At the end of the fall semester, the Chandler Unified School District superintendent Dr. Camille Casteel announced her retirement. Following this announcement, at the special board meeting held Mar. 25, the board began the process of selecting an interim superintendent to replace Casteel. 

The meeting was not open to the public or live streamed on the district YouTube like other biweekly meetings are. Board President Barb Mozdzen explained that, “The meeting opened and ended as a public meeting, required by statute.” However she continued to state that, “the middle of the meeting… was executive session and was closed to the public and not recorded.”

Board member Lindsay Love elaborated that the executive session meeting was held in order for the board to “seek legal advice” concerning the interim superintendent position. 

While the board has not clarified specific guidelines for the process of selecting a new superintendent, the procedure seems to have begun at this special Mar. 25 meeting; legal counsel was the first step. 

Qualifications to be considered for the open position also remain somewhat murky, but if Dr. Casteel is the example, then a history of service to CUSD and the surrounding community must be required of her successor.

Casteel has worked in the district for fifty years. She taught first grade at Erie and Knox elementary, and became the district’s first female principal at Weinberg. 

After announcing her retirement, Casteel stated, “I have been deeply honored to have served as CUSD’s leader during the 25-year period of hyper growth and to have had the opportunity to champion the development of numerous educational choices for the families we serve.” Likewise, the district has been honored to call Casteel its superintendent for the past twenty-five years. 

Board member Joel Wirth clarified that “a decision has not been made” concerning Casteel’s replacement. In the meantime, the community will await with anticipation the board’s nomination for the next CUSD superintendent.