Trustees of Maricopa County Unified School District 48 voted last week to seek community support for a proposed $130 million general obligation bond package to renovate and repair facilities in the district, that serves the city of Scottsdale and portions of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Tempe.
Trustees must decide by June whether to set a bond election for November.
David Peterson, assistant superintendent for business services, said the proceeds would be dedicated to projects at middle and elementary schools. He said the bonds would not require a tax increase.
Peterson told the school board that many district schools have outmoded electrical systems, broken windows, cracked roofs, and restrooms that do not provide access to disabled students and staff.
Proposed bond projects include rebuilding two middle schools for $28 million, rebuilding an elementary school for $18 million, $10 million for new buses, $7.5 million to relocate district offices, and $4.9 million to replace grass football fields at four high schools with artificial turf.
Total outstanding debt is $319.8 million.
The district’s general obligation debt is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s Investors Service.
