Board approves personnel changes, evaluation tools, contracts and two EVIT leases in unanimous votes

At its April 23 meeting the Mesa Public Schools governing board approved a slate of administrative and operational items, casting unanimous votes on personnel actions, evaluation instruments, contracts, partnerships and educational submissions.

Key votes and outcomes (all recorded as 5–0 unless noted):

• Personnel request (including addendum): approved. Board accepted the personnel recommendations and recognized incoming principals.

• SLP, OT, PT and transportation evaluation tools (2026–27): approved. Staff explained a move to align evaluations with the supervisors who work closest to those positions; speech-language pathologists will be evaluated by site principals where appropriate and OT/PT evaluation will involve lead therapists for multi-site staff.

• $1,500,000 contract renewal for shade structures and repairs: approved. The board discussed procurement best-practices, committee evaluation and the annual renewal process; staff confirmed Arizona procurement rules and termination/renewal language.

• Memorandum of Understanding (City of Mesa — Mesa K Ready and Beyond Initiative, First Amendment): approved. The amendment extends family literacy and early-childhood resources at the main library family resource center.

• Lease agreements with EVIT (East Valley Institute of Technology) for Skyline and Red Mountain high schools: approved. The leases will host CTE programs (welding, certified nursing assistant) on campus; board members emphasized partnerships and regional student access under EVIT policies.

• Gifted and talented scope and sequence (state submission): approved. Teaching-and-Learning Director Eric Vonberg reviewed identification practices (universal screening in grades 2 and 4, use of COGAT), subgroup gaps and steps to improve access.

Other routine consent items, proclamations (Teacher Appreciation Week) and committee recommendations were also approved as part of the consent agenda.

What’s next: Staff will implement the evaluation tools for the 2026–27 school year, coordinate EVIT program logistics with campus staff, and continue work to collect the data requested by the board related to gifted-program access and historical trends.