Board ends Southwest Behavioral Health services agreement for Fulton opportunity program after grant-funded social worker placed on site

Chandler Unified's governing board voted unanimously Aug. 6 to terminate the elementary alternative education opportunity agreement with Southwest Behavioral Health Services Inc. (SBH), effective July 29, 2025, district staff said.

The termination follows an assessment by district staff that Fulton Elementary — where the district's elementary opportunity program is housed — had been awarded a full‑time school social worker under the Arizona Department of Education school safety grant. Staff and SBH agreed the social worker could provide the counseling supports previously anticipated under the SBH agreement.

Why it matters: the opportunity program provides a transitional, assignment‑based setting for elementary students with behavioral needs who require a smaller classroom and therapeutic supports before returning to their home campus. District staff told the board the program serves students from across the district but enrollment has fallen; at the time of the vote staff reported two students were currently assigned to the program. The board and staff emphasized the program remains available as an assignment-based transitional option and may be used again as enrollment warrants.

Details and board discussion: Dr. Fletcher presented the termination document and said the termination was mutual and co‑written by SBH and CUSD. Board member Heap asked about the tradeoffs between contracting clinical services and using a grant‑funded district social worker; staff answered that the school safety grant is a three‑year award for Fulton and that the clinician SBH had assigned previously had left for another position, leaving a gap difficult to fill quickly. Staff said the social worker will pick up counseling responsibilities and that SBH had minimal time billed in recent periods.

Officials said the opportunity program is not a permanent placement but an assignment (often up to 18 months depending on progress) with door‑to‑door transportation provided when students are assigned. One board member pressed staff to confirm the financial and billing closeout; staff said invoices are submitted after services are rendered and that there were no outstanding charges at vote time.

Board action: the motion to approve the termination was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. Staff said the district will continue to offer the opportunity program when student needs require it and will provide supports to students as they transition back to their home campuses.