At the March 12, 2026 Governing Board meeting, the Board discussed and voted on several important items impacting our district, including school closures, repurposing and boundary adjustments, the district’s application for the Fiscal Year 2027 School Safety Grant and leadership updates. Below is a summary of the key actions taken during the meeting:
School Closures, Repurposing and Boundary Adjustments
District leadership presented a comprehensive summary of information previously shared with the Governing Board and community during past study sessions, board meetings, the public hearing and information nights hosted by schools. This included enrollment trends, facility utilization, financial impacts, program details, school reconfigurations and community feedback.
Effective next school year, the Governing Board voted 5-0 to approve closing Kachina Elementary School and adjusted its school boundary into Canyon Elementary School, as well as closing Pioneer Elementary School and adjusting its school boundary into Foothills Elementary School. While this action will consolidate enrollment in the central area of the district and position the district to better support students at the surrounding schools, it is difficult to change two campuses that have served our community for decades. Over the next few months, we look forward to celebrating the history of Pioneer and Kachina elementary schools including the contributions the teachers and staff have made to the Peoria Unified School District.
The Board also voted to reconfigure Cactus High School into a 7–12 grade model for the Canyon, Foothills, Kachina and Pioneer elementary schools, with open enrollment available to other 7th and 8th grade students based on available space. This new model will allow the district to provide competitive and accelerated programming, including expanded career exploration, arts and physical education.
The Governing Board originally discussed reconfiguring Oakwood Elementary School into a preK-6 campus. Last night, they voted to keep Oakwood as a K-8 school based on its high open enrollment. Oakwood 7th & 8th graders can enroll in Cactus High School as a voluntary choice option, through the open enrollment process.
The Governing Board also tabled discussion and consideration of potential changes to the grade levels and program offerings of eCampus to a future meeting.
School Safety Grant
The Governing Board voted to approve the authorization of campuses to apply for the Fiscal Year 2027 School Safety Program grant in accordance with ARS 15-154 and Arizona Department of Education requirements to prioritize School Resource Officers and School Safety Officers. The School Safety Program is a competitive, state-funded grant that runs in three-year cycles. The district previously received funding through the grant to support school social workers, with the current funding set to expire June 30, 2026.
Leadership Updates
Last night, the Governing Board voted to appoint Dr. Ryan LaDouceur as Associate to the Superintendent.
Dr. LaDouceur brings more than 20 years of experience in public education, serving in a variety of leadership and instructional roles. Throughout his career, he has worked as an administrator, classroom teacher and instructional coach with extensive experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership and school improvement initiatives. He has also contributed to higher education as an adjunct instructor and has supported districts in curriculum design and innovative instructional practices, including the integration of emerging technologies in education.
Dr. LaDouceur has been recognized for his commitment to strengthening teaching and learning through data-informed decision making, professional development and collaborative leadership. His work in education spans both domestic and international contexts, providing him with a broad perspective on effective instructional systems and school leadership.
After relocating to Arizona, Dr. LaDouceur joined Vistancia Elementary as a 7th grade ELA teacher to gain a deeper understanding of Peoria Unified School District from the ground up and to develop firsthand insight into its systems, culture, and daily operations. You can read Dr. LaDouceur’s full resume here.
Following contract negotiations, Dr. LaDouceur will:
Attend and participate in Governing Board meetings, including preparing recommendations and supporting documentation for items requiring Board action.
Serve as a liaison between the district and the community, helping ensure collaboration between the community, district leadership and the Governing Board.
Consult with the Superintendent on current and long-range planning for the district.
Consult with the Superintendent on school policies, plans and programs, and assist the Governing Board in its duties of legislating the district.
Make personnel recommendations to the Governing Board.
Work with the Superintendent to facilitate meetings with teachers and support staff to discuss matters of concern and proactively improve the welfare of the district.
Work in conjunction with the Governing Board to select an Interim Superintendent, whose position will begin July 1, 2026.
The Governing Board asked that the district make the interview questions they wrote for the Associate to the Superintendent available to the community. You can view them on the district’s website.
The Governing Board approved the resignation of Dr. KC Somers, our current Superintendent, from the district effective June 12, 2026. Dr. Somers recently announced his appointment as Superintendent in the Eagle County School District in Colorado. Dr. Somers and the leadership team will work with Dr. LaDouceur through this three-month transition period.
You can view the livestream of last night’s meeting on the district’s website. To share feedback with the Governing Board, please complete this online form. We encourage all families, staff, and community members to stay connected and involved.
We appreciate the continued engagement and partnership of our staff, families and community as we navigate these important decisions for the future of our district.