Phoenix Elementary District board designates properties for community leases, highlights student gains and program expansions

Phoenix Elementary District (4256) leaders reported student gains and program expansions and the governing board voted in May 2025 to designate district properties as potential sites for long-term leases to host community enrichment programs.

Carmen Trujillo, president of the Phoenix Elementary District (4256) Governing Board, said the district exceeded its interim English learner goal: "We are proud to be able to highlight the growth of our English language learners who have not only met the interim goal of increasing at least 1 proficiency level on the AZELLA assessment of English language proficiency, they surpassed the goal of 39% with 42% of students increasing at least 1 level."

The board and district leaders framed the vote on properties as a way to expand student programming without closing schools. "At the meeting, our governing board voted to make all of our properties a potential site for this creative opportunity to maximize our properties to benefit our students and communities," Trujillo said. The board stated it does not intend to sell district properties or close schools; board members said voters will have the option to decide on next steps (mechanism not specified in the meeting).

Deborah Gonzales, superintendent of Phoenix Elementary District (4256), described how recent changes preserved early childhood services after two school closures and allowed the district to add preschool capacity. "With the closure of 2 schools, the district was able to preserve our preschool program. We are now offering high quality programming with certified early childhood professionals. That means we've been able to add 2 additional classes at Faith North for in district families at no cost," Gonzales said. She also listed locations that host Head Start or full-day tuition-based early childhood programs: Head Start at Hurd, Lowell, Bethune and Edison; and full-day tuition-based programs at Kenilworth, Emerson and Shaw Montessori. Gonzales said scholarships and tuition assistance are available based on income eligibility.

The district reported student placement decisions related to the two closed schools. Trujillo said, "Our students who attended either Dunbar or Heard have all been re enrolled at Bethune or Capital unless the family requested a different placement." She added the district's exceptional student services director worked with families to place students with exceptional needs at programs that best match those needs; the director was not named in the meeting.

District staff and board members also described an ongoing "Reimagine" initiative, which the executive director of strategic initiatives said was informed by input from more than 400 community members. Gonzales and Trujillo outlined planned program additions designed to attract families and expand hands-on learning opportunities, including career and technical education pathways and exploratory programs in fitness, nutrition, culinary arts, marketing and entrepreneurship. The district said Edison will pilot a K–4 "zoo school" in partnership with a zoo partner (partner organization not specified in the meeting) where students will study animal health, habitats and ecosystems. The district also said Lowell will begin a dual-language immersion program starting in kindergarten and continuing through later grades (grade span not specified).

Board members emphasized that the property-designation vote is intended to create long-term lease opportunities near schools to provide community centers, recreation-league space and other facilities to support after-school enrichment. The motion to designate properties as potential sites for leases was approved at the meeting; mover, seconder and vote tally were not specified in the remarks.

The board announced it is awaiting an appointment from the county school superintendent to fill a governing board vacancy. Trujillo said the county school superintendent, Shelley Boggs, is interviewing applicants and will make an appointment shortly. The board also announced its next governing board meeting will be held in June at 5:15 p.m. in the Governing Board Room (date in June not specified).

The district reminded families that enrollment assistance is available through the enrollment clerk and enrollment specialist, and encouraged families to check school marquees for summer updates. The district also noted the start of the next school year is scheduled for July 30, 2025.