BIG COMPLEX FOR DOWNTOWN
MONTESSORI SCANDAL
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From Uptown to Downtown, covering Chandler like the sun.
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
Parents, students plead for help from CUSD BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Staff Writer
NEWS ............................. 12 Slain Chandler teen's family decries County Attorney.
OPINION ....................
32
Chandler City Council candidates' columns address city issues.
SPORTS ....................... 36 Chandler High QB sets sights high.
COMMUNITY ............................. 28
BUSINESS ..................................... 30 OPINION ....................................... 32
SPORTS ......................................... 36 CLASSIFIEDS ................................ 40
June 12, 2022
FREE | chandlernews.com
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community shocked by three recent suicides of Chandler Uni�ied School District students spoke out June 8 and told the Governing Board to do more to address the mental health of young people. “No parent should ever, ever have to cut their child down,” said Chad Day, whose son Pierson, a Perry High freshman, hung himself on May 24. “You reached out to me and asked me if we need anything,” Day told Superintendent
Frank Narducci. “We don’t need anything �inancially, but what we do need is you to help us with this community, Mr. Narducci.” Day said some students asked him to address the board and support them in their call for help. “It is a shame that they have to come in here and ask for this,” Day said. “It’s up to you to do something about this. If you don’t, we will �ind someone who will, I promise.” Members of Arizona Students for Mental Health also called for more action. They asked for the formation of a student action board in all CUSD junior high and
high schools. The students on those boards would meet monthly with school of�icials to discuss issues they are experiencing. They also want students, teachers and staff at all those schools to get mental health �irst aid training from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing so that they can recognize the signs of someone who might be in trouble. In 2019, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 1468, mandating all public school staff be trained in an evidence-based, best
TU calls for 2 overrides, Cruel end bond elections Nov. 8 BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor
T
he Tempe Union High School Governing Board on June 1 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 �iscal 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 board’s vote followed a detailed presentation by Diane Meulemans, assistant superinten-
dent for business services, on a range of needs, many of which are becoming more expensive as the result of rampant in�lation. The overrides include one for basic operational spending that would be 15% for the �irst �ive 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 and raise The bond package would cover higher-ticket items that the Dis-
��� OVERRIDES ���� 12
��� CUSD ���� 20
These are sad days for Richard Finkbeiner and his wife Connie as he closes their Chandler business, Connie’s Jewelry Gallery and Clock Shop, after 35 years because a careless driver caused an accident that badly injured Connie, who was then stricken by cancer. For the story, see page 31 . (Daviod Minton/Arizonan Staff Photographer)
