Standing-room only at three-hour school board meeting
Busing issues, understaffed departments, dismissal of a baseball coach, and more were discussed at Cave Creek Unified School District meeting
Courtesy of Guy Gianni
Cactus Shadows baseball coach Guy Gianni was named the Region 7 Coach of the Year by the National Baseball Association; his 15-year contract with CSHS was not renewed
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By Maya McFall
Cave Creek Unified School District board meeting lasted about three hours Sept. 9, covering topics ranging from busing issues, understaffed departments, low wages, the dismissal of a beloved baseball coach, and more.
Parents and teachers filled the governing board room, with many having to stand.
The board honored select students with certificates, bags, and handshakes for their leadership among their classmates.
After, the board presented superintendent Dolezal’s goals for the school year and updates to the SY 2025-26 budget.
The board later invited multiple department directors at CCUSD to present the challenges they face to the audience, how they overcome those challenges, and how the board could help lighten the burden of low wages and being understaffed.
The departments covered were child nutrition, technology, facilities and maintenance, finance, and transportation.
The board’s goal with these presentations was to enlighten parents on how much goes on in the background of day-to-day operations within the district.
During the public call to comment, the first speaker was Carrie Smith, a driver for nearly 30 years in the district. She announced that she has resigned, and her last day will be Sept. 19 due to poor working conditions and a lack of pay raises.
Other speakers described the Cactus Shadows High School baseball coach Gaetano Gianni’s impact on students and players.
One couple rose a sign reading, “Coach Gianni is CSHS baseball, not the ADL” to protest the non-renewal of Gaetano Gianni’s 15-year coaching contract at the high school, shortly after he was named Region 7 Coach of the Year by the National Baseball Coaches Association (Cave Creek/Carefree Independent, July 23, 2025).
Other topics such as the repeated denial of the Cactus Shadows PTO co-president’s request for a 504 plan for her son, and another mother’s child allegedly “slapped” twice on the hand by a teacher were also brought up during the public call to comment.
Editor’s note: Keep reading YourValley.net as Independent Newsmedia follows up on these topics with more information.
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