Chandler Unified board approves MOUs with HealthCorps and Elevate AZ, $600K bus‑driver pilot and two media‑center renovations

The Chandler Unified School District governing board approved a series of agreements and projects at its March 26 meeting aimed at expanding after‑school health education, strengthening employer‑education links, addressing a bus driver shortage and renovating elementary media centers.

HealthCorps MOU (amended) The board approved a memorandum of understanding with HealthCorps Inc. to offer weekly health and wellness clubs for students in grades 5–12, with sessions limited to after‑school club settings. The MOU had been presented on the consent calendar; Board member Mrs. Mendoza moved to approve the agreement. During discussion a motion to have the board seek review from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners on the definition of behavioral health counseling did not pass for lack of majority. The board then amended the MOU to remove classroom delivery language and require after‑school delivery only; that amendment passed and the MOU as amended passed on a unanimous vote of board members present.

Elevate ED AZ MOU The board approved a collaborative memorandum of understanding between the district and the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation (Elevate ED AZ) intended to strengthen alignment between education and business, support career literacy and provide college‑and‑career pathways. The agreement was reviewed by the district’s legal counsel and approved by motion of a board member.

Bus driver compensation pilot To address a critical bus driver shortage, the board approved a pilot compensation package that uses one‑time unreserved fund balance dollars to pay targeted stipends for transportation staff. The pilot covers four measures: a back stipend for drivers who combined routes this academic year, a stipend for designated hard‑to‑fill routes, an option to payout PTO for hours worked beyond a driver’s FTE, and a retention bonus paid in two installments (June and August) for drivers who remain employed through the transition to the next school year. The administration estimated total costs of roughly $600,000 split across the current fiscal year and FY 2025–26; board members voted unanimously to approve the pilot.

Elementary media‑center renovations The board approved two renovation contracts (Wilmington Construction, via an existing cooperative contract) for reimagining the library/media spaces at Navarette Elementary (approximately $1.825 million) and Bologna Elementary (approximately $1.951 million). The projects are financed through the 2019 bond program and include accessibility upgrades, HVAC and fire‑system work, interior demo and finishes, new storefronts and reconfigured learning spaces. Board approval for Navarette passed 3–1; approval for Bologna passed 3–1. One board member voted against the renovations while three voted in favor on each contract.

Why it matters: The approvals package blends programmatic partnerships, short‑term workforce retention measures and capital investments. Staff argued the HealthCorps partnership and Elevate ED collaboration expand extracurricular and career‑oriented opportunities, the bus‑driver pilot is an immediate response to a local staffing crisis affecting student transportation, and the media‑center renovations are intended to modernize elementary learning spaces and support career‑literacy and STEAM programming.

Roll call and vote totals (summary) - Consent agenda: approved unanimously. - HealthCorps MOU (as amended to after‑school only): approved unanimously. - Elevate ED AZ MOU: approved unanimously. - Bus driver compensation pilot (pilot March 27, 2025 through summer 2026): approved unanimously. - Navarette Elementary Media Center renovation (Willman/Wilmington Construction): approved 3–1. - Bologna Elementary Media Center renovation (Willman/Wilmington Construction): approved 3–1.

The meeting record does not identify seconds for every motion by name; movers are recorded where speakers announced them on the public record.