Staff Reports | Community Updates
The East Valley Institute of Technology Governing Board has voted to cover the full cost of student transportation, approximately $4 million, for nine school districts that have said they will eliminate bus service to EVIT central campuses for the 2026-27 school year.
The districts are Apache Junction, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Higley, J.O. Combs, Queen Creek and Tempe. The districts are involved in a legal dispute with EVIT regarding proposed intergovernmental agreements.
EVIT’s offer would fund transportation for students from the nine districts by redirecting money previously planned for campus renovation and construction projects, according to a press release.
“Unfortunately, these districts are using EVIT students and their families as bargaining chips in IGA negotiations,” Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson said. “They have the ability to fund transportation but are choosing not to, despite the impact on students who may have no other way to reach our campuses.
What makes this even more troubling is that several of these districts recently secured additional taxpayer dollars through bond measures that explicitly supported career and technical education and student transportation. Budgets reflect priorities, and the decision by some of our member districts to not provide transportation to EVIT sends a clear message that parental choice and student access are not their priorities.”
Dr. Wilson added, “Many EVIT programs are not offered in East Valley high schools, so denying these students transportation is denying them opportunity to receive quality tuition-free career training in the field of their choice.”
Unlike Arizona’s K-12 school districts, career and technical education districts such as EVIT do not receive state funding for transportation. EVIT said its member districts have provided busing to CTED central campuses for more than three decades to help students access career and technical education programs.
According to EVIT, the nine districts recently notified students enrolled for the 2026-27 school year that transportation would not be provided. The districts have estimated the collective cost of transportation at approximately $4 million.
EVIT said it previously offered to cover half of the transportation cost, or $2 million. The latest proposal would cover the full amount by reallocating funds from planned renovations and construction projects at the EVIT Main Campus.
Mesa Public Schools and Scottsdale Unified School District, which signed intergovernmental agreements with EVIT last year, will continue providing transportation for students attending EVIT.
“Mesa and Scottsdale school districts have put the needs of their students first,” Dr. Wilson said. “Now the other nine districts in the EVIT CTED should do the same. With EVIT paying the cost, there is absolutely no excuse for these districts to withhold transportation from EVIT students. None whatsoever.”
The EVIT Governing Board approved the funding proposal Monday night.
“This is a courageous decision by the EVIT Governing Board,” Dr. Wilson said. “They understand these school districts have the resources to continue transporting students to EVIT but have instead chosen to use those students and parents as leverage in a broader dispute over the ongoing IGA discussions. Even so, the EVIT Governing Board has chosen to put students first. They are willing to delay investments in buildings and infrastructure and instead, invest in our students, parents, and communities.”
The nine districts filed a lawsuit against EVIT last year after negotiations over the proposed intergovernmental agreements broke down.
According to EVIT, the districts want to retain all CTED tax revenue generated by their students for local use, while EVIT is seeking to retain a larger share of the funding to strengthen oversight of high school career and technical education programs and outcomes. The lawsuit remains pending in court.
