it's unlikely that failing the rubric ... would cause any withholding based on the terms of the agreement," Buzan said, adding that the more likely consequence would be heightened scrutiny at reapproval; he also reminded the board that EVIT programs are subject to annual reapproval.

Board members asked how the new reimbursement split differed from the previous agreement; staff noted the prior arrangement was a lump-sum proportion that rose over recent years (listed in the meeting as 85% in 2022–23, 86% in 2023–24 and 87% in the final year of that prior agreement). The meeting record contained a discussion of a multi-year split in the new IGA, but the exact numeric split cited in discussion was not specified in the transcript.

The second approved item was a lease agreement between SUSD and EVIT to host EVIT’s central campus Fire Science Academy at Coronado High School. That lease was approved on a 5-0 vote.

Votes at a glance: IGA with EVIT for participation in EVIT career and technical education programs, outcome: approved, vote: 5-0; Lease agreement to host EVIT Fire Science Academy at Coronado High School, outcome: approved, vote: 5-0.

Both motions were moved and seconded during the meeting and passed by roll-call vote. The board adjourned after passing the two action items.

Details recorded in the meeting transcript indicate continued annual program reapproval and a compliance rubric (Exhibit B) that staff and counsel said is more likely to affect future reapproval than to trigger immediate withholding of reimbursement under the negotiated terms.