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Board approves lease with Polaris Academy for space at Smith Junior High
Summary
The Mesa board voted unanimously to lease about 24,000 sq ft at Smith Junior High to Polaris Academy LLC, a private provider serving autistic and neurodivergent students; the initial term is nearly 10 years and is projected to generate roughly $2.9 million in revenue over the term while funding on-site renovations.
The governing board on Nov. 14 approved a lease agreement between Mesa Unified School District and Polaris Academy LLC to occupy a portion of the Smith Junior High campus.
Mike Moore summarized the proposal: Polaris would lease about 24,000 square feet that include portions of classroom wings and outdoor field access. "The base rent would generate approximately $2,300,000 for the district and then an estimated $630,000 in offset utility services," Moore said, projecting roughly $2.9 million in revenue over the initial term, which he described as just under 10 years and beginning July 1, 2026.
Polaris representative (identified in the meeting as Mr. Palmer) described the school's model and local footprint. He said Polaris intends to start with about 90–100 students and ultimately can serve up to 150–165 at the Smith site, and that the organization operates other Mesa-area campuses. "Smith was a wonderful site... It gave us space and a sports program," the representative said, noting plans for a phased opening and emphasis on a blended academic-therapeutic model.
Board members asked about logistics and impacts to Smith Junior High, including whether science classrooms and a woodshop would be relocated and how moves would be handled during the semester. Moore said Smith's site leadership chose a January move and that the district identified and will renovate two science classrooms (projects kept under the board spending threshold of $300,000 each). He also said the district had BRG-approved funding to reroof Smith ($3 million) that will proceed through rebid.
Concerns from board members and the public included neighborhood traffic, field and court access, maintenance liabilities, and whether parents and the community would have input. Moore said Smith remains responsible for bus drop-off and that alternate courts/fields exist; Polaris said the parties had discussed separate hours to reduce interaction and that the organizations aim not to disrupt Smith's educational activities.
The motion to approve the lease passed in roll call with five yeas.
