Board approves temporary staffing and CTE equipment purchases, selects Google survey for superintendent search after debate on language access

The Chandler Unified governing board acted on three business items at its Oct. 22 meeting: staff recommended use of an Equalis/Tradesmen International contract for temporary trade staffing, the board approved a previously‑reviewed TIPS contract purchase for CTE equipment, and after extended debate the board selected a modified Google survey as the district’s stakeholder survey instrument for the superintendent search.

Temporary staffing: The board approved using the Equalis cooperative contract (COG‑2148D) with Tradesmen International LLC to provide temporary skilled trade staff — groundskeepers, painters and HVAC technicians — to address immediate staffing shortfalls in facilities operations. Staff asked for authority to spend up to $750,000 in FY25‑26 under the contract; the purchasing department reported the cooperative arrangement complies with state procurement rules. The motion to approve was made and seconded on the record and the item passed unanimously.

CTE equipment procurement: The board approved purchase of semiconductor and robotics equipment from Advanced Technologies Consultants under TIPS contract 210902 for $1,003,685.41 (including tax and freight). Staff said the action documented the contract number omitted from the prior authorization; the purchase supports semiconductor and automation/robotics labs at Hamilton, Arizona College Prep, Castile and Perry. The motion passed unanimously.

Superintendent search survey selection: The board then debated two survey options for the HYA‑run superintendent search: HYA’s proprietary, research‑based instrument (with professional reporting and optional paid translations) and a modified Google Form that district staff said could be translated broadly and pushed through ParentSquare and the district website. Discussion focused on language access: the district has 64 registered home languages, staff noted, and paying $550 per additional language for HYA translations would limit availability; others argued HYA’s instrument produced more analytically robust output and richer narrative displays.

After multiple motions and roll‑call votes, the board approved the modified Google survey option by a 3–2 vote. Board members voting in favor said the Google approach maximized immediate accessibility and avoided large translation costs; members opposed said the HYA instrument better supports a research‑quality leadership profile. Staff will publish the selected survey to the superintendent‑search web hub and proceed with the public‑engagement timeline that begins Oct. 27.

Ending: Board members asked staff to ensure broad translation and outreach through ParentSquare and the district website, and to use community forums and focus groups in conjunction with the survey. Staff and the HYA consultants will continue weekly check‑ins with the board and post the leadership‑profile report after the engagement window closes.