Chandler Unified board approves proposed 2025–26 budget for publication, greenlights superintendent search RFQ and several contracts

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board on June 25 approved publication of its proposed fiscal year 2025–26 expenditure budget, authorized issuance of a request for quotes (RFQ) to hire a superintendent search firm, approved a set of digital resources for 2025–26, renewed a grant agreement with First Things First that will route $250,000 to the Chandler Care Center, and voted to continue the district’s existing intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Southwest Behavioral Health Services while staff and legal counsel finalize a replacement agreement.

Budget publication and hearing

The board voted to publish the proposed FY2025–26 expenditure budget for public review and to submit it to the Arizona Department of Education. Mrs. Marion Barry, the district’s business official, told the board the proposed aggregated expenditure budget reflects declines in carryover and capital spending: “Our aggregated school district budget went down mostly due to carryover,” she said, noting a projected decrease in maintenance and operations of roughly $7 million and a capital reduction of about $12 million. Barry also said the district is projecting a 2% state increase in base funding worth about $5.4 million but expects a loss of students that reduces funding capacity.

Barry provided several headline figures the board will present again at the July 9 public hearing: the district’s calculated average teacher salary for the report is $68,899 and projected changes to tax rates include a proposed adjacent-ways levy estimate of roughly $4,000,000 (the board noted that translates to about $9.92 per $100,000 of assessed value). The board must publish the Truth in Taxation notice and allow at least 10 days between publication and the public hearing; the adoption vote is scheduled during the July 9 meeting.

Superintendent search RFQ

Citing the superintendent’s planned retirement in June 2026, the board voted to issue an RFQ to solicit competitive quotes from qualified executive search firms with pre-K–12 experience. The district’s procurement staff prepared a timeline and will present the RFQ language to the board at a special meeting before the document is posted. Board members emphasized the RFQ should ask search firms to propose realistic timelines and candidate recruitment strategies. The board’s action authorizes staff to distribute the RFQ; subsequent vendor responses, interviews and any contract award will return to the board for formal approval.

Digital resources and Flocabulary vote

The board also considered the district’s annual list of digital resources for classrooms and devices. Member Matt Heap moved to remove the product Flocabulary (a Renaissance company) from the approved list; that amendment failed on a 3–2 vote. The board then approved the original set of 2025–26 digital resources as presented by the district by a 3–2 vote.

Southwest Behavioral Health Services IGA

Trustees debated proposed contract language clarifying when the district is required to fund behavioral health services provided by Southwest Behavioral Health Services (SBH). Board member Heap proposed detailed amendments to the contract language about written approvals and year‑to‑year funding eligibility; after review and discussion with district staff the board voted to continue the current IGA and memorandum of understanding until staff can prepare revised language and obtain legal review. The motion to continue the existing agreements passed 3–2.

First Things First: Chandler Care Center

The board unanimously approved an annual grant agreement with First Things First that routes $250,000 to Chandler Care Center family resource programs (parenting activities, referrals and child-development support). Katie Kale, director of the Chandler Care Center, and Dr. Craig Gilbert answered board questions about program scope and sources; district staff confirmed the funds come through a First Things First regional grant and are designated for the care center.

ASBA membership dues

The board voted to pay the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) annual membership dues for 2025–26 (the staff-recommended line item was $14,930). Board members discussed whether to purchase full membership or use a la carte registration for ASBA events; the final vote approved the membership recommendation, with one board member recorded as abstaining.

Other votes and next steps

The board approved a technical revision to the 2023–24 food-service annual financial report (an accounting correction to the number of meal-days reported). The board also confirmed the consent agenda (with two pulled items handled live) and closed the meeting after routine announcements. The district plans further public presentations and a formal budget adoption vote on July 9.

Votes at a glance

- Item 6.06: Continue current IGA/MOU with Southwest Behavioral Health Services until a revised IGA/MOU is prepared and approved. Motion (mover): Mr. Rohrs; second: Mr. Heap. Vote: passed 3–2. Notes: Board discussed proposed language changes and directed staff to finalize revised language and obtain legal review before replacing the current agreement.

- Item 6.09: Approval of 2025–26 digital resources; amendment to remove Flocabulary (Renaissance) failed 3–2. Subsequent motion to approve the district’s original list passed 3–2. Motion (mover to remove): Mr. Heap; second: board member (recorded). Motion (mover to approve original list): Mrs. Monson; second: Mrs. Mendoza. Vote on final approval: passed 3–2.

- Item 7.01: ASBA 2025–26 annual membership dues. Motion (mover): Mrs. Monson; second: Mrs. Mendoza. Vote: carried (majority; one recorded abstention). Amount presented: $14,930.

- Item 7.02: Approve proposed FY2025–26 expenditure budget for publication and submission to ADE. Motion (mover): Mrs. Monson; second: Mrs. Mendoza. Vote: unanimous in favor. Key figures cited by staff: average teacher salary reported as $68,899; maintenance & operations decrease ≈ $7 million; capital decrease ≈ $12 million; adjacent-ways levy request ≈ $4,000,000 (estimated tax effect noted in Truth in Taxation materials).

- Item 7.03: Revision to 2023–24 food-service annual financial report (correction to meal-day reporting). Motion (mover): Mr. Heap; second: board member. Vote: unanimous.

- Item 7.04: First Things First grant agreement for Chandler Care Center, $250,000 for 2025–26. Motion (mover): Mrs. Mendoza; second: Mrs. Monson. Vote: unanimous.

- Item 7.05: Authorize issuance of RFQ to hire a superintendent search firm. Motion (mover): Mr. Heap; second: Mrs. Monson. Vote: unanimous. Next step: staff to present RFQ draft to board at a special meeting before posting.

What the public should expect next

The district will publish the proposed FY2025–26 budget and Truth in Taxation notice ahead of a July 9 hearing and final adoption vote. Staff will return to the board with revised SBH contract language and with RFQ responses and timeline proposals for the superintendent search. The Chandler Care Center grant and the digital resources approvals take effect under the district’s procurement and contracting schedules.