Chandler Unified board approves modified $2.08M in staffing reductions for 2026–27 after 3–2 vote

Chandler Unified School District's governing board voted 3–2 on Jan. 29 to approve an amended package of staffing reductions and reconfigurations totaling about $2,079,678 for the 2026–27 budget year.

The motion, moved by Board Member Monson and seconded by Mr. Heath, combined selected menu items (district administrative staffing reductions, junior high media specialist/assistant reductions, an enrollment‑based MediaTek staffing model, and a scaled‑back elementary certified FTE reduction of five positions) to reach the district's required additional reduction of roughly $2.08 million. Board President Serrano called the roll and announced that the motion carried 3–2.

Why it mattered: the board began the special meeting by returning to a board directive on the remainder of the 2026–27 budget after earlier, larger cuts. Superintendent Narducci told members the district had already reduced about $10 million and needed to finalize the remainder so HR could issue employee contracts by March 15. He told the board the administration prepared three options (A, B and C) and menu‑driven choices to meet the outstanding $2,078,560 target.

What the board approved: the final motion incorporated: - A $300,000 reduction in district‑level administrative staffing (menu item 2); - Elimination or reallocation of certain junior high media specialist positions and related classified adjustments (menu item 3; roughly $372,567 in savings); - A MediaTek staffing model that places media/technology positions by campus enrollment (the 450‑student threshold described in the presentation; menu item 10; roughly $1,029,761 in savings); - A modification of menu item 14 to remove five certified FTEs at the elementary level (estimated ~$387,000) rather than the larger cuts originally proposed. The administration presented an aggregate total for the amended package of approximately $2,079,678.04.

Discussion highlights: board members raised concerns over eliminating the high‑school student attendance interventionists (a menu item considered earlier) and the potential academic and fiscal consequences. Board Member Heap, defending the need for change, acknowledged the cuts were difficult, saying, "It's gonna be hard. It's gonna be painful," and urging the board to proceed because of declining enrollment and budget constraints. Dr. Dela Torre (district leadership) said attendance interventionists are longstanding on high‑school campuses and that data tying the interventionists directly to state funding (average daily membership) is currently limited. She described a pilot of a counselor planning tool called Grad Tracker in three high schools (Castillo, Basha and ACP) and said more evaluation would come in April or May.

Implementation and contingencies: district staff told the board they could implement the modified package and would use attrition and placement strategies to mitigate direct layoffs where possible; HR and cabinet would proceed so contracts could be issued on schedule. The administration noted the district keeps a contingency fund and typically revises the budget in December and May as legislative and enrollment realities change.

Votes and next steps: an earlier motion to adopt Option 1 (presented at the Jan. 21 meeting) failed on a 2–3 vote. After further amendments and an amended Option C was moved and seconded, the board approved the scaled‑package 3–2. The board adjourned after the vote. District staff will execute the approved menu items and return with further details as implementation proceeds.

The board recorded that further study sessions would be scheduled to present background materials (including career‑literacy standards and a historic briefing on how earlier proposals were developed).