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Board approves lease bringing Polaris Academy special‑needs program into underused Smith Junior High space
Summary
Mesa board approved a roughly 10‑year lease of about 24,000 sq ft at Smith Junior High to Polaris Academy LLC, which will serve autistic and neurodivergent students; district expects about $2.3M rent and $630K utilities over the first term and will renovate two science classrooms for the site.
The Mesa Unified School District governing board on Nov. 14 approved a lease allowing Polaris Academy LLC to occupy a portion of Smith Junior High as a separate campus serving autistic and neurodivergent students.
Mister Moore summarized the proposal: Polaris would lease about 24,000 square feet of classroom space, separated from the rest of Smith Junior High, with an initial term just under 10 years beginning July 1, 2026. Moore said base rent would generate approximately $2.3 million for the district over the initial term, with an estimated $630,000 in offset for utilities, subject to annual adjustments.
Moore said the district is pursuing the lease to better utilize underused space as Smith’s enrollment occupies roughly 45% of capacity. He said the district identified two science classrooms that would be renovated (each under the board’s $300,000 threshold) to meet educational needs and that district staff would support moves during winter break, paid per schedule, with classified support for teachers who prefer not to move themselves.
Board members asked about instructional disruption, neighborhood traffic, maintenance responsibilities and the condition of HVAC and roofing. Moore said Smith is among the district’s newer campuses and that a BRG‑approved $3 million full roof replacement for Smith is planned for rebid in December. Polaris representatives said the site’s capacity would be 150–165 students, with an anticipated opening enrollment of about 90–100 to scale up gradually.
Member Walden and others praised the partnership as an innovative use of underutilized space that could preserve campuses and provide needed specialized services. ‘‘We started at the Superstition location and Rhodes will be our second; Smith will be its own junior‑high‑level program,’’ Polaris said, describing a model mixing medical and academic staff.
The board approved the lease with a recorded vote of 5 yeas.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 1793; topfinish SEG 2356
