School District Seeks $125M for Projects

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DALLAS - In one of the larger bond proposals on Arizona's Nov. 4 ballot, the Marana Unified School District near Tucson will ask voters to approve $125 million of bonds.

Voter approval would allow the district to issue and sell school improvement bonds over the next five to seven years, officials said.

Proceeds would cover school and athletic facility renovations and improvements, new school construction, instructional technology and student transportation not currently funded by the state, officials said.

Since the recession hit Arizona in 2008, the state legislature has eliminated about $4.7 million per year in building renewal funds and soft capital for public schools. A change to the new school construction funding formula also eliminates money that was once available, according to the district.

The bond proposal includes $67.6 million for new school and facility construction designed to relieve crowding in some schools.

MUSD is geographically one of the largest school districts in Arizona. School buses travel approximately 11,000 miles a day, transporting 6,500 students over 550 square miles.

The Marana Elementary District was formed in 1939, followed by the Marana High School District in 1942. In 1981, the governing board unified the Marana Elementary District and the Marana High School District to become the Marana Unified School District No. 6.

Headquartered about 16 miles from downtown Tucson, MUSD enrolls 12,300 students in eleven elementary schools, one intermediate school, two middle schools, three high schools, and one alternative school.

Another district in Pima County, the Vail Unified School District, will seek approval of $28.78 million of bonds.

Queen Creek Unified School District in Maricopa County is placing $80 million of bonds on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In Lake Havasu USD, voters will consider $67.46 million school bond on the November ballot.

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Arizona
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