The Chandler Arizonan October 2, 2022

School board seats in play as early voting nears

BY PAUL MARYNIAK AND KEN SAINS Arizonan News Staff

Therace for two seats on each of the governing boards in Chandler’s three school districts is approaching a conclusion as early voting begins Oct. 12.

While three candidates are vying in the Nov. 8 election in both Kyrene and Tempe Union High School districts – with one in-

cumbent up for a second term in each district – Chandler Unified has five hopefuls in the race.

Additionally, Tempe Union has three finance-related referendum measures on the ballot (See story on page 3).

Here is a look at the board races.

KYRENE SCHOOL DISTRICT Governing Board President Kevin Walsh of Tempe is seeking a second term while two Ah-

Chandler takes a step toward allowing backyard chickens

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Rene

Lopez’s time on the Chandler City Council is winding down and he’s hoping to cross off at least one more item on his “to do” list before his term ends in January.

He wants Chandler residents to have the same right as nearly every other city in the Valley to raise chicken hens in their backyards. It appears a divided Council will do that by the end of this year.

“I’d like to get this done, because it’s been postponed and kicked down the road for the last several years,” Lopez said. “It’s about liberty, allowing people to do what they want in their own backyards.” Council met in a work session on Sept. 19 to hash out possible changes to city ordinances that would allow residents to own backyard chickens. It appears at least four members of council are

watukee educators, Triné Nelson and Kristi Ohman, are also on the ballot after the other incumbent Margaret Pratt opted against a second term.

Kevin Walsh

Walsh, a father of two and a partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP, is a volunteer in a number of organizations, including a member of the Phoenix One Foundation Board, a legal

mentor for the small business organization Gangplank and an ambassador for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

He is a member of the Volunteer Lawyers Program, the Clemency Project 2014, Valley Interfaith Project and chair of Jobs For Arizona’s Graduates logo.

“I’m running because it’s so important to keep strong public

Protest against Legislature

Hundreds of angry students at Chandler and Hamilton high Schools and others in the Valley walked out of class on the afternoon of Sept. 29 to protest the Arizona Legislature's passage this session of laws they say discriminate against their LGBTQ+ peers. For the story,

page 4 (Ken Sain/Arizonan Managing Editor)

How BASIS Chandler stays on top of Arizona high schools

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Top 10 high schools in Arizona, ranked by U.S. News for 2022 are:

1. BASIS Chandler

BASIS

Chandler Head of School Mat thew FritzMiller often gives the tour when parents are considering send ing their children to the charter school.

When he mentions that every student at BASIS must take Advanced Placement classes, they sometimes pause and look at him wide-eyed.

“Parents eyes get really big when I say ‘APs in the fifth grade, right?'” FritzMiller said.

The eyes are just as wide for their chil dren, he said, before they take their first AP test.

“A lot of our students, when they go and take their APs, they’ll be really wor ried at first,” said FritzMiller. “And you know, and I’m always there at the begin ning, talking them down, calming them down. And 90% of the time, they leave saying, ‘Wow, that was a lot easier than I thought it would be.’”

BASIS Chandler has been ranked the top high school in Arizona since 2019. If you look at U.S. News’ ranking of the best high schools in Arizona, 10 of the top 12 are BASIS schools. The same publication ranks BASIS Chandler as the 11th best high school in the nation.

So what has BASIS figured out that the other schools in the state haven’t?

“I honestly believe it’s that prepara tion, starting them in fifth grade, getting them acclimated to what a high stakes test is,” FritzMiller said.

BASIS Chandler teaches students from the fifth grade through senior year of high school. FritzMiller said they start intro ducing them to STEAM (science, technolo gy, engineering, arts and math) right away.

The advance placement classes and tests actually start in high school, but BASIS begins preparing their students for them in the fifth grade.

“Starting in sixth grade, students take biology and chemistry and phys ics,” FritzMiller said. “And they do that for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. So whereas most schools, you’ve got like a general science class, and it kind of picks on bits of that, our students are getting biology from a biology teacher, physics from a physics teacher, and chemistry from a chemistry teacher.”

BASIS Chandler graduates 100% of its students and all of them are ready for college, which is why it places so high on state and national lists.

There are other factors that help be side that early preparation.

For one, there are about 334 students in grades 9-12. That makes it one of the smaller schools in the area when you compare it to the thousands attending Hamilton or Perry high schools.

And success breeds success.

FritzMiller said when students get a taste of doing well on one AP test, it makes them eager to try more. And to study more.

He said his school may have smaller enrollment, but the typical class has about 25 students – same as most public high schools.

Getting into BASIS is not easy. The state uses a lottery system to assign stu dents to their preferred charter school. Because of its reputation, BASIS Chan dler gets a lot of requests.

2. BASIS Oro Valley

3. University High School (Tucson)

4. BASIS Scottsdale

5. BASIS Peoria

6. University High School (Tolleson)

7. BASIS Flagstaff

8. BASIS Tucson North

9. BASIS Ahwatukee

10. BASIS Phoenix

FritzMiller said most of the new en rollees come from their two primary K-4 schools.

Students who have previous ties to BASIS – such as those with siblings at tending the school – also get priority.

Last year about 1,000 students tried to get into BASIS Chandler. Last year’s graduating senior class was under 100.

FritzMiller said not all of the students who attend his schools come with heli copter parents who are heavily involved in their education.

“Three years ago, I gave a diploma to a student who spent quite a bit of her high school career homeless,” FritzMiller said. “There were certainly times when she could have said, ‘This is too hard.’ But she didn’t. And man, that was one of the most meaningful diplomas for me to hand out. Every year we’ve got stories of kids that could have given up.”

To graduate from a BASIS school, stu dents must pass at least six AP tests. FritzMiller said that his students aver age 13, and that some students take up to 20. Many of those are not enrolled in a class, but the subject interests them so they study it independently before tak ing the test, he said.

“I think a lot of our students, once they take that first AP test, they realize, ‘Oh, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.’ And then they take two or three the next year, and then they take, you know, three, four or five that following year. They start to enjoy it, maybe enjoy is the wrong word to use. But it’s not as daunting as they originally would have thought.”

Information: 480-907-6072, enrollba sis.com/chandler

Matthew FritzMiller is Head of School at BASIS Chandler Charter School. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

Thalia Gonzales and Helena Brittain conduct an experiment for a class in the hallway at BASIS Chandler. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

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PAC launched to support TU bond, override measures

Amid all the various races facing voters in Ahwatukee, northern and west Chandler and Tempe on Nov.

8 are three measures that Tempe Union High School District said will help it maintain day-to-day operations at a high level and allow for needed physical and other upgrades.

And to make sure that voters not only see those measures on the lengthy ballot but also vote “yes” for them, the Tempe Union High School District Yes Support Our Schools Political Action Committee swung into high gear with a fundraiserkick-off Sept. 13 that drew community leaders and supporters to the Four Peaks Wilson Party Palace in Tempe.

The PAC’s executive committee includes Chair Genevieve Vega, Vice Chair Beth Brizel, Secretary Amanda Steele and Treasurer Anna Chalmers.

The Governing Board in June voted unanimously to ask voters to approve two override questions and a $100 million bond request on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Approval of all three measures would equal a combined tax increase from .5924% this year to .7998% per $100 of assessed valuation in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 – raising taxes by about $52 a year on a house valued at $249,642, according to the district. Currently, that tax totals $148 a year.

The overrides include one for basic operational spending that would be 15% for the first five years, then go down to 10% the sixth year and 5% the seventh. The other is a 10% 7-year override, or $8.7 million a year, for the District Additional Assistance budget that covers equipment not included in the regular capital spending or bond program.

That budget would include expenses for items like books and furniture.

The bond package would cover higherticket items that the District Additional Assistance budget doesn’t cover.

Marking the kick-off on Sept. 13 of Tempe Union High School District’s Yes Support Our Schools Political Action Committee’s effort to advocate for passage of three separate financial measures are, from left, Chair Genevieve Vega, Vice Chair Beth Brizel, Tempe Union Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil, supporter Sharon Doyle and PAC Secretary Amanda Steele. Not pictured is Treasurer Anna Chalmers. The committee held a fundraiser at Four Peaks Wilson Party Palace in Tempe that drew numerous leaders, including Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

lighting.

If approved, the district would split issuance of those bonds in two – selling $50 million next year and the other half three years later.

Projected expenses in that bond issue include $1.65 million for a construction manager “to assist (us) as we go through these projects” because “we found that has significantly helped the management of that additional work,” Meulemans said. It also includes a $1 million cost for actually selling the bonds.

the district to cut about $4.3 million in the 2023-24 school year and another $4.3 the following school year, when the current override finally expires. The district ultimately would lose approximately $12.7 million in operations spending annually.

Vega said the PAC has its work cut out for it because unlike the last override election in 2017, this year is not an all-mail election.

“Since this is not a special election on its own 100% mail-in ballot as in years past, we have a very large population to reach in a mid-term election,” she said.

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At the time the board approved the measure, now-retired Assistant Superintendent Diane Meulemans said some of the money could also fund some art room expenditures, updating auditoriums, refurbishing some cafeteria floors that need to be redone, curbs, some dugouts, fencing, locker room floors, restaurants, science labs, tennis courts, weatherization, and

The board’s approval of both overrides and the bond package also followed the recommendations of a 38-member citizens advisory committee that studied Tempe Union’s obligations and future needs. The committee comprised different stakeholders, from parents and community members to district staff.

Tempe Union’s current needs not funded by the District Additional Assistance budget would total $60.9 million over seven years beginning July 1,2023, according to Meulemans.

She said failure to obtain voter approval for the operations override would force

We have a community outreach subcommittee that is organizing canvases and outreach through volunteer surrogates via various community meetings and events,” she said. “Of course, we will also send mailers to likely voters.”

It’s too late for submissions for the voters pamphlet that will be distributed to voters in the district in coming weeks.

But to raise awareness and persuade voters to approve the measures, Vega said PAC volunteers will also be organizing yard and street sign campaign while others will be “on a robust digital and social campaign.”

Students protest Legislature’s school policies

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Students at six Arizona high schools, including two in Chandler, walked out of their classrooms on Sept. 29 to protest what they call anti-gay and anti-trans laws passed earlier this year by the Re publican-controlled state Legislature.

The six schools all have chapters of the student-led Support Equality AZ Schools and their leaders urged members and other students to walk out at Chandler High, Hamilton High, Desert Vista in Ah watukee, South Pointe in Phoenix, Cac tus Shadows in Cave Creek and Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy.

An estimated 150-to-200 students ap peared to walk out of Chandler High, which was about double what organizers hoped for.

Hamilton High School junior Dawn Shim, one of the organizers, told the Chandler Unified Governing Board a day earlier, “When you allow school [admin istration] to divulge information about

Students listened to organizers explain why some of the Legislature’s new policies for schools could potential harm LGBTQ classmates. (Ken Sain/Arizonan Managing Editor)

students to their parents, that can be in credibly harmful, especially for LGBTQ stu dents who are in an unsafe environment.”

The laws that the Legislature passed last spring that organizers are calling anti-gay and anti-trans include giving parents the right to inspect any docu ment about their child that is at school. So, if a student confided to a counselor

they were questioning their sexual ori entation, and that was written down, a parent could demand to see it.

The students also protested laws forcing transgender athletes to compete accord ing to their biological sex and a near ban on gay publications in school libraries.

“It only takes one affirming adult in the lives of an LGBTQ youth to reduce

the risk of suicide and I refuse to be a part of taking that away from our stu dents,” Chandler Unified board member Lindsay Love said after voting no on the state-mandated policy changes.

“When LGBTQ youth are outed to par ents who are not affirming, they face the threat of violence and are often kicked out of the home and forced into homeless ness. LGBTQ youth represent only 8% of the youth population, but make up around 40 to 45% of the homeless population in Maricopa County, placing them at dispro portionate risk of being sex trafficked.”

Kanix Gallo, is a Chandler High sophomore helped the lead the walkout at that school and confronted a heckler as she led students to AJ Chandler Park, simply looking at him after he said, “Jesus has a plan for you.”

Kanix said the biggest problem is the restriction on library materials.

“They’re calling all these bills, parental rights bills, and so they don’t sound too harmful,” she said. “But when you look into

CUSD board bristles at new state mandates

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan anaging Editor

son Olive said.

Areluctant

Governing Board of the Chandler Unified School District voted to comply with state law at its Sept. 28 meeting, agreeing to change policies to fit what one member called a political agenda.

A majority of board members made it clear they were not happy about it.

“I just want to take a moment to ex plain why I voted yes,” Lara Bruner said. “We took an oath of office, where we said we would support the U.S. Constitution and the laws of Arizona. But it is truly disheartening that some of our repre sentatives and our legislature have de cided to increase their control from the top over decisions that should be made in our local communities.”

She was not alone.

“It’s amazing how people just say (they) believe in local control until they can tell everybody else how to live,” Ja

“I’m very disappointed in the Legis lature, and its efforts to micromanage school districts and force their political beliefs on the district,” Joel Wirth said. “I think it’s wrong and inappropriate.”

All three voted to approve the changes mandated by the state on a host of con troversial issues. The harshest words came from board member Lindsay Love, who cast the sole vote against their adoption.

“These policy revisions are rooted in transphobia, homophobia, racism, and a general disregard for the mental health and wellness of our students,” Love said after her no vote.

“Some of these policy revisions and adoptions would create an environment in which our LGBTQ students could po tentially be outed to their parents and community members before they are ready and could create situations that put their physical, mental and emotional health and safety at risk.”

Love added, “While I understand that district policies are often determined by the state Legislature, at some point we have to take a stand in school boards and defend our kids. When we simply ig nore and stay quiet about obvious con tradictions between our stated values and our votes and actions, why should a parent or voter trust us? They shouldn’t because it’s plainly hypocritical.”

The elected officials were not the only ones to express displeasure at the changes state lawmakers forced them to make.

“These statutes that come back from legislation are law and districts have to work with policies to be able to make sure the laws are followed,” Superin tendent Frank Narducci said. “We don’t have choices on those pieces.

“We’re not in agreement with all the laws, and we will make sure that all stu dents – all students – are protected all the time. All students means all. … I’ve been in education for 40 years and just

haven’t seen this type of activity. It’s al most harnessing the energy we have in a school district.”

Here is a summary of the policy chang es the Governing Board approved that were mandated by the state:

The one getting the most attention is a law that requires districts to separate sports into boys, girls, coed or mixed and assign athletes to those teams based on their biological sex. It also allows stu dents and their parents the right to sue if they are harmed by a school knowingly violating that.

Schools are prohibited from referring students to, or using any sexually explicit material except allowed in sex education classes. There is an exemption for mate rial that has serious educational value.

Parents may request and view any re cords that relate to their children. They also have a right to know what books their child has checked out of the li

Kyrene board rips transgender, other state laws

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor

Thefull weight of a number of new state laws involving parental rights and other school district policies fell on the Kyrene Governing Board Sept. 13 – and board members clearly weren’t happy about them.

A policy barring transgender males from girls teams drew such a strong denuncia tion from board member Wanda Kolomyjec that the board postponed a vote.

Board members want the district law yer to craft language that would clearly distance the district from its intent but note that Kyrene will enforce the ban be cause it’s required by the state.

Even before the board voted on the policies it did adopt, members Michelle Fahy and Margaret Pratt expressed their dismay, noting they had no alternative to adopting them.

“I feel it’s important to express that al though I may vote for policies … because

Left: Kyrene board member Michelle Fahy criticized a ban on mandating students to get vaccines to protect against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus virus and CO VID-19. (YouTube) Right: Kyrene Governing Board member Wanda Kolomyjec angrily de nounced a state law that requires school districts to ban transgender students from sports teams of the gender they identify with or using that gender’s bathrooms or locker rooms (YouTube)

it is the law,” Pratt said, “it does not neces sarily mean that I am in agreement with the law or the change in policy.” She also called the meeting “a dark evening for

policy.”

Fahy added, “It is important that our com munity understand that we are required by law to put some of these policies in place

whether or not we agree with them.”

With Margaret Wright absent, four board members present unanimously approved policies that:

• Prevent mandated HPV and COVID-19 vaccines for students. The law barring mandated shots to protect against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus has been on the books since 2007 but the Legislature this year added a ban on mandating COVID-19 vaccines.

At the time of its passage, Arizona joined 23 other states in banning HPV shots on grounds it encouraged students to engage in sexual activity. By 2018, the Centers for Disease Control reported that more than 43 million teens and young adults had contracted some form of HPV, which can cause everything from genital warts to cancers.

Both board President Kevin Walsh and Fahy criticized the state law.

“I think this is a political policy, which

Treat

CUSD parent alarmed by book her son found in school library

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

Chandler parent Charlotte Lawrence said her 11-year-old son handed her a book he found at his school library and said, ‘Mom, I don’t know if this is appropriate for me.’

“So I took the book, read it myself, and then told my son not to read it,” Lawrence said.

The book in question is “George,” by Alex Gino. It’s the story of a fourthgrader who sees herself as a girl while the rest of the world sees her as a boy named George.

Lawrence said she met with Carlson Elementary School Principal Andy Morgan and he told her that the book should not have been in their library.

During the Sept. 14 Chandler Unified School District Governing Board meeting, Lawrence read some of passages that she found inappropriate for children her son’s age.

“Page 47,” she began. “George read on the internet that he could take girl hormones to change his body and get surgeries if he wanted to. It’s called transitioning. He could even start before turning 18 by taking pills called androgen blockers.”

She went on to describe a scene where George and his best friend were dressing in girls’ clothes and the best friend gave him some girls’ undies to wear.

Lawrence read a half dozen passages from the book that she found inappropriate.

“If I were to hand this book to a child on the street, I’d be arrested,” Lawrence said. “So this should not be in our schools. Parents in this community do not want this.”

Superintendent Frank Narducci said an investigation is underway.

“We have already been on that and have been addressing that as well,” Narducci said to a question about the book from board member Jason Olive. “Our staff is on top of it.”

In another section of the book Lawrence read, the lead character’s brother asks if he will go all the way and have the

The mother of a CUSD fifth grader student complained about this book in her son's school library. (File photo)

surgery to become a girl.

Lawrence was not the only speaker to object to “George.”

“I’m just going to piggyback on Charlotte’s points about the book that her son has discovered,” said Sean Smith. “I am really concerned about the direction of what is being taught in some of the schools.

“I am anxious when I drop my daughter off at school. I am continuously asking her if she feels safe, if she’s being taught anything that is inappropriate. That is not what I should be worried about when I drop my daughter off at school every day.”

Lawrence said she is happy with how the district has handled the book since she complained.

“Obviously, the district is reviewing the book,” she said. “But it shouldn’t have been there in the first place. The principal did admit that it should not have been in the library.”

Andi Young, who is co-chair of the Arizona Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN), said studies show it is better overall for students if books like

withus!

bothers me,” Fahy said. “I think that part of it is because HPV tends to be a sexu ally transmitted disease and God forbid it should prevent our children from get ting cancer because of how it’s transmit ted. And then COVID – you know, we all know is more political than anything I’ve ever seen in my life. But I do find it discouraging that we’re prevented from finding ways to protect our children, all our children in our schools.”

Walsh sarcastically said, “I was un aware that our legislature had such medical expertise to intervene into pub lic schools to say” what vaccines should be required and which are prohibited.”

• Give parents great access to school li braries and the books their children take out. The district must still develop specific procedures for parents to follow in connection with the two policies ap proved by the board. Both go into effect Jan. 1. One policy allows parents to ob tain a list of books in a school library and the materials their child has checked out. The other policy is broader and re quires districts and charter school dis tricts and charter school governing

boards to create a 60-day review period for any new library additions and notify parents seven days in advance of the re view period’s beginning.

Fahy called the more expansive policy “discouraging” and an “unfunded man date” because “we’re not given the re sources to do it and we use our time to do these kinds of trivial things instead of the work of the district.”

Pratt, a mother of four, added: “Every experience any of my children have had as a Kyrene kid with their librarian has been wonderful. My girls have had great experiences and guidance and explor ing the things they’re interested in and learning more. And so I just want to com mend all of our caring staff and teachers that are working in our Kyrene libraries and media centers. So, forgive me: I just had to say something positive.”

• Require a minute or two of silence be fore the beginning of each school day.

Teachers are not allowed to tell children how to use this time but must encour age parents to discuss with their chil dren how to use the moment of silence.

The law says teachers may post on bulletin boards as guidance: the national motto “In God We Trust; the National An them; the Pledge of Allegiance; the Pre amble to the state constitution, the Dec laration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact; “writings, speeches, documents and proclamations of the founding fathers and the presidents of the United States,” “published decisions of the United States Supreme Court, acts of Congress, or the state motto of “God Enriches.”

Walsh said, “I think it’s a wonderful idea to have a moment of silence. I think it’s a terrible idea to micromanage by legislation how we’re supposed to do so and it’s an impressive waste of oxygen that we are having this conversation.."

While no one opposed a moment of re flection, Fahy rapped the Legislature for dictating it, calling all the policies “a great example of people making decisions and they are not consulting with the human beings that are going to be impacted by it.”

But it was the transgender ban that drew the loudest denunciation.

It came not long after a tearful mother of four Kyrene students told how her 15-year-old son said he identified as a girl.

“We worried about this kid getting bul lied or worse,” the mother said. “She had already been bullied in school. She was autistic and has ADHD and that made

her vulnerable to begin with… I cried months and months. For my daughter, it was an agonizing time, she had already gone through puberty.

“Suddenly, there was an Adam’s apple facial hair and lowered voice. All parts have matured,” she continued.

“She went to therapy, she took minutes to change her body and still she hated what she saw…Can you imagine what it’s like to feel so betrayed by your body that you no longer want to be a part of?”

Kolomyjec railed against the state law, which requires school districts to adopt a policy that states “athletic teams or sports designated for “females,” “women” or “girls” may not be open to students of the male sex.”

The policy does state that “any stu dent may participate in any intramural athletic team or sport designated as be ing for ‘males,’ ‘men’ or ‘boys’ or desig

not be a safe place...Do we care about our children? Or do we not?” she asked.

“We are sitting up here and making sure that these children feel they don’t belong in this community with this pol icy.”

Kolomyjec asserted that the American Academy of Pediatrics has called similar legislation “dangerous” and that “the Women’s Sports Federation has con demned such laws as a “distraction to the real threats to girls and women in sports, such as the lack of Title IX under standing and compliance, inequity and compensation, resources and sponsor ship and media attention.”

Title IX bars gender discrimination in sports and all education programs for any school entity that receives federal money.

After he was asked if the policy could

nated as ‘coed’ or ‘mixed’ or intramural sports based on the biological sex of the students who participate on the team or in the sport. The permissible categories are the following: Males, men or boys; Fe males, women or girls; or, coed or mixed.”

Kolomyjec noted that the board had ad opted an equity policy “of non-discrimi nation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.”

“The board embraces those characteris tics that make members of the school district community unique, including differences in gender and gender identity and expression and sexual orientation,” she continued.

She said the board’s adoption shows an understanding for “the unique challenges and barriers faced by individuals or sub populations and ensuring people have what they need to participate in school, or work to reach their full potential in life by making essential programs, services, ac tivities, and technologies accessible to all.”

She took a shot at Gov. Doug Ducey, stating, “I’m sorry, Mr. Ducey, 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves, 40% have tried… For transgender youth, however, school may

be dumped, District General Counsel Jordan Ellel advised the board, “Unfor tunately, this is a statutory requirement. You will not have the opportunity or ability to act that is clear morally.”

But he added, “I think there are some different options you might have – the end result being the district sports that are run by the district will follow state law until that was changed.”

But he said that while “we can play with some of those ideas and try to find something that will work for the board, I don’t know that we can leave our policy exactly the way it was before today.”

Fahy suggested the board simply cite the law “and let people look it up.”

“I don’t want anybody reading this pol icy for Kyrene and think this board was fine with it,” she added.

After that discussion, the mother who had spoken earlier about her child was allowed to return to the podium to finish her address that had been cut off for hit ting the three-minute time limit.

She held up a copy of Kyrene’s equity policy and asked, “What do we do with this sheet of paper?”

“I feel it’s important to express that although I may vote for policies … because it is the law, it does not necessarily mean that I am in agreement with the law or the change in policy. ”

– Margaret Pratt

strongly in favor, one against, and two others want more information.

Members supporting for the change were Lopez, Mark Stewart, Vice Mayor Terry Roe and Mayor Kevin Hartke. Matt Orlando appeared to be opposed while OD Harris and Christine Ellis indicated they wanted more information.

According to the timeline provided by city staff, the change in ordinances will first go to Planning and Zoning in October and then be presented to the Council in November. A final vote will happen at the council’s December meeting.

Here’s the direction that council members gave city staff:

• Chickens will be allowed in backyards. This will impact traditional homes that are not part of a homeowners association, since most of them ban chickens.

• No roosters will be allowed.

• Homeowners will not need a permit.

• A limit of five was suggested, but Councilman Mark Stewart asked for a sliding scale based on a lot size, with bigger yards allowing more chickens.

• Homeowners would not need their neighbors’ approval to host chickens.

• Staff will look at the setbacks from the property line. Staff had recommended 5 feet, which is what most other cities require. Orlando pushed for more, saying a homeowner who wants chickens should have to deal with the odor and noise more than neighbors. Council asked staff to look at increasing the setback limit to 10 or 15 feet.

Council members remain adamant they do not want Chandler Police Department to handle chicken complaints. A large portion of the 90-minute meeting was dedicated to that issue. Members were told that code enforcement could handle those complaints – and that other cities that allow chickens get very few complaints about chickens.

Large agricultural lots are allowed to have chickens in Chandler. Guy Jaques, the city’s neighborhood services supervisor, said the city received only 37 complaints about chickens in 2021 and only 20 of those were founded. He said the city had 100% compliance after telling residents what they needed to do to not be in violation of city codes.

Jaques also said complaints were up across the board last year, probably because of the pandemic. They don’t usually receive that many.

Other cities had similarly low numbers of chicken complaints, even though every Valley city other than Avondale and Chandler allows backyard chickens in residential neighborhoods.

Phoenix had 304 founded complaints; Mesa had 102; Gilbert 12; Tempe 16.

Jaques said the code department could handle an increase in chicken complaints.

“We’ve talked about it, we’ve thought about it, and we absolutely have the capacity to enforce chicken complaints,” Jaques said. “We don’t feel we’re going to be overburdened with chicken complaints.”

Jaques said code enforcement plans

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Resource of�icers explain their role on CUSD campuses

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

Dr.

Craig Gilbert is the associate superintendent for K-12 educational services for the Chandler Unified School District. He is also a Black man.

“I don’t usually talk too much about this,” Gilbert said at the Sept. 14 CUSD Governing Board meeting. “Where I grew up, I will tell you, when I saw a police officer, I [had more fear than thinking] they were coming to help me.”

Gilbert was one of the presenters during a study session on school resource officers, the program that puts good guys with guns on the campuses of some CUSD junior high and high schools.

Board Member Lindsay Love said not everyone views them as good guys with guns and that some from Black and Hispanic and other minority communities are afraid of those officers.

“What do you do, though, with our students who are fearful of police?” Love asked. “They’re seeing things like Antho-

ny Cano, who was gunned down last year by Chandler police, right? They’re seeing things on the news, right? With regards

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to relationships between police and unarmed people of color or people with disabilities, how do you overcome that?”

between two schools. Chandler Police Department provides the officers to nine of the schools. Two work for the Gilbert Police Department and cover Perry High and Perry Junior High while a Queen Creek Police officer works at Casteel High.

Dieu said the key to being a good SRO is to build relationships with the students. And he said that’s different for every officer.

And to help build those relationships in a positive manner, he said, assistant principals and/or deans hand out discipline at school. Officers shy away from going into a rowdy classroom to restore order when a substitute teacher may need help.

SROs are required to be on campus 80% of their work day. They also must teach 180 hours of law-related education each year. As part of that, they are required to attend law-related training. And they meet quarterly with the school safety team.

They are to be a resource for students, parents, teachers and staff.

Dieu gave an example of how that plays out.

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Cano, 17, of the Galveston area, was riding his bike home from the Boys & Girls Club when a police officer tried to pull him over in January 2021. Cano fled, and during the pursuit, pulled out a gun. He may have been trying to throw it away. Officer Chase Bebak-Miller shot Cano twice, the second time when Cano was lying face down on the ground. The Maricopa County Attorney did not charge the officer in that case.

Officer Stephen Dieu, the school resource officer at Chandler High, said he and his fellow SROs try to treat everyone with dignity and respect. They also try to be transparent.

“Some of these concepts are things that continually are reminded in my mind when interacting with those who might not have had a pleasant experience with law enforcement and it’s about building that bridge,” Dieu said.

CUSD has 11 school resource officers paid for through a combination of grants and district funding. They are: ACP Middle School, Andersen Junior High, Bogle Junior High, Santan Junior High, Willis Junior High, ACP High School, Basha High, Chandler High and Hamilton High.

One of those officers splits their time

“Students decided that they were going to mess around during lunch, some eighth-graders,” Dieu said. “There was a big commercial light on the side of a building. And they thought, ‘Oh, I can touch it’ and they just were competing. They were stepping up on the wall and they were reaching up on the top and pulling down, reaching up on the top and pulling it down, and as you would expect, it crashed.”

Dieu said the light was valued at $300.

“My principal was very aware of the circumstances that these youth had,” he said. “Sending them home doesn’t do any good. They’re struggling in their classes academically.”

Dieu said the principal looked at him and asked, what can you do?

With parental permission, Dieu had the boys spend four lunch periods improving the campus as a way of paying back for the damage they caused. He had some general contracting experience and directed them on ways they could make things better.

“At the end of those four days, I said, ‘You guys, you’ve worked so hard, this is so great.’ I mean, it was wonderful work-

Often referred to as “Super SRO” by colleagues, Chandler Police School Resource Officer Stephen Dieu explained at a recent CUSD Governing Board meeting how he and his colleagues approach their job on CUSD campuses. (Special to the Arizonan)

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LD12 candidates all appeared for a 90-minute debate in August sponsored by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission. They are, top row: Democratic Senate candidate and incumbent Rep. Mitzi Epstein and Democratic House candidates Patty Contreras and Stacey Travers. Bottom row: Repubican Senate candidate David Richardson and GOP House hopefuls Jim Chaston and Terry Roe. (YouTube)

Abortion �ight looms over LD 12 election

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor

Alongwith choosing governing board members, voters in the Nov. 8 election that begins with early voting Oct. 12 also will be choosing a new delegation to represent northern and western Chandler in the state Legislature.

Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sean Bowie opted not to seek another term and neither did Democratic Rep. Jermaine Johnson in Legislative District 12.

That prompted incumbent Democratic Rep. Mitzi Epstein of Tempe to seek Bowie’s seat in this election while two newcomers from Ahwatukee, retired City of Phoenix human services program manager Patty Contreras, and scientist Stacey Travers are the Democrats seeking the House seats.

Seeking to crack the all-blue LD12 are Republican Senate candidate David Richardson, also a scientist and entrepreneur in Ahwatukee, and Chandler residents Terry Roe and Jim Chaston seeking the House seats. Chaston is a CPA who owns his own firm and Roe, a retired police officer, is winding up his second term on Chandler City Council.

One of the key issues looming over this election is abortion, though education funding and the state’s approach to ensuring an adequate supply of water also are likely to be on voters’ minds.

During the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission debate Sept. 1, the

candidates split on party lines with all three Democrats insisting abortion was a woman’s right and Republicans favoring restrictions. The Republican candidates did not state they favored an outright ban on all abortions, with some saying they might go along with allowing them when a fetus is less than 12 weeks old.

The debate can be viewed at youtube. com/watch?v=sBn6hwyog_o.

LD 12 voters have another chance to see the candidates debate live at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Mountain Pointe High School, 4201 E Knox Road, Ahwatukee, where juniors and seniors in an Advanced Placement civics course will be grilling them.

With Democrats asked during the Clean Elections debate what limits, if any, they would find acceptable on abortion and Republicans asked under what circumstances they would allow abortions, Travers turned her focus initially on the moderator.

“That is a question that would definitely come from a man because quite honestly, abortion is healthcare.”

Since the debate, much has changed in the political debate over abortion after a judge two weeks ago ruled in favor of a request by outgoing GOP state Attorney General Mark Brnovich and upheld an abortion ban that was passed before Arizona even became a state.

During the Clean Elections debate, Travers, Epstein and Contreras all made

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essentially the same arguments that abortion should be considered among a woman’s healthcare options and that government should not intrude on it.

Republicans did not directly disagree with the healthcare argument, and instead focused on the fetus’ life as something missing in the Democrats’ equation.

Roe said, “If I had to hold my nose and vote for 12 weeks, then I could support that.” That was a reference to outlawing abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Contreras contended that the U.S. Supreme Court had upended what was “settled law for the last 50 years” and that “we just need to make sure that we can keep abortion safe for everyone.”

Chaston said he agreed with Contreras on not allowing government interference but said, “There’s another life involved and I want to stand up and represent –and the government should represent –that other life and that’s why I’m pro-life.”

Travers shot back, “What about the life of the mother?

Richardson said he would favor a ban after 12 or 13 weeks but he also said “there’s been a lot of false information spread” that confuses abortions and “miscarriage management” and that “while making an exception for the life of the mother is absolutely important, it’s probably legally irrelevant because that’s also not considered abortion.”

Epstein assailed Richardson’s language, saying, “These are political terms. These are not medical terms” and that he was not representing what most medical professionals are saying about a difference between a D&C operation and an abortion.

She added that Roe v. Wade “was working for all of us and ...we need to think about clarifying that.”

The debate also focused extensively on public school financing – another issue that, again, has changed significantly since that forum now that universal school vouchers survived an effort to

stall their implementation.

The Republicans all favored the expanded voucher system, though they insisted that its primary impact on public school districts would be beneficial. They said it would force public districts to elevate student performance in order to compete effectively with private and charter schools.

Roe used the issue to come out vehemently against voter initiatives, saying such measures generally pass because voters get confused by misleading messages.

Travers ripped into that assertion, stating Republicans were contending, “on the one hand, we’re too stupid enough to know what we’re signing. But on the other hand, we’re smart enough to be able to make educational choices for our children. We can’t have it both ways.”

Another education-related issue the candidates address involved the state constitution’s Aggregate Spending Limit on school spending, which last school year could have provoked massive teacher and staff layoffs even though school districts had the money in the bank to pay them.

Chaston also favored asking voters to repeal the limit, but went further by arguing for a total revamping of the school system.

“The entire school-funding system is almost 50 years old,” Chaston said. “We need to revamp the way our education funding is created.”

He said he favored a mechanism that paid teachers well but that would also stimulate innovation.

Richardson said, “I am part of a group of incoming potential lawmakers who are already ready to take meaningful steps for improving our education system.”

He said the plan would include a $10,000 pay raise for teachers – “of course, tied to others requiring financial transparency and some other things.”

Epstein said “funding is my bailiwick” and that the main reason teachers didn’t see the full pay raise is “because year after year, my Republican colleagues have given dollars to K- 12 with one hand and taken it away with two other hands.”

City plans to spruce up 3 downtown pathways

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

TheCity of Chandler is proceeding with its plan to make downtown pathways more pedestrian friendly.

City Council approved three contracts, each for about $150,000, to design ways to improve three downtown alleys and a street: Wall Street from Chicago to Frye; the alley north of City Hall; and Boston Street from Arizona to California.

Councilman Matt Orlando wanted to know why they were being asked to approve three different contracts instead of grouping them all together in one package.

“While they are coming together during the same month, we’ve been working on them independently over the last year and a half,” said Kim Moyers, city director of cultural development who oversees downtown as part of her responsibilities.

“So it’s just a coincidence that they all came up, they each have their own special scope of work,” she continued. “And the contractor that was chosen for each was based upon the complexities of each project.”

Moyers said all three projects are in the design stage.

She said some of the work for Wall Street has already been done, but they need to take another look at them because of the complexities involved in moving utility lines underground and the tight time frame they have. In addition to making it more pedestrian friendly, the city

plans to build an archway in that alley.

City officials also want to extend a pedestrian walkway from Frye to Chandler Boulevard.

“While the project itself is just from Chicago to Frye, we’ve been working on the pedestrian trail from Chandler Boulevard, all the way down to Frye, and this is the last piece of that,” Moyers said. “So

if you don’t want to walk along Arizona Avenue where all of the businesses are, you’ll be able to take a very clear path all the way down through downtown.”

“If you’ve been on Boston Street from Arizona to California, it just needs a lot of help and a lot of work,” Moyers said. “The streets are deteriorating, and we need to build that out.

“As we do that, we are looking at pedestrian features and making sure that the sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are appropriate. So that’s going to take a considerable amount of coordination, which is with each of the downtown businesses.”

The final project is the Boston Street alley north of City Hall and Serrano’s Mexican Food restaurant from Arizona to Washington.

“We’ve been doing with a lot of the alleys in this area, [trying to] make them a little more pedestrian friendly, add lighting to make them a little safer,” Moyers said. “And we’re also going to put a trash enclosure to make it a little cleaner in that area. We might even get a mural in there in the future. At the same time, we’re also going to be repaving all of the parking lot as well.”

the bill, they do sound a lot more harmful.”

Hayden Nguyen, a senior at Gilbert Classical Academy, is part of the statewide leadership of Support Equality AZ Schools, said, “It’s going to be almost impossible for people to talk to their school counselors in order to, you know, enter the their preferred pronouns and gender … without being outed to their parents.”

The organizers at the Chandler High walkout said they were happy with how many students participated.

“Everyone really came through,” sophomore Oliver Milicoliver. “It really shows the solidarity that a lot of people have in the schools.”

“The more the numbers, the more it shows how much we care,” said sophomore Salem Babington. “And I think that’s really important. And we’re very grateful for all the people coming out here and showing their support for our cause.”

There have been similar walkouts in New York, Virginia and Texas.

“I’m we’re really surprised because we had no idea they were coordinating these things,” Kanix said. “But the bill that is forcing teachers to out trans stu-

dents is popping up everywhere right now. And all the students around this shows that we all see how bad it is.

“We are actually currently talking to some of those organizations that did walkouts in different states to talk to them and be like, ‘Hey, do you want to coordinate a nationwide walkout?’”

Dawn, the Hamilton High student who helped organize the walkouts, said she’s gotten positive feedback from elected leaders, but little action.

“We met with a lot of legislators,” she said. “And we realized that this treatment option that receiving from our school boards right now is across the line for all of the boards that we see across Arizona and across our state is the lack of action.

“Or even if there is action, they tell us, we’re very brave, and they appreciate what we’re saying,” Dawn added. “But they don’t take positive action. That actually is measurable and has goals. That is what we want to see. And the reason why we’re walking out is to tell other organizers across Arizona, as well as our legislators, that we’re here, we know what’s going on, and we’re going to do something.”

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The Wall Street alley was transformed into a pedestrian zone during the Week of Wall Street, in March. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

ing side by side with them, addressing some of the needs of the campus. They looked at me, and they said, ‘What are we doing tomorrow?’ And it developed into what was referred to as the Urban Assault Team. Every day, they wanted a project.”

Chandler Police Department was recognized in 2021 as a “Model School Resource Officer Agency.”

It earned the recognition by focusing on three goals set by the National Asso-

ciation of School Resource Officers: Be a mentor; guest lecturer; and a law enforcement officer.

The Phoenix-based Law for Kids Academy noted Dieu is often called Super SRO” by colleagues.

“Officer Dieu has exceeded his requirements of LRE by almost 100 hours so far this school year,” it said. “Additionally, he assists with the neighboring elementary school to help with younger students and teachers.”

It also noted that he has “dedicated time

outside of work to various organizations, including the Boy Scouts and a group which repairs homes of the elderly.”

Board member Love, who is Black, has expressed concerns about the SRO program in the past and said that not every student is happy to see armed officers on campus.

Patti Serrano, who is a candidate for the Governing Board in November’s election, has said the evidence suggests schools would be better off putting that money into counselors instead of officers. Serrano would be the first Latina

member of the board if elected.

Gilbert, however, said he was able to overcome the distrust of officers that he had during his youth because of a school resource officer.

“I can tell you what changed my thought, or which moved me to look at it a different way, was an SRO,” Gilbert said.

“It was actually an SRO that I befriended and got to know that changed my perspective. That’s not going to be for everybody, but … you have to be open to look for it, but it’s a two-way street.”

“George” are included in libraries.

“About 80% of transgender students experience harassment and bullying in school,” Young said. “Being able to see themselves in a positive way, reflected back at them, is really important.”

Young said it’s not only important for transgender youth, but also helps the rest of the student body become more accepting and lessens the hostility that trans youth experience.

As for the age, if this is something sixthgraders should be reading, Young said, yes.

“I’m a parent of a transgender youth,

and I’ve been involved with many trans groups,” she said. “We see kids who come out as early as they can talk. Other kids, they don’t come out until much older, and that’s usually because of the hostility they experience.”

As of Jan. 1, school districts will be required by a new state law to provide par-

ents greater access to their children’s school libraries and provide them on demand with a list of books their children take out.

Districts also will be required to hold a 60-day review period for any new additions to school libraries and media centers and give parents a seven-day advance notice when that review period begins.

to start a pilot program to have an inspector available on Saturdays to handle some weekend complaints. That was one of the criticism opponents pointed to, that inspectors don’t work weekends.

Leah Powell, the city’s neighborhood resources director, said the pilot program would likely last months and they will see if there is enough work to justify the scheduling change.

More than 71% of city residents live in a HOA, so the change in chicken laws

will likely not impact them. Most of the neighborhoods that do not live in a HOA are in the northern half of the city.

City staff said only 23 residents filled out feedback on backyard chickens on the city website, with 22 in favor. To provide feedback, search for urban

chickens ordinance at chandleraz.gov.

Lopez urged his colleagues to move forward with the process.

“I can appreciate reservations,” Lopez said. “But again, we’re not making a decision here to pass chickens. The only decision is to give staff direction.”

schools in our Kyrene community, and I believe that my experience and proven leadership make me uniquely qualified to ensure that our Kyrene students are given the best opportunities to learn, develop and thrive,” Walsh said.

He believes he has gained “invaluable experience” on the board “that sets me apart from others” and regularly visits

each of the district’s 26 schools.

“As a parent of young children, I saw first-hand how COVID impacted many students, and I’m grateful that we succeeded in keeping schools open for inperson learning all of last year. If I am re-elected, I will remain committed to ensuring that our students have the resources they need to succeed. I will continue advocating for our teachers and support staff to be valued and treated as

professionals. There is a lot to celebrate in Kyrene, and there is always more that we can do.

“I am balanced and pragmatic, with a proven track record of achieving results. I’m proud of the great work accomplished during my term on the Kyrene Governing Board, including increasing teacher/ staff pay by $10.5 million last school year, while still decreasing spending.”

Triné Nelson

Nelson has been in education for 18 years and is currently the curriculum design director for Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

She told AFN, “As a mom with children in the Kyrene district for the past nine years, I have spent extensive time volunteering in classrooms, serving on PTO boards, the Superintendent Community Council, and most recently as the co-chair for Keep Kyrene Strong, whose work was integral to success of the 2021 M & O override continuance election.

“I am deeply committed to the continued success of the Kyrene School District, not just as a parent, but as a community member. I have spent over 20 years working in and around education and have seen first-hand the link between educational success and community involvement. The Kyrene community is engaged and focused on creating a positive environment and for our students and staff.”

“As a governing board member, I will serve the community by collaborating with parents, educators, administration, and other community members to find solutions that best meet the needs of our

children. I will work with other board members to build on the success Kyrene has experienced and make sure that we share progress and achievements with the community. “

Kristi Ohman

Ohman, a mother of two, has been a teacher for both charter and public schools, including Kyrene and said she is in the race “because I want to be an honest voice for Kyrene kids and truly listen to all parents, teachers, and community members.”

“I am proud to bring a current teacher and parent’s perspective to the Kyrene Board. I want Kyrene to be every parent’s first choice for their child. Kyrene is an amazing district and can reach its highest potential by focusing on education fundamentals, transparency, and accountability for all. The pandemic has left us in a severe academic slump and regression of social skills, work ethic, and behavior. We need to prioritize our Kyrene students and classrooms. The strength of our community relies on our public schools.”

TEMPE UNION

Tempe Union Governing Board also will see at least one new member after board President Brian Garcia decided against a second term.

Andres Barraza

Barraza of Tempe is seeking a second term. The owner of a coffee and team import company bearing his name, he

Charlotte Golla Lara Bruner Marilou Estes

Patti Serrano Kurt Rohrs

is a former senior firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service who often has talked about how he rose from an early life as a drug dealer to earn a bachelor of science degree in economics from ASU.

did not respond to the Arizonan’s

questionnaire or an invitation to write two Opinion Page columns on top ics of his choice. He also did not respond to a request for candidate statements from the Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, according to its website.

Stephan Kinglsey

Stephan Anthony Kingsley is an Ah watukee resident who has been in edu cation for over 15 years, and is listed as an English teacher at Corona del Sol High School.

He is now a doctoral candidate in in dustrial and organizational psychol ogy at Grand Canyon University. Stephan consults and collaborates on diversity and inclusion initiatives with business, education, and community leaders as well as researchers at the national and international level, according to the LG

BTQ Victory Institute website.

In his questionnaire responses to the Arizonan, Kinglsey said he is running because “I offer multiple perspectives to amplify voices for students, teachers, and community members.

“I’m especially passionate about en suring vulnerable and minority student voices are represented. I’ve helped fight for teachers, and I’ve developed good relationships with families and commu nity members,” he wrote, adding that he is “a good listener” who uses “a strengthbased approach to reach across the aisle to work with everyone.

“A governing board member’s job is to be a voice that represents students, their communities, families, and community members,” he said. “A board member has the opportunity to work with the school superintendent to ensure school policy and budget priorities reflect the input given by students, families, their com munities, and community members.

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a community activist and parental ad vocate for public schools and students with disabilities. She is a speech thera pist and President and co-founder of EPIC Disability Advocacy.

“I am running for the students, for the teachers, and for the community,” she said. “Eight years ago, I was a mom on a mission to support my son. I built col laborative relationships and initiated conversations which led me to partici

pate on committees at the school and district level.

“I saw the needle moving in the right direction, but realized there was much more work to do, so here I am.”

She also sees a need to continue “pick ing up the pieces caused by a global pan demic which impacted all students’ edu cational experience.”

“Today more students are showing delays and/or falling further behind in their academics, social emotional wellbeing and overall development. Teach

ers are struggling mentally and emo tionally from the trauma consumed over the last several years.”

Steele said Tempe Union “would bene fit from the accessibility lens I bring as a mother to an autistic adult with an intel lectual disability, a neurodiverse woman herself, and an advocate wanting to lis ten to your voice. I’m a passionate com munity leader here to inspire impactful change; igniting conversations that shift mindsets to include all.”

CHANDLER UNIFIED

The election in Chandler Unified in volves many issues as the district grap ples with a mental health crisis, concerns about school safety, falling test scores in the wake of the pandemic’s disruption, teacher and staff support shortages and, with the failure of a challenge to the uni versal school voucher program, intensi fied competition from private schools.

Also hanging over the Chandler Uni fied race is a push for more parental con trol over education.

Two of the five candidates – Charlotte Golla and Kurt Rohrs – are endorsed by the Purple for Parents social group that started in Arizona in 2018 in reaction to the Red for Ed movement. The other three candidates are Marilou Estes, Patti Serrano and incumbent Lara Bruner.

Purple for Parents fought against mask mandates and is advocating for more parental rights in schools. They have fought against Critical Race Theory, even though it has never been taught in CUSD schools.

“One thing I’ve noticed over the last several years, there’s nobody on the board that really represents the rights of parents and the concerns of parents,” Rohrs said at a Sept. 13 candidate forum sponsored by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of political agendas are being driven through the education system that parents in particular are not real happy with.”

Estes, Serrano and Bruner focused on issues such as school safety and in creased state funding.

They also have stood on the opposite side of Golla and Rohrs over the Aggre

gate Spending Limit, the 1982 voter-ap proved mandate that caps school district sending even if it has the money to pay for planned expenditures.

Estes, Serrano and Bruner said the Legislature should eliminate the limit while Golla and Rohrs both said they consider it a taxpayer protection law.

Instead of getting rid of it, they would push for updating the formula so the cuts would not be so steep.

Save Our Schools, a group that grew out of the Red for Ed movement, en dorsed Estes and Serrano. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce endorsed Bruner and Golla.

On school safety, Serrano took a hard position at the Sept. 13 forum.

Here is a little on the background of all five candidates:

Lara Bruner: She has more than 30 years of teaching experience. Most of the years have been working with spe cial needs students. She has served on the Arizona Special Education Advisory Panel. Bruner teaches psychology and directed the Arizona Teaching of Psy chology Conference.

Charlotte Golla: She left the corporate world to raise her family. She’s been vol unteering with schools and has become a key fundraiser. She said that with four children attending CUSD schools and her youngest now in school she has the time to serve her community.

Marilou Estes: She started her profes sional life working a corporate job, but returned to school to get a master’s de gree in her 30s. She then taught at CUSD schools for 21 years.

Kurt Rohrs: He worked in the corpo rate world and sent his children to CUSD schools. Rohrs has worked on a number of CUSD and Chandler Chamber commit tees and as a substitute teacher at CUSD schools.

Patti Serrano: She would be the first member of the Latino community elected to the Board if she wins a seat.

The Hamilton High graduate earned a degree from Arizona State University in microbiology and works in academic research. Her son has been attending CUSD schools for nine years.

More kids heading to school without basic shots

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Anincreasing number of vaccine deniers coupled with one of the easiest opt-out provisions in the nation has left Arizona with close to one out of every 10 kindergartners unprotected against key childhood diseases.

That’s causing concerns from the state’s top health official.

“The measles MMR vaccine is highly effective,’’ said Don Herrington, interim director of the state Department of Health Services.

The same vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella and that a high vaccination rate is the best way to prevent an outbreak among those who can’t be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons, or simply because they’re too young.

Yet during the last school year, the most recent data available, only 90.6% of Arizona kindergartners actually got the MMR vaccine, Herrington said – “well short of the 95% threshold considered necessary to prevent localized outbreaks.’’

The result are those outbreaks, like three new cases of measles earlier this month in Maricopa County, including an adult and two minors, all unvaccinated. One had to be hospitalized.

And Herrington said these are not innocuous diseases.

“Measles, in particular, you can have loss of hearing,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. “It can affect their intellectual development. You can have brain swelling. It’s killed people.’’

But of particular concern are the increasing number of parents who are

claiming a “personal exemption’’ from the requirement that children attending school be vaccinated against not just measles, mumps and rubella but a host of other diseases. They need not provide any reason at all.

The result is that 6.6% of kindergartners in school statewide have a personal exemption for one or more vaccines.

In Chandler, Kyrene School District Communications Executive Director Erin Helm said that out of the district’s approximate 13,000 students, 498 exemptions have been granted across all schools and grade levels.

She noted that parents seeking an exemption fill out one of three forms provided by the state to all schools for exemptions – Kyrene: medical, religious belief, and personal belief.

At the high school level, students also must show proof of vaccination for tetanus, polio, MMR, hepatitis, chicken pox and meningococcal.

Megan Sterling, executive director of community relations for Tempe Union said a total 272 of about 13,000 students have exemptions, including eight at Mountain Pointe and 53 at Desert Vista.

Of Chandler Unified’s approximate 43,000 students, fewer than 1,000 in each of the last four years have obtained exemptions from mandatory shots, according to district data.

The highest number of exemptions occurred in the 2021-22 school year, with 898 while about 600 obtained exemptions in the other three years, including the current school year.

Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association called

the decline in childhood immunizations in the state “insidious” and noted that the rate has been dropping about a half percent a year for the past decade.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Arizona is one of only 14 states that has a personal exemption. Gov. Doug Ducey, who has seen the personal opt-out rate for kindergarten-required vaccinations rise from 1.4% in 2000 to 6.6% now, showed no interest in asking lawmakers to eliminate that privilege.

California, facing a measles outbreak at Disneyland in 2019, eliminated the personal exemption. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation saying parents could not use personal or philosophical exemptions and still send their children to school.

Humble said Herrington’s agency is not entirely powerless even if Arizona keeps it personal exemption.

He pointed out the department actually had worked with state Sen. Heather Carter to create a pilot program in 2018 to provide educational materials to parents seeking to opt out of one or more

vaccines. The idea was to show the benefits outweigh any risks.

But the effort was scrapped after complaints from some parents who feared they would have to take the course to get the personal exemption, something that was not true. Humble, who was health director before Ducey took office, said the agency should revisit the plan.

All that is based on his view that there’s a direct link between vaccine acceptance and education and the related issue of income, one he said was borne out by a study the University of Arizona did for the health department a year ago.

“The lower income families, when their pediatrician says something, they believe it.

It’s ‘the doctor recommended this, so this is what I’m going to do,’" Humble said.

And those with higher income and more education?

“You get people who think they know more than the doctor knows,’’ he said. “So I guess it’s hubris when you think you’re

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Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa

smarter than you really are about things and question the physician’s recommen dations and therefore decide on your own not to vaccinate, either based on what your friends are saying in the friend group or what you’re reading on Facebook or what ever those sources of bad information are.’’

Herrington said he’s not prepared to

have that fight again.

“I think it really was like a line in the sand for some people,’’ he said of the reac tion to the 2018 pilot program. “We meant it to be very informative ... so that we could inform people of the drastic consequences of not being vaccinated.’’

But he said that’s not the way it came across.

“I think some folks felt that we were

trying to scare people, which, of course, we weren’t,’’ Herrington said. So rather than push ahead, he said, “we just re thought it and discontinued it.’’

What’s left in his toolbox, he said, are press releases, blog posts and media in terviews, all with the goal of explaining to people about the benefits of the MMR vaccine and why it’s not like others that some see no reason to take.

“People read that COVID vaccines might prevent half of cases,’’ Herrington said. “Flu might prevent 60%.’’

“But that measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, if you get both doses in the right sequence, timing I mean, it’s 97% effec tive,’’ he said. “And I think that’s going to have to be a lot of our messaging is that don’t associate all vaccines with that of the flu vaccine or with the COVID vaccine.’’

POLICIES from page 6

brary. And parents have the right to sue the district if any of their parental rights have been violated.

Love said this is the one that may force school officials to out LGBTQ students to their parents, pointing out some par ents would have negative reaction to the news, including possibly kicking them out of their homes.

Schools cannot insist on students get ting vaccinated against COVID-19 or any of its variants to attend classes.

The law barring mandated shots to protect against the sexually transmit ted human papillomavirus has been on

the books since 2007 but the Legislature this year added a ban on mandating CO VID-19 vaccines.

At the time of its passage, Arizona joined 23 other states in banning HPV shots on grounds it encouraged students to engage in sexual activity. By 2018, the Centers for Disease Control reported that more than 43 million teens and young adults had contracted some form of HPV, which can cause everything from genital warts to cancers.

Districts cannot require young students to wear a mask without parental consent.

Parents can sue the district if they usurp the rights of parents in the up bringing, education, health care or

mental health of their children. This is primarily directed at the teaching on controversial sensitive issues.

The district must add a 9/11 education day, where it gives age-appropriate les sons about the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Outside contractors who work as school psychologists no longer need to be licensed if their work is in the educa tional institution setting.

Both parents of current and prospec tive students have the right to visit a school and tour the campus or monitor a classroom.

Increases the number of questions students must answer correctly on a civ ics test to graduate from 60 to 70.

Schools must set aside one to two min utes each day for a moment of silence. Teachers cannot direct the students on what to meditate on. Students should consult with their parents on how best to use that time.

Districts are modifying eligibility for waivers that allow a student to attend a school in another district than where he lives if there are logistical reasons (distance, transportation, etc.) why they cannot go to a school in their district.

Hazing is now a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the victim dies, then it becomes a Class 4 felony. The major change is the defini tion of hazing.’

All aflutter

Kids of all ages flocked to Chandler’s Dragonflies and Butterflies Bash Sept. 17 at Veterans Oa sis Park where they got up close and personal with some of Mother Nature’s smaller wonders. Among them, (1) Gabriel Shaffer, 8, checked out a captured butterfly while (2) 5-year-old Miranda Gao marveled at some Monarch butterflies. (3) Deeann Siems helped her grandchildren, 8-yearolds Lyrik and Rumor Gaskey, make handprint bricks while (4) some kids on a nature walk used nets to try to catch dragonflies along Veterans Oasis Lake and other children created paper bal ancing butterfly crafts. Among the latter was (6) Blake Berbeg, 3, who colored butterfly drawings.

Photos by David Minton, Arizonan Staff Photographer

2 Chandler women compete for national crowns

Miss Arizona for a 2nd time loves to give back Chandler High senior vies for Miss Juneteenth

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

Isabel Ticlo first volunteered to help blind Arizonans while attending Hamilton High School.

Now, during her second stint as Miss Arizona, that chance volunteering op portunity has given the Chandler resi dent’s life direction.

Ticlo will compete for the Miss USA crown on Monday, Oct. 3.

“Arizona hasn’t placed in the top 15 since 2015, so I would be honored to have Arizona’s name read on that final’s night stage,” Ticlo said before leaving for Reno, Nevada, where the Miss USA pageant will take place. “As such, I will be sure to put my best foot forward and be my authentic self in hopes of bringing home the crown.”

Ticlo used the scholarships from her first reign as Miss Arizona in 2018 to earn a master’s degree in business ad ministration. Now, she’s pursuing a doc torate in physical therapy degree that she expects to earn in December 2023.

“Having volunteered with the blind and visually impaired community for 11-plus years, I often met and worked with people who had vision loss coupled with other neu rological or physical challenges,” Ticlo said.

“While vision loss is something they had to adapt to, many were able to live more in dependently thanks to the help of physical therapy interventions. So, I started taking night classes after work to explore some pre requisites in preparation for applications.”

She said the plan is to eventually open her own practice.

Working with the blind while at Ham ilton made a huge impact on her.

“It’s easy to forget that our sight is a gift

Isabel Ticlo of Chandler is Miss Arizona for the second time in four years and will com pete for the Miss USA crown Oct. 3. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

and to realize how challenging it can be to live in a sight-first world when that sense is suddenly reduced, diminished,” she said. “I’ve met and worked with people who lost their vision due to autoimmune disorders, trauma, diabetes, and even car accidents. It can happen to anyone.”

This will not be her first Miss USA pag eant as a contestant, since she was Miss Arizona in 2018. She said that experi ence should help her this year.

“Some of my favorite things that I’ve learned as a titleholder is how to hold

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

M

iss Juneteenth Arizona says a major portion of her respon sibilities is explaining exactly what is the nation’s most recent national holiday.

“People are going to ask me, what is Juneteenth?” said Shaundrea Norman, a senior at Chandler High School.

That’s a subject she needs to be an ex pert in for the upcoming National Miss Juneteenth pageant since knowing the holiday’s history will be a significant part of how she is judged in the compe tition Oct. 15.

And make no mistake, Shaundrea is doing all she can to win the national crown. She took the same ambition and confidence into the Miss Juneteenth Ari zona pageant, and won that.

President Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. June 19 is the anniversary of the day the final group of slaves in the U.S. were read the Emanci pation Proclamation and told that they were free. That came on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas.

The National Miss Juneteenth pageant is held in Galveston to celebrate that his toric occasion.

Shaundrea has two coaches to help her prepare for the national competi tion. Dr. Cindy Banton is her intellectual coach, helping her prepare for the ques tions the judges are likely to ask and making sure she knows the history of Juneteenth.

Shequan Palmer is her physical coach, helping her know how to stand, walk, and present herself at the pageant.

“Shaundrea is incredibly impressive,”

Dr. Banton said. “She is a young lady who gives me hope for the future of young people. She’s very intelligent. She’s beautiful inside and out. She is involved. She knows exactly what she wants out of life at this point.”

The hardest aspect of preparing for the competition has been finding the time.

Shaundrea has a busy schedule. In ad dition to her classes at Chandler High, she’s president of the school’s Black Stu dent Union, has her duties at this year’s

Chandler High senior Shaundrea Norman needs to be an expert for the upcoming National Miss Juneteenth pageant. (David Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

crucial conversations, build meaningful connections, and tell other people’s sto ries,” Ticlo said.

“I love interacting with people from all walks of life as it makes me a more compassionate community servant with a greater appreciation for all of the di verse, amazing people I have the honor of representing at the national level.

“When I think of Miss USA, I think of someone who knows the greatest gift she can give is her time,” she added.

So, she’s hands-on making sure she’s using her platform for good.

She also wants to make sure the judges know “that I will be the type of Miss USA they can count on to hit the ground run ning, to attend a news conference in the morning, visit the children’s hospital in the evening, and then host a fundraising gala that night – representing the brand with grace and kindness.”

Ticlo’s parents are from India and Thailand. She loves to dance, especially Bollywood numbers. At college one day, she got a phone call that someone she loved had been mugged.

“Getting that phone call was heart

breaking and I couldn’t help but wonder if self-defense knowledge could have been helpful,” she recalled. “So, I signed up for Taekwondo in 2020 at MX Martial Arts in Chandler and am now a proud brown belt. My studio even helped me teach a self defense class earlier this year to help others feel empowered and safe.”

She said she will test for the black belt soon.

Helping blind Arizonans is not her only charity work.

“I’ve also had the chance to work with several other organizations such as Feed My Starving Children, the Children’s Mir acle Network, HopeKids, the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, and more,” she said.

“One of my favorite events was hosting a virtual Bollywood dance class with Hope Kids for terminally ill children around the country during the pandemic. An other passion project I started last year was writing and illustrating my children’s book ‘One Nice Thing a Day’ now on Ama zon with proceeds benefiting shelters.”

Miss Juneteenth Arizona, likes to dance as often as she can, volunteers with ICAN mentoring children and is working on a political campaign for November’s election.

“I have yet to be at a football game,” Shaundrea said. “I don’t know if I’m go ing to homecoming. And honestly, that’s perfectly fine with me.

“I know that the things that I am achieving day by day [are important], whether it’s going to sash classes with my coach, learning the Juneteenth in formation with Dr. Cindy, whether that’s staying up at night to finish my home work, getting this project done or mak ing sure my work is done aside from school with the campaign that I’m on.”

Shaundrea said that she may pursue politics later in life. But first college and

most likely, law school. She is planning to tour both Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, but said she is interested in attending a histori cally Black college or university.

But before all that comes the national pageant.

Shaundrea said she has scoped out the competition, and while she recognizes the challenge before her, she’s confident in her abilities and wants to come back to Chandler with the national crown.

“They’re very beautiful,” Shaundrea said. “I think that we all have a pretty good chance at winning, I know it’s go ing to be a very tight competition. And I’m just excited to see how it all folds out. I go after what I want, by all means nec essary. And I think with having that type of mentality, it does set me apart as I go after what I want.”

Assistance

BY SARAH AUFFRET Contributor

Tennew members of Assistance League of East Valley will model clothing at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a fashion show and luncheon at noon Oct. 22 at Sunbird Golf Resort, 6210 S. Sunbird Ave., Chandler.

The fundraiser will help the organization provide new clothing for over 7,000 needy elementary school children.

Enthusiasm for joining Assistance League grows as friends share their enjoyment in being part of the friendly volunteer group. Members have a good time as they pitch in at the upscale thrift shop, distribute goods to children and assault victims and provide scholarships for college students.

“It’s really fun to be out on the sales floor, helping people and talking with customers,” said Tricia Mauller of San Tan Valley, who joined last month. “Everybody is so nice, laughing, having a good time. I love it.”

Lynn Stevens of Mesa said she enjoys working in the shoe section in the back room, as well as helping in the front of the shop.

Lynn Stevens of Mesa, left, and Linda Ems of Chandler are regular volunteers at the Assistance League of the East Valley’s Chandler Thrift Shop and are modeling hats at the group’s upcoming tea party. (Special to The Arizonan)

“The members are so friendly and helpful. I’m thankful to be part of an organization that helps so many people,” she said.

Each month Linda Ems of Chandler gathers items for the assault survivor kits each month, in addition to working

on the sales floor. She’s a “regular,” one of the members who shows up every week.

The Tea Party will be a casual, fun event, with a silent auction, raffle and prizes for attendees who wear the best hats.

Fashions are from Judy Wear Boutique in Sun Lakes. Auction items will include Gammage and Phoenix Suns tickets, a Camp Verde bunkhouse stay, Southwest Airlines gift card, décor items and designer purse and hat.

Tickets for the event are $50 and are available at the Thrift Shop, 2326 N. Alma School in Chandler, or at assistanceleagueeastvalley.org. The shop is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Reservations close Oct. 17.

Assistance League of East Valley provided clothing and supplies for over 7,300 elementary school children this year, in addition to supplying 338 homeless teens in Gilbert and Chandler with clothing, shoes, hygiene items, food, bus passes and academic support. Volunteers delivered over 3,800 assault survivor kits to local agencies, and they awarded 14 college scholarships this year.

EV Charity League honors area girls for their service

The National Charity League East Valley has recognized a number of teen women with the Presidential Service Award for their volunteer con tributions to various service agencies across the Valley that totaled over 4,402 community service hours.

The nonprofit, whose mission is to en courage community service for mothers and their daughters, bestows the nation al award to recipients who have demon strated a commitment to helping others.

The NCL East Valley Chapter had 35 members honored for community ser vice provided to a variety of agencies including: Paz de Cristo, Arizona Hu mane Society, Hackett House, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Feed My Starving Children, Operation Gratitude, St. Mary’s Food Bank and more.

This year 17 members were recog nized with the Presidential Gold Award for contributing over 100 community

What Matters Most?

service hours; three received the Presi dential Silver Award for contributing over 75 community service hours; and

15 Presidential Bronze Awards were given in recognition of over 50 commu nity service hours.

Their total of 4,402 service hours equaled 183 days of community service over a 10-month period.

Malia Spangler, class of 2026 and Gold Presidential Service Award winner, said, “My favorite way to earn hours was this year’s back to school drive. It was so fun to help kids find clothes, new shoes, and items for back to school.”

“Being a member of NCL is important to me because I enjoy spending time with my mother and I’ve learned that it’s important to ask for help when you need it,” she added.

Paige Davies-Boerner, class of 2024 and Bronze Presidential Service Award recipient, said, “My motivation to re ceive the Presidential Service Award was to know the positive impact that all of my hours were going to have on the community.

“Being a member of NCL is important to me because it connects me to my com

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A number of area teens were recently recognized for their service through the National Charity League East Valley. (Courtesy National Charity League East Valley)

munity, both socially and philanthropi

It

me some of the amaz ing organizations that are within a few miles of me that are here to help differ ent parts of the community,” she added.

Mother/daughter teams interested in learning more on how you can get involved with the NCL East Valley Chapter are urged to contact nclevmembership@gmail.com.

The membership drive begins Oct. 1. Established in Los Angeles, California

in 1925, and incorporated in 1958, Na tional Charity League, Inc. is the nation’s premier mother-daughter non-profit or ganization.

Through mission-based programming, The National Charity League develops socially responsible community leaders and strengthens the mother daughter bond. The core program includes leader ship development, community service, and cultural experiences.

Currently, the philanthropic orga nization, which has grown by nearly

82 percent in the last decade, has over 70,000 members in hundreds of chap ters across the nation. Last year, those members contributed more than 2.7 million volunteer hours to more than 4,000 local philanthropy partners and their chapters, resulting in a $66 million fiscal impact.

Gilbert teens honored were: Stephanie Brueck, Alaina Oswalt, Divya Natarajan and Krista Oswalt.

Chandler teens included: Sahana Do nepudi, Erin Kennedy, Elizabeth Neves,

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Lillian Tripoli, Laney Hunsaker, Katie Eberle and Susan Meyers-Kennedy.

Mesa teens honored were: Malia Span gler and Ashley Chaloupka.

Tempe Teens who received were Abigail Dalsin, Grace Kolinchak, Riya Nannapa neni, Sadie Peterson, Claire Samuelson, Isabella Smith, Brynn Taylor, Lilly Zienke wicz, Anna Maney, Alana Marquis, Claire Zienkewicz, Kate Bonham, Paige DaviesBoerner, Abigail Dreckman, Ella Montei, Aubrey Roach, Caroline Sweeney, Ava Tit comb, Lily Dalsin and Celeste Kolinchak.

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S. Chandler restaurant overcomes fire, reopens

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

The first attempt to open a Mod ern Margarita restaurant and bar in Chandler started off well, but went down in flames.

Literally.

“I was there that day,” said Kyle Mason, the restaurant’s vice president of operations. “I was in the office doing some admin work, I’m smelling something. And I thought it was an electrical fire. … I’m sniffing around and all of a sudden, the backdoor kicks in, it’s Chandler Fire Department, ‘Get out, get out.’ We’re like, what?”

That was in May 2018, when Modern Margarita was celebrating one year of be ing in operation in Downtown Chandler.

Four years later they have finally re

opened in the city, this one in South Chandler, near Ocotillo and Gilbert roads. The new location held its grand opening earlier this month.

Mason said the cause of the downtown fire was never definitively determined, but they suspect it started in the pizza oven. At the time, they were a dual concept restau rant, with Modern Margarita and La Bocca Urban Kitchen sharing the space that is now operated by The Uncommon at the corner of Boston and Arizona.

“It was a complete loss at the end of the day, from not only the fire, but the water issue that they had,” Mason said. “Because it was crazy.”

Mason said in the restaurant business there are many factors that determine

Chandler eatery started as a hot dog cart

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

RichieVaia’s journey from hot dog cart operator to successful restau rateur in Chandler includes a detour caused by a collision with a semi-truck.

“I went back to Chicago, we did our last run, I turned around and came right back home and got all the way to Albuquer que in a construction zone,” Vaia said. “A semi came flying over the hill and totally wiped out all my personal belongings, all my equipment, my truck. Everything got wiped out. I was down to nothing.”

Until that moment, Vaia had been building his new life selling a bit of Chi cago to former residents of that city who missed home. He started out selling hot dogs out of a cart at the Home Depot un til they chased him away.

“It’s always better to ask for forgive ness than permission, right?”

He upgraded from that to a food truck with a long-term plan to eventually open a brick-and-mortar restaurant that he

figured was a few years away and now owns Richie V’s Chicago Eatery at 4975 S. Alma School Road, Chandler.

After losing his Home Depot lot spot,

Vaia returned to Chicago to pick up his belongings and new supplies for his business. Along the way to Chicago, he stopped often to do some charity work.

“I had to go back to Chicago to pick up my belongings,” Vaia said. “I had them all

Left: Richie Vaia owns Richie V’s Chicago Eatery at 4975 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. Right: The spacious Richie V’s Chicago Eatery in Chandler caters to ex-Chicagoans who miss the tastes of the Windy City. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Kyle Mason, vice president of operations of Modern Margarita in south Chandler, recalls the day the eatery’s first location in downtown Chandler caught fire. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) see MOD MARGARITA

if you will be a success or not. Location, good food and service are all important. So is luck.

He said it was lucky for them they did not try and reopen the restaurant quickly.

“If we did reopen, what would have happened 18 months later down the road?” he asked. “A pandemic. So we were very fortunate that we didn’t reopen. And here we are today.”

Mason describes Modern Margarita as a place where you can go to get craft

cocktails, without the long wait you usually find at craft bars.

“I don’t want to say we’re a craft cocktail bar or anything like that,” he said.

“But when you come in here, you will get a craft margarita, but without the time.

We try to make everything fast. I’ve been to several craft cocktail bars. I’ve been a craft mixologist before as well. So I know that you sometimes sit at an establishment and you’re waiting 5, 6, 7 minutes for a cocktail.”

On the food side, they try to keep it simple. Most of the focus is on tacos.

calling it the “best job in the world.”

They just give it a modern update.

“We’re not your traditional Mexican, authentic cuisine that you would go to see … unlimited chips and salsa coming out the wazoo. We really focus on a creative aspect, or modern aspect, to the traditional taco. [For example,] using Korean beef as a short rib. We’re using a Nashville hot chicken right now in a taco. So we’re just trying to infuse a little bit of fusion and at the same time have different culinary aspects.”

This is the second Modern Margarita location in the Valley, joining the one in

CityNorth in Phoenix. Mason said since both locations are doing well, they do plan to expand.

“I would like to go to the west side,” Mason said. “Goodyear, that kind of area.

The residential growth is substantial out there. And there’s not a lot of options for people either.”

In addition to expanding in the Valley, Mason said they may also look to other states, mentioning Texas as a possibility.

One thing you won’t find at a Modern Margarita, however, is a pizza oven. Mason said they’ve given that up.

in storage because I didn’t know if I was going to stay out here. So I said what a good idea if I get some sponsors … and I can feed the homeless and battered women across America on the way back, make some noise, bring some awareness. The turnout was fantastic at every stop I did. There were over 1,500 people along the way.”

Before deciding to move to Arizona, Vaia worked in the entertainment industry, working on shows like “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago PD,” and “Shameless.” He said he did lighting, special effects and rigging,

Then the pandemic began and production stopped as the entertainment world tried to figure out how to keep going. Vaia said he always thought the best way to spread happiness was through their stomachs.

He had some experience in running a food cart and restaurant. When he arrived in Arizona he started by trying to sell pizzas. Vaia said it wasn’t until he switched to Chicago food that he realized he found his niche.

He said it seems the Sun Lakes area is filled with Chicago natives. He imports his food directly from Chicago to keep it

authentic. It’s been such a hit, he has regular customers from as far away as Yuma.

“I got one guy that comes up twice a week from Tucson,” Vaia said.

The menu is not extensive. It features Chicago hot dogs, Italian beef, Italian sausage and a supreme tamale. Add in fries, Italian ice and beverages, and that’s about it.

And that is exactly what his customers are looking for, authentic Chicago comfort food in South Chandler.

He was able to open up the restaurant at the corner of Alma School and Chandler Heights with the help of his business partner, John Hornacek, brother of

the former Suns player and coach.

It’s been such a success Vaia said he’s already thinking expansion.

“We’re looking toward the Queen Creek area or Maricopa, those are my two choices,” Vaia said. “Absolutely by March, we’ll have another one up and running, 100%.”

If you go

Richie V’s Chicago Eatery 4975 S. Alma School Road, Chandler richievschicagoeatery.com

CINDYHANS

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Opinion

Tempe Union board candidates speak their mind

The Chandler Arizonan invited all three candidates for the two seats on the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board to write two Opinion page columns on topics of their choice. This is the �irst of the two. Incumbent Andres Barazza did not submit a column. The Arizonan also invited the candidates to answer a questionnaire. The responses of Stephan Kingsley and Amanda Steele can be found at chandlernews.com.

Kinglsey: What it means for me to be autistic

BY STEPHAN KINGSLEY Guest Writer

I’m

autistic, but everything in this column is my opinion and doesn’t represent all people who are autistic. As they say, “once you have met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

That is why we have the term “spectrum.” Every autistic person falls in a different place on the spectrum based on their own unique gifts and ways their brains are wired.

There may be general spectrum truths such as: words are hard, feelings are in-

tense, it feels impossible to be understood, it is presumptuous to say how someone else is feeling unless you ask questions and focusing on speci�ic interests makes one happy because it does not depend on anything else to be true.

For me, interactions with people can be hard. Social rules are hard to understand and seem pointless to follow as they often lead to miscommunication. It is easier to keep to myself.

I blame my autistic side when I’m logical, point out the obvious, or say what I am thinking when I am thinking it. In the moment, especially when I feel pressure to speak, I use words that �irst come to my head to communicate what I am thinking.

Sometimes I verbalize half a thought, say things backwards, or choose words

that don’t re�lect my true intent or what I’m thinking or feeling.

As a result, I’ve been told that I’m rude, in my head, not a good listener or communicator. When I remain silent, I am judgmental or unfeeling because my facial expressions are hard to read.

This feedback’s hard to hear because I value authenticity, direct communication, enjoy the present moment, and am curious about everything. I want to listen to others because that is how I learn.

I care a lot about people and empathize in ways not expressed in words. I can feel and hear a person’s heart, sense deep emotion when I look in people’s eyes for a short moment and �ind it easy to internalize energy.

That’s also why it’s easy for me to be overstimulated with eye contact or when

I’m around people in a lively environment. Everything from others and my surrounding environment comes rushing towards all my senses all at once.

That’s why I’m also still trying to �igure out if I have a place in politics.

I chose to run for the Tempe Union School Board because I care about students and want what is best for them. As a classroom teacher I’ve seen so many things by getting to know my students, their individual stories, cultures, learning styles, and interests. In my classroom I cultivated a culture of mutual respect, learning to listen to each other, following a social contract, and working together to solve problems to come up

��� KINGSLEY

Steele: Schools must tend to the whole student

BY AMANDA STEELE Guest Writer

s a proud Tempe Union alumni, parent, and public school advocate, I see the important role our schools play in the lives of our students and community.

I am running for a position on Tempe Union’s governing board because I believe in the importance of our public school system in providing students with equitable and inclusive educational opportunities that encompass the whole student.

The challenges of the past couple of years have emphasized the importance of

caring for the well-being of our students.

AI believe an even broader context is important for understanding the world our students are living in. Students in high school today were born post 9/11, living through multiple wars, two recessions, the threat of mass shootings, and now a pandemic.

To appropriately support our students, I believe we must incorporate trauma-informed practices, nonviolent crisis intervention, and restorative justice practices into how our schools function.

There has been a lot of talk about social-emotional learning and its importance for students. This includes developing important traits and skills including empathy, resilience, coping with stress, building relationships, self-control and a positive mindset. Fostering such skills in

high school students serves them well in school and in their adult life.

In 2021, I was proud to serve on Tempe Union’s ad hoc advisory committee charged with recommending socialemotional wellness policies to the Governing Board.

Alongside students, staff, parents, community members and other stakeholders, we developed the most comprehensive mental health policy in Arizona for an educational institution.

The aim of our policy was to promote student well-being and academic engagement by prioritizing social-emotional wellness as an important component contributing to a positive school climate, safety, and learning.

We also focused on ensuring that school leaders were equipped with best

practices for creating a safe and nurturing school environment, supporting the physical and mental health of students, fostering their social and emotional wellbeing, and being prepared to address teen suicide through appropriate supports.

The robust social-emotional policy our committee developed provides the framework for supporting the diversity of student learners that attend Tempe Union schools. Every student has the right to feel included and valued for who they are with teachers and staff prepared to meet them where they are to help them grow.

My priority is to equip the district with the knowledge and best practices on how to respond and support the social emotional needs of students and staff.

with solutions.

The world of politics seems to have different rules; political social rules that are hard to understand and follow.

There are groups and cliques, loyalty to parties and ideals that seem to be stumbling blocks to solving real problems that affect the lives of the everyday voters.

Along with a select few, I say what I think. I’m authentic to who I am. I care about the people I represent. Thankfully the people I interact with who are in of�ice, or running for of�ice, feel the same. But they seem rare.

The world of politics feels vulnerable for me because I don’t �it in with the majority. I �it in with the rare individuals who want to represent their voters and their communities.

Not �itting in has been the story of my life. Asking for help is hard, but I need help to be voted into of�ice. I want people to know I will represent them, say what I think, and stay authentic and true to my platform of being inclusive of all perspectives.

I think it would be cool to see if an autistic person like myself has a place in politics. Being elected to school board seems like a great place to start. I think it would be a great social experiment. 

By supporting the Tempe Union community as a whole this will have a ripple effect on the students. Importantly, academic engagement will be even more successful when built on positive relationships in a school climate that emphasizes

the well-being of our students. We must attend to the whole student.

Should I have the privilege of serving on Tempe Union’s board, I will continue to prioritize social-emotional wellness because when we care for our students’ well-being they will be at their best to thrive academically and socially. 

Sports

Shaun Aguano shows Ohana culture despite loss in first game

BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

Arizona

State’s patented video to welcome the team onto the field didn’t change Saturday, Sept. 24. Sparky still walked through a giant dust storm through the Valley and stomped the visiting Utah Ute bus.

What did change, however, is what trans pired below the video board at Sun Devil Stadium in Pat Tillman Tunnel. Arizona State’s captains didn’t emerge before the team. Players didn’t emerge before coaches.

Instead, Shaun Aguano, the former

Chandler High head coach who coached running backs for the Sun Devils up until last week when he was named interim head coach, walked with the team with their arms interlocked. It was a show of

Former Chandler High School coach Shaun Aguano led Arizona State for the first time as interim head coach Saturday, Sept. 24. While the Sun Devils fell to Utah, he showed passion, humility and emo tion, claiming multiple times that he was blessed to lead the team.

(Dave Minton/Arizonan Staff)

unity. It was a show of togetherness.

It was to show this new era breeds fami ly. Or, in Hawaiian culture, Ohana. It capped off what Aguano said was an “amazing” week, despite the outcome Saturday.

“It was an amazing week for me,” Aguano said. “To be in charge of these kids and for them to do everything that I’ve asked … the only thing I asked is to play hard and we’ll see what happens.

“I love these guys with all my heart. I told them at halftime and at the end of the game, ‘There will be no quit from me

Miles Lockhart taking humble approach to success

BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

Miles

Lockhart admits he never thought football would be his future when he was younger.

He started off as a soccer player, and a self-proclaimed “chubby” one at that. He started to dabble in tackle football when he was 8 years old but never truly fell in love with it right away. His parents, David and Stevie, saw potential in him, even if he didn’t see it in himself.

He stuck with the game and by the time he reached the seventh grade, his baby fat began to fall off. That’s also around the time he started to see what football could offer him. Now in the middle of his junior season at Basha High School, Miles isn’t just a starting cornerback for a Bears team that figures to make a run at the Open Division title this season.

He’s one of the top cornerbacks in the country for the 2024 class while only playing at the position for two years.

“People ask me if I thought this would ever happen,” Miles said. “And, like, no, to be honest. I thought it could happen but it’s just a really humbling experi ence. To look back on that, you would

never really think I would be at where I am now.

“It’s been a great experience.” Miles’ approach to football is simple: Stay hungry. Stay humble. Never settle.

He helped lead Basha to a 10-0 regular season record last year as a sophomore. But the Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs. That isn’t good enough for Miles.

He’s been a starter at the varsity lev el since his freshman year, when head coach Chris McDonald saw his athleti cism and knew he would be able to con tribute at a young age to build what has now become Basha’s core group of play ers. Yet, he isn’t satisfied without a win in the postseason.

Miles knows the attention that is on him to be a leader and among the top players on a loaded Basha defense. He thrives off those expectations and doesn’t gloat. Instead, he stays humble.

“That has come with maturity,” Mc Donald said. “He’s also got teammates that are going through the same thing as him. Everyone knows he’s a phenomenal player and we have several phenomenal

Basha junior corner back Miles Lockhart has become one of the top players in the coun try in the 2024 class. But it didn’t come easy. He had to work for it and follow his parents’ guidance of always keeping a level head and staying humble. It’s paid off.

(Dave Minton/Staff Pho tographer)

and there will be no quit from my staff.’ We’ll keep working.”

What transpired on the field over the course of the next 60 minutes wasn’t ideal. The Sun Devils were virtually run off the field by Utah, the No. 13 team in the country. Many didn’t expect Arizona State to be competitive in the game.

To be fair, that isn’t expected in the Sun Devils’ next two games, either, as they face USC and Washington, two top 15 teams.

But all eyes were on Aguano and the mo rale of the team. So far, he’s passed the eye test. Players have also gravitated toward him and are starting to buy in to a new mentality.

“Coach Aguano, he worked us this week. Everything he brought, he brought a new juice, new energy,” defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera said. “I think the team really ap preciates it. We reacted to it well as a team. We had a good three days of practice. We just didn’t capitalize on a great week of practice.

“We still believe in everything coach Aguano is saying … we’ve still got a lot more to play for.”

Aguano’s first practice as interim head coach was met with a new tempo. Play ers sprinted from station to station. After practice, they were forced to do sprints. Media in attendance saw some confusion on the faces of players.

But overall, they started to appreciate a new level of discipline that came with Aguano’s coaching style.

LOCKHART from page 34

players.

“I think for him, he knows he isn’t the only guy getting recognition, so he keeps things in perspective. He doesn’t have to go around and be the guy.”

Miles’ athleticism comes from his fam ily. David ran track and played football at the University of Arizona, where he met Stevie, who played flag football at Ari zona. His older sister, Makenzie, became a professional dancer. Mia is currently a junior playing soccer at Alabama A&M.

Along with his parents, Miles was al ways pushed by his older sisters to suc ceed. They wanted what was best for him just as much as he does. And like their parents, they saw the potential he had early on.

It took countless hours of training to get to where Miles is today. But he isn’t satisfied. His four-star rating by recruit

Aguano led the Sun Devils out as one onto the field. They locked arms and came out to a roar from the crowd. It was a show of unity among a team that had gone through turmoil just days prior. It was also a statement from Aguano, who likes to put a stamp on every program he leads with his Hawaiian culture. (Corey Cross/Arizonan Contributor)

He did the same at Chandler for 20 years, the last seven as the head coach.

His teams were always disciplined and this led to success. But it did take time. His ability to turn Chandler into a na tional power wasn’t overnight.

That won’t be the case at Arizona State, either.

“I think, ultimately, it is going to take a little time. But I think we had a great week of practice, everybody handled the change very well,” Arizona State de fensive back Khoury Bethley said. “Ul

ing websites and countless letters from colleges are great, but he aims to win a championship as a team with Basha.

His ability to become a leader at a young age is something that stands out the most. He’s vocal and not afraid to point out mistakes by himself and oth ers. But he’s also become a role model for younger athletes in the program that aim to have similar success he has with the Bears.

It’s made both of his parents proud.

“As a family, we are extremely proud of him,” David said. “We are certainly glad about what he has accomplished. But we are also proud of how hard he works. He’s taken ownership. He’s committed to being the best possible person and athlete he can be.”

“He’s my baby boy,” Stevie added. “The fact that he is not only a great athlete but more importantly a great student and kid, that’s representing us and our

timately, I think it just comes down to everybody executing. We didn’t do that today, but we played hard.

“If you watch this tape, you won’t see no quit from us. We played hard to the end today.”

Just like he was at Chandler, Aguano was animated on the sideline for his first game. He cheered every successful play or pen alty against Utah and scoffed at mistakes or flags thrown against his Sun Devils.

Even when the offense was virtually helpless against a relentless Utah defense,

name. That’s a huge goal of mine that my kids can go out and be good people.”

Miles currently holds offers from most Power Five programs across the country.

His most recent offers are from Big 12 schools Kansas and Kansas State. Those two were added to the list that includes Arizona State, Iowa, Louisville, Ohio State and Oregon, among several others.

While still nearly two full seasons away, Miles is cementing his legacy with in the Basha program. And he’s doing it alongside the likes of junior quarter back Demond Williams, one of his best friends who also began his career as the starter on varsity as a freshman and has blossomed into one of the top quarter backs in the country.

Their legacy, however, doesn’t involve personal accolades. They want to set Ba sha up for success for years to come.

“It’s not that I need to leave my own legacy, I want this to be a destination

he met every player three yards on the field with high fives and words of encour agement. That carried over to the post game press conference, where he hugged each player after they exited the room.

“I love you, too,” Aguano whispered to quar terback Emory Jones, who initiated the hand shake and hug with his coach that never lost faith in him even after a difficult outing.

“It’s a family thing for us,” Jones said. “We know we’ve got each other’s back. We’re all in this together.”

Just like in his introductory press con ference, Aguano showed passion, humil ity and emotion. He emulates what Ari zona State fans want from a head coach – someone who genuinely cares about his players and the program.

The loss wasn’t an easy one by any means, especially the way it transpired. But Aguano took it on the chin and promised a better showing in the weeks to come.

He also thanked Sun Devil fans for the support they gave him in what had been a rough week for the team as a whole.

“This has been a whirlwind week,” Aguano said. “With the Sun Devil walk and (fans) coming to the stadium and all the support they’ve been giving me, I just want to thank them. We’ll get there. I promise you, we’ll get there.

“I am happy and honored to be on this staff and to be the head coach of these kids.”

Arizona State’s next home game will take place Saturday, Oct. 8 against No. 15 Wash ington. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

school,” Miles said. “I want this program to win a state championship and be in the national rankings.”

When thinking back to his football ca reer thus far, Miles can’t help but thank his family. He was never forced into playing sports, but when he decided he wanted to he had full support from those around him.

He knows his journey is just getting started, and his future is bright. But keeping a level head is something that is important to him. He wants to let suc cess come naturally.

“It really is a humbling experience,” Lockhart said. “It showcases how my parents raised us. They raised us to never quit and believe in what we believe in. They’re always there for us, they always pushed us.

“I thank them and my sisters a lot for everything.”

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Notice of Hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on the 3rd day of May, 2022, an order was granted by the Superior Court of Ari z ona in Maricopa County, bearing case numbe r CV2022091867000, seeking to change the name of minor child from Sutton Marie Kimball to Sutton Marie Trembly

The Court has fixed Friday, October 7, 2022 at 2:50 p.m. , via Microsoft Teams meeting (Dial In: +1 917-781-4590, ac cess code: 674991104) as the date for hearing of the Peti tion. All persons interested in the proposed change of name may appear and show cause, if any they have, why the pray er of the Petitioner should not be granted. Published: Eas t Valley Tribune, Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, 2022 / 49071

Notice of Creditors

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN A ND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA Case No.: PB2022

0 03842 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF INFORMAL APPOINT M ENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND INFORMA L

PROBATE OF WILL In the Matter of the Estate of: GARY ALAN MATYAS, An Adult, Deceased.1. Allison Diane Schafer was appoin ted Personal Representative of this Estate on August 8, 2022. 2. All persons having claims against the Estate are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the claims will be forever barred. 3. Claims must be presen ted by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the Per sonal Representative, c/o Dawn M. Trott-Keller, Indigo Law PLLC, 23219 151st Pl SE, Monroe, WA 98272. 4. A copy of the Notice o f Appointment is attached to the copies of this document mailed to all k nown creditors. DATED this 13th day of September 2022 _________ Dawn M. Trott-Keller, #037505 Attorney for Petitioner

Published: East Valley Tribune/Gilbert Sun News Sept 18, 25, Oct 2, 2022 / 49159

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