Chandler school board discussions marred by arguing
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Unified School District K-8 math activity coach Ally Stewart points to items on a dry-erase board while presenting about math learning at a CUSD Governing Board Dec. 11 work session. Board member Kurt Rohrs, far right, later interrupted the presentation for what became a brief but heated discussion on district test scores among students of various races.
Some Chandler Unified School District Governing Board topics seem to arise repeatedly.
That’s what happened the board’s Dec. 11 work sessions. During a presentation on math learning in the district and how it’s evolved, board member Kurt Rohrs brought up what he’s read about the difference in assessment test scores among CUSD students of various races.
After a thorough explanation of starting points and what staff is attempting to do in initial, early-grade assessments from Director of Curriculum Jessica Edgar, Rohrs continued to encourage staff to aim higher in assessment scores and percentages of students of various races who are at proficiency.
“Thirty percent is not good,” Rohrs said, just after a lengthy explanation from Edgar. “Is everyone in agreement with that?”
Board member Jason Olive became incensed with Rohrs, which has happened a handful of times in the two years the pair have been on the board together.
“If you’re gonna (expletive) all over everyone’s parade, why don’t you just tell everyone to give up and go home?” Olive said, raising his voice.
Board Vice Chair Patti Serrano pointed out Rohrs had mentioned such statistics before.
“Well, you’re going to hear about it again,” Rohrs said. “This is important. And the people in the community know it’s important. And if you don’t, well, OK, that’s your choice.”
The exchange appeared to create a somber turn in what had been a mostly lighthearted dialogue about best classroom math learning practices.
During a separate work session, in which CUSD Counseling staff were praising work done by five outside agencies on campuses related to either mental health or wellness.
“I am dead-set against having third parties located on our campuses, with their own perspectives, with their own agendas, their own advocacy,” Rohrs said. “Our campuses are for teaching kids to read and do math. I think we’re getting way off the mission we were given by the state of Arizona. They can be off-campus, and we can refer (students) out, but I don’t want them on campus.”
Serrano, Board President Barb Mozdzen and Superintendent Frank Narducci all pushed back on the need for mental health-related services on campus.
During board member reports at the end of the regular Dec. 11 meeting, Rohrs said he was impressed with a recent visit he made to The Hive, which is a CUSD partnership with AZCEND that brings printer, computers, and VR experiences to a space on the San Marcos Elementary School campus. Serrano then sarcastically rejoiced in Rohrs seeing the apparent value in an outside organization with a CUSD campus space.
The math learning experiences work session can be viewed by clicking here. The math presentation runs from shortly after the beginning to about the 1-hour, 15-minute mark.
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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