Chandler school board disagrees on free lunches, vouchers

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler Unified District governing board Vice President Barb Mozdzen will represent CUSD virtually when the Arizona School Boards Association hosts its delegate assembly next month.

When Mozdzen logs into that Sept. 6 assembly, she’ll vote to support the ASBA political agenda as presented — including the concepts of free meals for all students and opposing a voucher program to attend private schools.

That’s what the CUSD board asked Mozdzen to do on Aug. 20 when it voted, 3-2, to support the ASBA political agenda as presented.

The votes in favor of the motion to support the ASBA agenda, made by first-year board member Claudia Mendoza, came from Mozdzen, Mendoza and Board President Patti Serrano. Voting against it were board members Ryan Heap, who also is a first-year board member, and Kurt Rohrs.

Minutes earlier, Heap had made a motion that illustrated the divide on the CUSD board between he and parents’ rights advocate and the other three members.

Heap moved that Chandler should propose rewording of ASBA support of all students eating for free to state “those who need meals free of charge only.” Heap also wanted Chandler to support ASBA dropping a section about vouchers entirely.
Heap’s motion was defeated, with only he and Rohrs voting in favor of it.

“I disagree with the part that states ‘to all students free of charge,’” Heap said regarding meals. “Not that I don’t enjoy free food. I’m an engineer. I love free food. And it was a big boon to our kids during the pandemic. But I do believe that, by and large, most of our students can afford to pay for lunches.”

Heap also wanted Chandler to propose to the ASBA this section of its platform be removed entirely:

“Repeal any program that gives funds for private schools, vouchers (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts) and private school subsidies (School Tuition Organizations) and prevent any future expansion.”

Heap said there are state statutes that protect parents’ choice, even though the ASBA statement seems to support overturning or repealing such statutes.

“Continuing to have those other options is important,” Heap said. “However, I would support the ASBA supporting legislation that would refine how that money is spent. Vouchers should fall under greater scrutiny.”

Heap initially also said he doesn’t believe mental health and social emotional learning should be offered in ways that lead to more overhead costs for districts, but he limited his formal motion to the school meals and voucher concerns.

Serrano disagreed, saying data show students perform better when their needs are supported, especially surrounding nutrition.
Mozdzen said voucher program is not operating as it was promoted by state lawmakers, adding she believed it has been abused in what types of expenses can been approved.

Rohrs said he believes federal funding will cover much of students’ need for meals. Expected declines in SNAP enrollment, due to new eligibility restrictions, will impact student access to free meals when the changes kick in after the 2026 elections.

“I think who you’re talking about (families who can’t afford CUSD meal prices) is a very small strand of people,” Rohrs said. “I don’t think that justifies free meals for everybody.”

Rohrs also said the voucher program is simply allowing some property taxpayers to direct their money as they please.
Mendoza raised the point that voucher money is leaving the public system.

“You’re on the board of a public school district,” Mendoza said to Rohrs. “Doesn’t that go against everything you just said?”
“I’m actually trying to do the right thing, rather than just going along to get along,” Rohrs said.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org..

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Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.