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Residents press Board for transparency in superintendent search; board schedules public planning session with search firm
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Chandler Unified School District board to involve the community in hiring the next superintendent and to move quickly. The board has contracted Hazard, Young, Atia & Associates (HYA) and scheduled a public planning session on Oct. 17 to develop a search roadmap.
Several Chandler residents used the public-comment period at the Oct. 8 Chandler Unified School District Governing Board meeting to call for transparency and broad community involvement in the district’s superintendent search.
Speakers reminded the board that Superintendent Narducci’s retirement is scheduled for January and urged an open, timely process. "This board has a fiduciary responsibility to the students, parents, teachers, and residents of Chandler Unified School District," said Leslie Minkas, who asked that the board provide a schedule of dates, candidate qualifications and recruiting plans so the public can evaluate finalists.
Multiple speakers asked the board to hold public forums, town halls with finalists, and community surveys to collect input. Eloyce Gillespie and others said community members were unclear about the status of the search; Gillespie noted local reporting that the district had retained search firm HYA and urged clearer public messaging.
Board staff and leadership said the board has contracted Hazard, Young, Atia & Associates (HYA) to conduct the search and that a public planning session with the firm is set for Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 a.m. The planning meeting will be posted and will address stakeholder input, announcement planning, interview and selection processes, transition planning and communication. President Serrano and staff emphasized the meeting is open to the public.
Board members acknowledged the calls for transparency and said HYA will provide formal updates at future board meetings. "This public meeting will, of course, be posted, and we'll be addressing together as a board with our now consultant our superintendent search announcement," board leadership said. Staff also said HYA will present milestones and opportunities for community input to the full board after the planning session.
Speakers during the public-comment period also raised related governance issues, including concerns about district responsiveness and the need to retain highly qualified leaders amid projected enrollment declines. The board said it will present the search roadmap and opportunities for public input at upcoming meetings and on the board roadmap.
