Sahuarita board highlights U of Arizona, Chandler partnership to build semiconductor CTE program

Superintendent Dr. Manuel Valen told the Sahuarita Unified School District Governing Board that the district has joined a partnership with the University of Arizona and the Chandler School District to develop a semiconductor manufacturing career and technical education (CTE) program for students.

"We're going to develop a new program and and launch it and hopefully contribute to wonderful opportunities for our students," Dr. Manuel Valen said, describing the effort as a response to projected workforce shortages in semiconductor manufacturing and a way to create high-skill career pathways for students.

The board heard that semiconductors are essential to products ranging from automobiles to phones and that local industry growth in the Phoenix region makes the program timely. Board member Dr. John Sparks praised district staff who pursued the partnership and singled out Josh Fields for the outreach and coordination that led to the agreement.

The superintendent said the program will be developed as a joint effort with higher-education and regional K–12 partners; he did not provide a start date or funding breakdown at the meeting and said more details would be shared as plans advance. The board offered unanimous support in the discussion that followed.

Next steps noted at the meeting include further program design and community updates; the district will return to the board with additional details as the partnership formalizes curriculum and implementation timelines.