For the first time in Chandler Unified School District history, high schools hosted exclusive tours for students with disabilities shortly before the school year began the week of July 19.

CUSD high schools welcomed families during open house hours to familiarize their students with expectations, meeting spots, and teachers without the noise and excitement of general education back-to-school tours.

Families asked questions, double-checked schedules, and ensured they were ready for school.

Dr. Kymberly Marshall, CUSD executive director of student personalized learning, said the tours had only been done on an individual site basis in the past.

“The directive for organized plans came down from CUSD leadership to ensure all sites had a plan to provide additional supports for students with specialized needs,” Marshall said. “This topic came about from our grassroots parent organization, which Dr. Craig Gilbert and I meet with on a quarterly basis. It’s called the Special Education Parent Advisory Council. It’s totally parent-initiated and run.”

Marshall said meet-the-teacher events and resources should be available to all students who attend CUSD sites.

“The inclusive practices we preach start at the top with a culture of belonging. These events cultivate that sense of belonging,” she said.

For some, the accessibility encouraged families to enroll students in CUSD schools. Hamilton High School parent Diana Zoreily said in the beginning, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to have her son on that campus.

“But I understand that the transition services here at Hamilton are top-notch,” Zoreily said. “I must give Tara Spears a lot of kudos because I am a very nervous mom and she’s been able to respond to my emails and questions very quickly.”

Zoreily said she knows there will be changes from being in a self-contained classroom and wanting to transition her son to move classes and to meet new people and teachers.

“When he graduates it will be so important for him to learn from others, and that was my biggest factor in coming to Hamilton,” she said.

Zoreily’s son, a 10th-grader named Nathan, transferred for a more dynamic classroom experience. His mother wanted to see him move from class to class and have a schedule outside of a self-contained curriculum.

Parents Jessica and Ruben Mazariegos toured Basha High School’s event with their children, including their son Ruben, who will be attending Basha for the first time.

“I think it went really well,” Jessica Mazariegos said. “Especially for him. I love that the campus is opened so we can just walk campus and find their classes so they’re comfortable doing that. The teachers were awesome. Very helpful, obviously, in answering all our questions.”

When asked what he’s looking forward to at school, Ruben said he was looking forward to something fun.

“He’s been really excited about starting that next step in his life, going to high school. He’s got a lot of friends that he knows who maybe came last year and he’s catching up to them, or he knows them from church,” Jessica Mazariegos said.

Special needs educators also appreciated the chance to connect with families beyond emails and phone calls.

Five-year Casteel High School special education teacher Allison Yohnka said having students return to campus earlier is beneficial.

“It gives them a comfortable environment and the ability to see their teachers and the classroom before the first day of school,” Yohnka said. “It often helps calm nerves and gets them excited for the new school year.”

CUSD schools accept enrollment year-round for the 2023-24 school year. Visit cusd80.com/enroll to register students.

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