Board approves lease of closed Heard/Hurd campus to Beyond Autism after public comment raised concerns

The Phoenix Elementary District Governing Board on June 24 approved a lease for the recently closed Heard/Hurd campus to a private day program operator, Beyond Autism, after a lengthy public comment period and board discussion about market value, community engagement and special‑education impacts.

Public comment was sharply critical of the lease terms and of the process. Parent Allison Gulick told the board she supports programs that serve students with disabilities but criticized what she described as closing a district school and leasing the building to a private ESA‑funded provider. “If ESA funding caused the crisis, why is the district potentially profiting from it now?” Gulick asked, and she said parents of students with disabilities feel “forgotten” and “driven out of this district.” An electronic commenter, Paul Booth, requested market analyses, details about utilities and janitorial costs, and projections of net revenue and potential loss of students and ESA…