Chandler Unified board approves five semifinalists, keeps names confidential

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board unanimously approved five semifinalist candidates for its superintendent search at its Jan. 13 meeting, authorizing the district’s search firm to schedule interviews with the semifinalists and the board.

Vice President Modston moved “that we approve candidates 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9, as superintendent semifinalists for interviews and authorize [the] search firm to schedule interviews with the superintendent semifinalists and the governing board and to discuss the schedule of activities,” and the motion was seconded and put to a vote.

The Board President told the public the district would keep the semifinalist names confidential, saying, “We are keeping our semifinalist names confidential. That is for legal and typical hiring purposes.” The board referred to candidates by number during the public portion of the meeting.

Board members completed a roll-call vote that recorded unanimous support. The meeting transcript lists votes by Mister Rohrs (“Aye”), Miss Mendoza (“Aye”), Missus Motson (“Aye”), Mister Heap (“Aye”) and the Board President (“Aye”). The board returned to public session at 10:36 a.m. before taking the superintendent search vote and adjourned after the motion passed.

The action authorizes the search firm to coordinate interview scheduling and related activities; no semifinalist names, interview dates, or further scheduling details were disclosed in the public record at the meeting.

The board had earlier recessed into executive session for three agenda items to receive legal advice; the public motion to approve semifinalists and the subsequent roll-call vote occurred after the board returned to public session.