February 28, 2021 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
No consensus on next CUSD superintendent’s qualities BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
A recent survey shows leaders of the Chandler Unified School District don’t have much consensus on the type of leader they’d want to see succeed outgoing Superintendent Camille Casteel. The district’s Governing Board and 50 senior administrators appear to have varying opinions on the qualities they’d like to see in the interim superintendent that will be appointed next month to replace Casteel. Most responses given to a 10-ques-
tion survey ended being split, indicating a wide divide in opinion on the types of experience and skills CUSD’s next chief executive should have. “That shows you it’s pretty spread out in terms of what you’re looking for,” said Steve Highlen of the Arizona School Boards Association. “There’s no real consistency there.” Highlen, the association’s senior policy consultant, has been recruited by CUSD to help coordinate the district’s superintendent search and thinks the district has some work to do to ensure the school board picks a candidate that
satisfies everyone’s preferences. The board’s five members did not unanimously agree on any of the 10 questions either, he said, and many responses were split down the middle. Board members came close to consensus on a question regarding academics: four thought the next superintendent should “possess a keen mission to raise student achievement for all students.” In addition to divisions among board members, Highlen highlighted the differing expectations between the board and Chandler’s administrative staff. “Some things the board picked, the
administrators didn’t pick,” he noted. “Some things the administrators picked, the board didn’t pick.” When asked about leadership skills, about half of the survey’s respondents prioritized a superintendent who had experience motivating staff and boosting morale while the other half favored other attributes. Highlen said it will be vital for CUSD to unify its expectations before the board starts interviewing superintendent applicants or the district risks See
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Intel worker exposed to toxic gas wins $1.2M BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Saul and Lupe Solis, in their Chandler home, are two of the thousands of Arizonans who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. ( Kiersten Moss/Cronkite News)
Senior citizens cautiously optimistic with vaccine BY LEO TOCHTERMAN Cronkite News
Chandler resident Lupe Solis’ prayers were answered when she received her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Now the 77-year-old is being cautious and patient, waiting to worship in person again at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Mesa. “Prayer takes up a big part of our life,” Solis said. “We cannot participate in church activities. I will not feel safe now.” Some churches have resumed in-person worship in Arizona, but Solis is still playing it safe after receiving both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Like so many of the nearly 1.3 million
Arizonans 65 or older, Solis has adjusted to the safety precautions that have upended life since the onset of the pandemic. With COVID-19 ravaging Arizona’s senior community, many long to return to normal activities but remain apprehensive. More than 11,500 Arizonans 65 or older have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, with a majority of those deaths in Maricopa County, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Now, in accordance with phase 1B of vaccine rollout, the state has been doing what it can to get vaccinations to the older population as quickly as posSee
SENIORS on page 4
A federal judge has awarded $1 million in damages to a former Intel contract worker who was exposed to toxic gas on the company’s Chandler campus in 2016. Ahmad Alsadi, 29, claimed he sustained damage to his respiratory system after inhaling toxic fumes of hydrogen sulfide while one of Intel’s buildings was being evacuated for a gas leak. Alsadi later sued Intel, Chandler’s largest employer, for negligence and accused the technology company of failing to protect workers from harmful chemicals. After a six-day bench trial earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell awarded $921,188 to Alsadi and another $250,000 to the plaintiff ’s wife. Campbell concluded there was evidence to suggest Intel had been advised to install gas monitors and exhaust systems before the 2016 incident, yet the company failed to do so. “Because Intel did neither in the face of multiple instances of (hydrogen sul-
fide) off-gassing and its knowledge that H2S is extremely hazardous for workers, the court finds that Intel breached its duty with respect to operation of the (wastewater) system,” Campbell wrote in his ruling. Linda Qian, an Intel spokesperson, said the company was “disappointed” by the judge’s ruling and said Intel acted properly during the events described in Alsadi’s lawsuit. “Intel has a well-known safety culture and the safety and well-being of our workforce is our top priority,” Qian said. “We have well-documented processes and safety measures we expect all workers to follow.” Aaron Dawson, the plaintiff ’s attorney, said he and his client were pleased the judge understood how Intel’s lack of action contributed to Alsadi’s injuries. “We were really happy and (Campbell’s) opinion seemed to be a strong rebuke to their conduct,” Dawson said. Although the plaintiffs sought a higher award from the court, Dawson said Alsadi appreciates how the judge’s
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Casteel High sophomore mourned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . Page 2 State Forty Eight expanding in Chandler . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 40 Hamilton student protecting teachers. . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 49 Ocotillo arts and crafts show coming. . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 54 Z'Tejas in Chandler is chef-driven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . Page 62
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INTEL on page 3
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