Gilbert Public Schools has joined seven other East Valley districts in retaining legal counsel for potential litigation against the East Valley Institute of Technology as tensions over contract negotiations intensify.
The decision brings Gilbert together with Queen Creek, Chandler, Cave Creek, Tempe Union, Fountain Hills and J.O. Combs, all of which have authorized hiring attorneys at the law firm of Osborn Maledon to handle disputes over a new intergovernmental agreement with EVIT.
By law, districts participating in EVIT’s Career and Technical Education District must maintain such agreements, which outline oversight of career and technical education programs and district support for students attending EVIT’s central campuses. The previous IGA expired in July, with only a short extension into August.
Gilbert Public Schools governing board President Chad Thompson said the decision to retain counsel is not about escalating hostilities but about reaching a resolution that neither side has been able to achieve through negotiations.
“The way that I look at it is it's a means to an end — not necessarily to create or perpetuate any disagreement, but to clarify a disagreement that the group of districts are having with EVIT,” Thompson said.
He said the districts have repeatedly sought more detailed information from EVIT about its requests but feel they have not received satisfactory answers.
“My understanding is that we've just been met with either silence or the same reasons and rhetoric we've heard time and time again since the beginning of this dispute,” Thompson said.
That lack of clarity, he argued, has left the districts no choice but to seek outside resolution.
“We decided that, since we both have a dramatic difference in our understanding of the statute, that it would be best for a judge to weigh in and make sure that we have more clarity,” Thompson said. “And even if we're wrong, we just want to know so that we can move forward and do what's in the best interest of our students.”
Thompson also said he was disappointed by EVIT’s response, released Sept. 15, to the districts’ actions.
“It's trying to frame the argument in a particular way that doesn't necessarily reflect the crux of the matter,” he said.
In its public statement, EVIT condemned the districts’ move to hire attorneys, saying, “Instead of collaborating to find solutions that best serve students, the Governing Boards of Queen Creek Unified School District, Gilbert Public Schools, Chandler Unified School District, Cave Creek Unified School District and JO Combs voted to hire legal counsel to pursue potential litigation regarding their intergovernmental agreement negotiations with the East Valley Institute of Technology.”
The release argued the decision burdens taxpayers with “unnecessary legal expenses driven by misinformation and fear” and shifts resources “away from classrooms and into courtrooms.”
EVIT said its proposals were guided by recommendations from the Arizona Auditor General and would strengthen financial oversight, improve program accountability and protect taxpayer dollars.
Those proposals, according to EVIT, included updated methods for cost calculations, a Quality Program Rubric and a 4% reduction in Career Technical Education District funding to satellite programs at district campuses to cover enhanced oversight.
EVIT Superintendent Chad Wilson said in a release the districts’ decision was hard to understand.
“This is puzzling,” he said. “Straightforward solutions exist, so it’s confusing why these districts are choosing to waste taxpayer money and time on legal disputes,” Wilson said.
He added that EVIT has generally supported district CTE efforts and remains focused on serving students.
“As members of the EVIT CTED, these districts have historically prioritized students, staff, parents and taxpayers,” Wilson said. “Now, they have chosen to potentially spend public funds on legal fees, funds that should be invested in students. EVIT remains committed to finding a solution before running to the courthouse.”
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him @sp_blodgett on X.
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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