Chandler school board picks superintendent search firm

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

The Chandler Unified Governing Board has named its superintendent search firm.

The board voted unanimously, at its Sept. 10 meeting, to select Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to search for a replacement for Superintendent Frank Narducci, who’s retiring next June.

The vote also authorizes CUSD’s business office to execute a contract with the firm, known as HYA. Financial terms weren’t disclosed; discussion of which firm to select was listed as an executive session topic on the Sept. 10 agenda.

Board member Ryan Heap said while HYA is the “most expensive” of the six firms that the board considered after sending out a request for proposal, the Chicago-based national firm was the most experienced in the type of search CUSD sought.

“The price difference is negligible when you consider the weight of this decision,” Heap said. “I really want us to have the best firm so that we can make sure we get the best candidates. This position carries a lot of weight in our district and in our community.”

Board member Kurt Rohrs echoed the sentiment about experience, pointing out HYA has completed 800 similar searches through the years. He also said the amount of community input the firm tends to gather was a selling point about HYA as well.

Board President Patti Serrano said with CUSD offering a rich mix of programs, a firm that can complete an effective national search is important in finding a school leader who’s experienced in overseeing a large, curriculum-diverse district like Chandler.

Narducci is in the final year of a three-year contract that pays him a base salary of $250,000 annually.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached 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.