Newly elected Chandler Unified board members sworn in; Patty Serrano chosen president

Chandler Unified School District’s governing board held an oath-of-office ceremony for newly elected trustees and elected a president and vice president at its Jan. 15 regular meeting.

Newly elected members Ryan Heap and Claudia Mendoza were sworn in alongside continuing board member Barbara Masden. Following the installation, trustees nominated and unanimously approved Patty Serrano as board president for 2025; Serrano accepted the role and said she would ‘‘humbly’’ preside and seek to keep meetings focused on agreed norms.

The board then considered the vice president nomination. After competing nominations and discussion, the board voted 3–2 to elect board member Bob Masden as vice president for 2025. Masden said he looked forward to mentoring and assisting the new president.

Superintendent Frank Narducci and other trustees praised the incoming members and acknowledged the voluntary nature of school board service. The meeting included a brief celebratory recess and a reminder that new members will participate in board development sessions.

The installation portion of the meeting included brief remarks from the new and continuing members. Serrano invoked a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. about service, and Masden noted her 16 years on the board. The oath for each member was administered on the dais.

The board moved on to regular business after completing the ceremonies and officer elections. No formal policy decisions were made as part of the oath ceremony itself.

The meeting convened under President Serrano’s direction for the remainder of the agenda.