Chandler Unified Governing Board Vice President Barb Mozdzen speaks at a recent meeting. A contract between the district and the Arizona School Boards Association was not renewed at the board’s June 24 meeting, due mainly to its cost.
Chandler Unified’s Governing Board didn’t have many action items on its June 24 agenda, but took its time for the few items that it discussed.
One of those items was an $18,000 invoice submitted to the district by the Arizona School Boards Association, which includes both dues and policy services for the year ahead.
The board decided unanimously decided to not pay the invoice, making itself no longer a member of ASBA for its services.
The decision seemed to be based mostly on the cost, as board members acknowledged they haven’t been taking advantage of the training, presentations and other events that go with an ASBA membership.
There was some discussion of how political and in which directions ASBA had been in some recent years.
Board member Kurt Rohrs said he found the ASBA to “have a political arm that I don’t think we should be involved in” and that getting training directly from the Arizona and Maricopa County educational agencies is “more objective.”
Board President Patti Serrano said she tracked only six trainings that board members attended within the past year, meaning CUSD board members didn’t take advantage of much of the training discounted by the district paying $14,930 in dues for 2025-26.
Board Vice President Barb Mozdzen pointed out that the same price on Diligent software needed to host board agendas can also be obtained through Board Trust Policy, an Arizona organization CUSD pays to post and maintain all board policies.
“I am having serious doubts as to whether we should continue to be members of ASBA,” Mozdzen said.
Serrano, who isn’t seeking election to a second term on the board, said she benefited from ASBA training as a newcomer in 2023 and hopes that’s available to her successor and if anyone else is new to the board in January.
Mozdzen pointed out that unless ASBA changes its rules about non-member districts, Chandler can still send newly elected orientees to the ASBA for training.
Even at a standard rate that’s sometimes triple what a discounted member district pays for conferences and trainings, Mozdzen said, it’s doubtful such costs would total $18,000.
Using a multiplier of 0.025% of the district’s annual budget to calculate dues; CUSD’s 2021-22 ASBA membership dues were $10,336.
Chandler becomes one of the largest districts to break ties with the ASBA, but is part of a trend. Politics, the rise of parents' rights advocates and cost/benefit analyses have led districts like Peoria Unified and Dysart to not renew. Scottsdale Unified’s board narrowly voted to renew.
Board member Ryan Heap said his schedule hasn’t permitted him to attend many trainings, put on by any organization. He recommended the “a la carte” board method of carefully choosing which ASBA events and services in wants to purchase.
Rohrs ended up voting no on the 2025-26 membership about a year ago, though it passed, 3-1, with Heap abstaining.
The board is set to meet only once this month, on Wednesday, July 8.
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.
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