Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
March 15, 2020 | www.santansun.com
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Chandler seniors seem not alarmed by virus – for now BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Fears of contracting the COVID-19 virus apparently haven’t stopped senior citizens from getting out and enjoying public events around Chandler. Though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week said that adults over 60 are a “higher risk” for catching the virus, local events catering to Chandler’s elderly population have gone on as scheduled. Dozens of senior citizens packed the
Chandler Community Center on March 11 for the city’s annual Senior Expo. Visitors could be seen circulating around the gymnasium, picking up business cards from vendors like Humana, Aetna and Dignity Health. The expo occurred hours before Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order to give health officials and administrators new tools and guidance to combat the disease, which the World Health Organization the same day deSee
VIRUS on page 17
State audit details Chandler Unified classroom spending SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Chandler Unified spent a greater proportion of its 2018-19 budget in the classroom and the second-biggest percentage among the largest districts in Arizona. But the actual dollars CUSD spent on each of its 44,660 students last school year for instruction totaled less than the statewide per-pupil average and less than the average spent by districts its size, according to the state Auditor General’s annual review of school district spending released two weeks ago. Instructional spending includes salaries
for teachers and related personnel like aides, supplies, textbooks and software and extracurricular activities such as athletics and field trips. The report shows that in terms of operational expenses – everything from instruction to transportation – Chandler Unified spent $7,837 per student – less than the average $8,518 spent by districts its size and less than the $8,905 state average. When adding nonoperational expenses such as land and building, bond interest and other expenses, Chandler
New landmark
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SPENDING
These two armed men have provided protection for worshippers at Chabad of the East Valley in Chandler during services. (From the documentary "American Defense Forces)
Armed guards deployed at Chandler, other synagogues BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
After a series of attacks at synagogues across the country, Jewish communities in Chandler and neighboring communities are beefing up their security to prevent similar offenses. on page 10 Armed guards can sometimes be seen patrolling the grounds of Chandler’s Chabad of the East Valley – carrying firearms and keeping watch for any potential threats while congregants worship inside during Shabbat services. Rabbi Mendy Deitsch said his synagogue has had volunteer guards providing security for the last couple years. Almost every other Jewish community in the Valley’s taking the same measures, he added, so it made sense for his facility to do something similar. “That’s unfortunately the reality of the times we live in,” Deitsch said. He declined to disclose how often or how many volunteers provide security for his facility – citing security concerns – but said there haven’t been any prior incidents of violence at his synagogue.
The rabbi said he worried at first the presence of armed guards might intimidate congregants and discourage them from attending services. But that concern has since subsided. “We found that just the opposite is true,” Deitsch added. “In fact, more people come because of it. People are more comfortable and much more at ease.” The Chandler synagogue is one of several places of worship that’s taken extra precautions to secure its facilities after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 left 11 people dead – making it the deadliest attack on America’s Jewish community. The 46-year-old man who carried out the crime was allegedly heard shouting “All Jews must die” before opening fire on the synagogue’s congregants. The 2018 massacre was one of 1,550 religiously-motivated offenses committed in the United States that year, according to data released by the FBI. More than 50 percent of those offenses See
F E AT U R E STO R I E S
Developer Spike Lawrence is awaiting the ribbon cutting later this month for the first phase of his New Square complex in downtwon Chandler. What people can expect and other details appear in a story on page 24. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)
Friends mourn Hamilton High freshman's death. .COMMUNITY . . . . . Page 6 Waymo rolls out sportier cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . . Page 26 Chandler athletes impress at special camp. . . . . . .SPORTS . . . . . . . . . Page 35 Chandler teacher named NASA ambassador . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . .Page 41 2 area authors pen new novels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 52
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SYNAGOGUES on page 8 More Community . . . 1-23 Business . . . . . 24-30 Sports . . . . . . . 35-39 Opinion . . . . . . . . 40 Neighbors . . . 41-51 Arts . . . . . . . . . 52-56 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Directory . . . . 58-59 Classifieds . . . 60-61 Where to eat . . . 62