CUSD board approves budget revision after 990‑student drop; also OKs Basha track contract and seeks advanced state aid

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board on Dec. 11 approved Revision No. 1 to its 2024–25 annual expenditure budget amid a reported drop of about 990 students in average daily membership, and voted to award a contract to resurface the Basha High School track and to petition the state for advanced payment of state aid.

CUSD Chief Financial Officer Lana Barry presented the revision and told the board that the district’s updated ADM fell from the adopted projection of about 40,702 to 40,112 — a decline of roughly 590 students since the adopted budget and a cumulative decline of about 990 compared with earlier projections. "We projected our average daily membership to be 41,102... we are now at 40,112 students," Barry said, explaining that the change reduces maintenance-and-operations revenue and is the principal driver of the revision.

Why it matters: ADM is the primary state funding driver for district revenue. Barry told the board the ADM decline and changes in weighted counts for special education reduced revenue roughly $5.4 million; carryover and one-time adjustments narrowed the net change, leaving the district’s maintenance-and-operations revenue control limit lower than previously projected. The revision complies with state law requiring districts to update budgets in December after the Arizona Department of Education finalizes annual financial…