Board Places Bond and Override Questions on the November Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 04/29/2025

DYSART SCHOOLS - The Dysart Unified School District Governing Board called for a November 4, 2025 Bond and Maintenance and Operation (M&O) Override election at the April 28 board meeting. The estimated bond program would be $127 million to fund facility renovations at each site, school bus replacements, safety and security improvements, construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area, and land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area. The M&O override would be a continuation of the current 15% M&O override that has been in place since 2000, and this continuation would not result in a tax increase.

The vote came after a unanimous citizen’s committee recommendation to the Governing Board. The community committee was initially formed in 2023, after a Governing Board directive to the Superintendent to create a committee to review the district’s needs, and it reconvened this year. Over the course of the last year and a half, they held numerous meetings and participated in 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. 

If approved, the 15% M&O override would maintain current funding levels to retain highly qualified teachers and staff and provide academic support programs for Math and Reading. Additionally, it would allow Dysart to maintain manageable class sizes, and continue funding for programs currently serving students such as Arts, Physical Education and Athletics, and all-day Kindergarten for the community. If the measure is not approved, the current override funding in place would begin to phase out by 33% each year for the next three years beginning in July 2026, along with associated programs, services, and staffing using this funding. 

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

• Facility renovations at each site: 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
• School bus replacements for an aging fleet
• Safety and security improvements: 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
• Construction of a new elementary school in the Northwest Asante area
• Land for a new high school in the Northwest Asante area 

“The work the community committee has done to thoroughly evaluate our district’s needs is invaluable,” said Dr. John Croteau, Superintendent. “As an A-rated district, Dysart has a strong legacy of providing a high quality education to our community, and it is our honor to serve our families in this way. In Dysart, we strive each day to train our future workforce, protect community property values, and drive economic development through quality education. We know that strong schools create strong communities, and it is now up to the voters to determine if we can continue providing a top notch education to this community with the resources currently funded by the Override, and to determine the future of these capital projects within our district.” 

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 $0.32 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 or bond questions (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 M&O Override or Bond to the Maricopa County School Superintendent is August 8, 2025 at 5:00 P.M.