Board Calls for Bond Election to Address Safety and Other Needs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 03/27/2024

DYSART SCHOOLS - The Dysart Unified School District Governing Board called for a November 5, 2024 bond election at the March 14 board meeting. The estimated bond program would be $127 million to fund safety and security improvements, school bus replacements, land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area, facility renovations at each site, and construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area. 

The vote came after a unanimous citizen’s committee recommendation to the Governing Board. The committee was formed after a September 14, 2023, Governing Board directive to the Superintendent to create a committee to review the district’s needs and determine whether a recommendation would be made to the Governing Board to call for an election. The committee consisted of 30 members who represented all schools, along with general community members. They began meeting in October, 2023, and held six meetings in addition to a district facility tour. Meetings were open to the public and live streamed for the community, with agendas and meeting videos viewable at Dysart.org/ElectionCommittee. 

Bond funding would support the following, if approved by voters: 

• Safety and security improvements (~ $17M): a standardized lockdown system; fence/gate repairs and replacement; building access and safety-related communication systems; automatic gate openers; tactical diagramming and fire panel upgrades and replacement 
• School bus replacements (~ $17M): Replacement of 78 buses that were purchased on or before 2008, including 46 regular yellow buses and 32 special education buses. 
• Facility renovations at each site (~ $48M): heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; roofing; flooring; building weatherization; freezers and walk-ins; Dysart High School auditorium; high school community restroom facilities for athletics 
• Construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area (~ $35M) 
• Land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area (~ $10M) 

“I appreciate the citizen’s committee, and the work they have done in thoroughly evaluating our district’s needs,” said Dr. John Croteau, Superintendent. “Dysart has a strong legacy of serving our community, and it is our honor to provide an “A” rated education to our families. We look forward to hearing from the voters on the ballot in November, to see if they will support the needs identified by the committee.”  

The last voter approved bond in Dysart was in 2006, for $192 million, however the district only ended up selling bonds for $122 million. The estimated average annual tax rate for the proposed bond authorization is approximately $0.36 cents per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes. 

Any persons wishing to submit an argument "for" or "against" the override question (not to exceed 200 words) may do so by mail or hand delivery of the argument to the Maricopa County School Superintendent's office, County School Superintendent, School Elections Office 4041 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, AZ 85012. The deadline for submitting arguments “for'' or “against” the Bond to the Maricopa County School Superintendent is August 9, 2024 at 5:00 P.M.