When Donald Trump won the presidency in November 2024, the approach of public schools began to change almost overnight, especially in aspects of education heavily tied to federal funding.

Along with Trump’s election to a second term, the U.S. Senate falling into Republican hands and the Arizona legislature remaining under GOP control, Trump’s rhetoric fueled the flames of critics of public education, with Chandler Unified and many other Valley districts suffering bond election defeats in November.

For Chandler, it was the district’s first bond to be defeated in at least 24 years.

Chandler Unified’s chief financial officer Lana Berry, presented options to the board at a May 7 study session put together by a bond and override committee. Three of the four options for the bond would ultimat

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