Chandler school board OKs $265K superintendent contract

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Now that the Chandler Unified Governing Board has selected and contracted with a new superintendent, it can turn its attention to other things.

The board approved a three-year district contract with Dr. Anna Battle at it March 25 meeting. She’ll start officially July 1, as five-plus-year Superintendent Frank Narducci is retiring.

Battle’s base annual salary will be $265,000. There are provisions in the contract that are similar to what Narducci has in his contract, such as the district contributing a designated amount — in her case, $16,500 annually — to a 403(b) tax-deferred annuity account.

Board Vice President Barb Mozdzen was the only one to vote against it. She said, during the meeting, she was “unhappy with the contract,” but didn’t elaborate.

Asked later for more details on how she arrived at a “no” vote, Mozdzen said she couldn’t comment, due to confidentiality law. The board met in executive session prior to March 25 to discuss Battle’s contract.

Battle will receive a percentage pay increase each year commensurate with whatever rate the board increases other CUSD administrators’ pay.

The superintendent will earn a minimum $15,000 in performance pay each year, subject to board assertion that she met all pre-established performance benchmarks.

There is a $500,000 life insurance policy mentioned, as well as a $12,000 annual stipend for items like health insurance savings, supplemental disability insurance and business-related books and journals.

There is also a long list of termination provisions, including a minimum 15-day notice from the board and either 18 months’ pay as severance or monthly pay for the remaining months on the contract, whichever is less. Battle must give 90 days notice if she resigns and must inform the board before taking a job outside the district.

The contract includes a $5,000 annual allowance for professional organization dues and related expenses and another $5,000 for “civic organizations and community liaison endeavors.”

Finally, there is a $1,000-per-month vehicle allowance.
Battle was chosen in late January by the board after an exhaustive national search. She is a longtime Arizonan and administrator; she was chosen over Chandler Unified Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry and one other finalist after a full day of interviews and interactions.

Narducci was chosen as interim superintendent by the board in late 2020 without that same type of outside search process. He succeeded the retiring Camille Casteel when she ended her 25-year run heading the district.

Narducci’s interim tag was removed from his title in early 2022.

Battle spoke briefly at the March 25 meeting, thanking the board for its trust and promising collaborative efforts and to help ensure students and staff feel supported.

The board is set to meet on two Wednesdays next month, April 8 and 22.

Email Jason W. Brooks 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.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

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.