The Kyrene School District is asking voters to renew a 10 percent capital budget override and approve $117 million in bonds that would allow the district to implement new technologies and make maintenance repairs to facilities.
Voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2, to decide the fate of the two enabling measures.
“It’s so important for us to have that kind of support, because the state has not been funding our building improvement program for several years,” said District Superintendent David Schauer, Ed.D.
“It’s a level of support that helps us maintain our facilities, and we are very fortunate to have it.”
If voters renew the override, the district will be able to continue its long-recognized growth in technology-assisted learning.
“Kyrene has won national awards for what we do in our classrooms with technology,” Schauer said. “It’s not only about the equipment; it’s about (providing) learning opportunities for students.”
Since voters approved the initial investment in an override five years ago, the district has implemented interactive electronic chalkboards in all classrooms, as well as provided elementary schools with sets of laptop computers.
If renewed, the override would not affect voters’ current taxes, simply renewing the existing funding for an additional seven years.
“We’re not asking for increasing taxes or for something more than we currently have,” Schauer said.
The district is also asking voters to approve a bond to renew funds for maintenance repairs to school facilities, including roofs, heating and cooling systems, flooring and parking lots.
“The bond is allowing us to continue to maintain our buildings,” Schauer said. “We have this capital improvement plan that includes things like the roofs and security systems.”
District officials said they opted to place both measures on the Nov. 2 ballot instead of waiting until 2011 in order to save money and develop support for future projects.
“It costs us about $150,000 to put something on the ballot (to elect new governing boards); it’s much more cost-effective to include these measures on the ballot this year,” Schauer said.
If the measures do not pass this year, the district would conduct another election next year, costing an additional $150,000.
“The fortunate thing is, this community has always been very supportive of what we do,” Schauer said.
