Paradise Valley board approves one‑year MOU with Arizona Lions to bring on‑site eye services to Palomino Primary

The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board on Thursday approved a one‑year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Arizona Lions Vision and Hearing Foundation to provide on‑site mobile eye services and glasses for students at Palomino Primary.

The MOU, presented by Dr. Lindsey, would allow Palomino Primary to “participate in the Arizona Lions closing the gap on children's vision screening program,” with parent consent required before services are provided, Dr. Lindsey said. The board voted to approve the agreement with four ayes and one abstention.

The agreement would bring mobile eye services to the school to assess students who do not pass school nurse screenings and fit students with glasses during the school day. Angela Morgan, principal of Palomino Primary, described the local process the district uses to identify students: “All of our students go through the 45‑day screening process, which includes vision and hearing assessments through our school nurse. ... This year we have found some barriers along the way of resources that we usually connect with — they're full. ... This year we did have a hundred students that are in need of glasses that we still have not remedied.”

Board members sought detail on logistics and limits. Board member Cindy Wani noted an apparent drafting error in the MOU date and asked whether the agreement includes a specified term; Dr. Lindsey replied it would be corrected. Wani also asked how students would be identified and whether parents must be present for exams. Dr. Lindsey and Morgan said nurses would identify students who failed the routine screen and that parent permission — not parent presence — is required. Morgan said the vendor can perform testing and initial fittings on‑site and return later to follow up as needed.

Some board members raised concerns about lost instructional time. Wani asked whether examinations would occur during class; Dr. Lindsey explained the district expects students may miss some class time for testing and fittings but said the team believes a short medical intervention “will help them academically because now they will be able to see everything the teacher's presenting.” Dr. Reynolds, the superintendent, asked whether bifocals could be provided; staff said they would ask the vendor.

The MOU was specified to cover Palomino Primary initially; district staff said the MOU is with the district but would apply only to the school for the 2025–26 school year unless expanded. Staff explained the vendor typically schedules on‑site visits once a minimum number of students (about 25) are identified, and that in a larger year the vendor could see many children in one or two days.

Board members asked how the program differs from existing referrals. Staff said school nurses already use a referral form when students fail a screening; the MOU is intended to address follow‑up barriers (such as families not being able to access community providers) by bringing services to campus.

The board approved the MOU after discussion. The motion passed with four ayes and one abstention. The MOU as presented will begin at the start of the 2025–26 school year, with the district correcting the MOU date and clarifying the term before execution.

For now, the vendor’s participation is limited to Palomino Primary; staff said other schools could be added later if interest and need are identified.