EVIT seeks judgment in a lawsuit filed by school districts

The East Valley Institute of Technology has filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings in response to a lawsuit filed by nine of its member school districts, including Apache Junction Unified School District.

EVIT’s motion, according to a release, makes clear that the lawsuit is an aggressive and unlawful attempt to:

• Seize control from the statutorily authorized career technical education district
• Eliminate financial oversight and accountability for taxpayer dollars
• Disregard state statute, legislative intent and the Arizona Auditor General’s findings

The EVIT Career Technical Education District exists for one purpose: to deliver high-quality, workforce-ready CTE programs for students through its central campuses and satellite programs in East Valley high schools. These programs are governed by an intergovernmental agreement between EVIT and its member districts, which expired in August, the release states.

Following the release of an Arizona Auditor General’s report, EVIT drafted a new IGA last summer to address the report’s findings. The auditor general called for stronger financial safeguards, clearer oversight, and improved consistency to protect both students and taxpayers while strengthening CTE program quality.

Rather than work collaboratively to implement those safeguards, nine member districts chose litigation, asking the court to ignore state law, override legislative intent and strip EVIT of its legally assigned oversight authority, the release states.

EVIT characterizes the lawsuit for what it is: a power grab that would reduce the CTE district to a pass-through entity, unable to oversee curriculum, enforce quality standards, or ensure that CTE funds are used as intended—on students and programs, it states in the release.

EVIT asserts that Arizona Revised Statutes is unambiguous: the apportionment of CTE funds is a discretionary matter to be negotiated between EVIT and its member districts, not a fixed formula and not something for the courts to impose. State law further assigns EVIT clear oversight responsibility for all CTE programs, including those operating on satellite campuses.

“At the center of this case are students and taxpayers,” EVIT Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson said in the release. “Career and technical education exists to prepare students for the workforce and to be good stewards of public dollars. EVIT will not abandon its legal duty to protect program quality, fiscal accountability, and student outcomes.”

Three member districts, Mesa Public Schools, Scottsdale Unified School District, and American Leadership Academy, have signed new IGAs with EVIT.

The districts that decided to litigate are: Apache Junction Unified School District No. 43, Cave Creek Unified School District No. 93, Chandler Unified School District No. 80, Fountain Hills Unified School District No. 98, Gilbert Unified School District No. 41, Higley Unified School District No. 60, J.O. Combs Unified School District No. 44, Queen Creek Unified School District No. 95, and Tempe Union High School District No. 213.

EVIT equips high school and adult learners with the skills and training needed to succeed in today’s workforce. Through flexible pathways connecting high school and postsecondary programs, EVIT provides a proven, cost-effective education option for East Valley students, it states in the release.

Go to www.EVIT.edu.