Chandler school board learns about new policies

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

While there weren’t any action items on the Chandler Unified Governing Board’s Oct. 21 meeting agenda, there were plenty of new policies to learn about.

There were six information-only items on Wednesday’s agenda that are all policy revisions recommended by the district’s policy advisor, an organization known as The Trust. The revisions will be voted on by the board at its Nov. 18 meeting.

One of those items, presented by Assistant Superintendent Mike De La Torre, would require mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect to make immediate reports to the Department of Child Safety if the reporter has direct knowledge.

“Mandatory reporters may not delegate this duty,” a staff report about the recommendation states.

Board Vice President Barb Mozdzen asked if there is still a duty to report such abuse to the police as well.

“Yes,” De La Torre said. “The revision definitely calls out that abuse or neglect go to the police, but if there is neglect, that is an extra phone call to DCS.”

The consent agenda was even light for a typical CUSD bi-monthly meeting, with only nine items. That included approval of out-of-state, early-2027 trips that involve Basha High School musicians traveling to a percussion competition in California and the Perry High School softball team competing in a Dallas, Texas tournament.

The board is only set to meet once in each of the next two months, on Nov. 18 and Dec. 9.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

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.