May 18 - 31, 2019 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
CUSD to consider new school, 2nd gifted academy BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE Staff Writer
The Chandler Unified School District administration is recommending a threetiered plan to the school board that includes resetting some elementary school boundaries, building a new elementary school and creating a second gifted academy. Disproportionate student distribution prompted the recommendation after several of the district’s elementary schools on the city’s east side were
approaching capacity. Haley, Patterson and Weinberg elementary schools are all situated along the Val Vista Corridor, an area south of Loop 202 that has recently seen large road expansion projects and new home developments and includes part of Gilbert. Enrollment rates have peaked and are expected to continue rising by approximately 1,000 students over the next eight years. Here is a look at the details.
Elementary #31
A new elementary school, currently dubbed Elementary #31, would accommodate the students, administration and staff currently located at Weinberg Elementary. If the recommendation is approved, the shift will take place before the 2020-21 school year begins. Funding could come from a potential $29.3 million bond election. On June 12, the board is scheduled to discuss the bond and whether to hold the election this year.
Of the projected total, $70 million would be set aside to purchase the land for an elementary school and potentially a high school that would not be built in the near future. It also would cover construction costs for both facilities. “The bond will be critical to do this,” said CUSD Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry. The election could also cover other district expenses, including; safety measures, technology, furniture See
BOUNDARIES on page 14
3 Chandler lawmakers drove suicide prevention bill passage BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor
Celebrating three decades of performances and other events in the heart of the city this year is the Chandler Center for the Arts. This majestic overhead view only begins to convey its importance to Chandler. (Chandler Center for the Arts)
In a rare display of bipartisanship led by three lawmakers representing parts of Chandler, Democrats and Republicans in the State Legislature unanimously passed a bill requiring suicide prevention training for all school personnel who deal with students in grades 6 through 12 - and Gov. Doug Ducey on May 8 made it a law. Responding to the anguish of parents who lost sons and daughters to suicide
– including 33 in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and Queen Creek and five others in neighboring communities since July 2017 – both chambers last week wasted little time in passing the bill. The bill was titled “The Mitch Warnock Act” by its chief champion, Ahwatukee state Sen Sean Bowie, in honor of the son of a Mountain Pointe High School teacher Lorie Adair’s 16-yearold son, who took his life when he was a
Center for the Arts celebrates 30 years BY COLLEEN SPARKS Managing Editor
Excitement is growing as the Chandler Center for the Arts prepares to mark its 30th anniversary later this year as a cultural and civic hub that grew out of an unusual partnership between a visionary mayor and forward-thinking school district leader. The official anniversary is Aug. 25 but stars will light up the stage and festivities will take place at the iconic center on North Arizona Avenue in bustling downtown throughout the 2019-2020 season. The arts center serves more than 210,000 people a year with an extensive calendar of diverse performances and concerts featuring nationally and internationally known artists and entertainers. It also provides outreach programs including summer musical theater camps for youths and provides rotating exhibitions in its two gallery spaces, The Gallery at CCA and the Vision Gallery. It originated in the mid-1980s, when Chandler Mayor Jerry Brooks wanted to attract high-tech companies to the city as an element of his economic development plan.
Brooks and city leaders wanted Intel Corporation to come to Chandler to expand its operations. The mayor knew Chandler could lure Intel and other companies if it could demonstrate its high-quality of life, including excellent schools, sunny weather and arts and entertainment offerings. While Brooks was deliberating on how to compete against other cities, the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) was looking for an auditorium for its high school to use. That sparked an idea with Brooks. Then Chandler school district Superintendent Ted Perry was “futuristic” and helped the district and city agree on a special partnership, recalled Chandler Unified spokesperson Terry Locke. Michelle Mac Lennan, general manager of the Chandler Center for the Arts, praised Brooks for his work in getting the center opened. “He was always a champion for arts and culture,” Mac Lennan said. “He just worked in partnership with the Chandler Unified School District on the building.” The arts center was built for $10 million, with the City of Chandler and Chandler Unified School District each See
CENTER on page 12
See
SUICIDE on page 4
A new beginning Getting a start on their post-high school life — and starting the season of high school graduations in Chandler are Seton Catholic Preparatory graduates Carly Anderson, left, and Miranda Piper, who picked up their hard-earned diplomas with their classmates earlier this week. For a look at Seton's grads and some of the other schools' newly grads-to-be, see pages 18-20. (Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer)
F E AT U R E STO R I E S City raises array of fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . Page 10 The eyes have it at Ocotillo salon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . Page 24 Chandler track reigns supreme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 39 Chandler Elks Lodge "rolls" for charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . Page 44 Desert exhibit debuts at gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 53 Yummy Ocotillo restaurant a homage to a saint. . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 68
More Community . . . . .01-27 Business . . . . . . . 28-34 Sports . . . . . . . . . .39-41 Opinion. . . . . . . . 42-45 Neighbors. . . . . . 46-54 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 55-60 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . .61-63 Directory . . . . . . 64-65 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . .66 Where to Eat . . . 68-70