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There will be a bond and override to fund the Peoria Unified School District on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election.
The governing board narrowly approved resolutions to place the measures on the ballot.
The resolution for a 13% maintenance and operations override passed 3-1, with board member Judy Doane dissenting and board member Beverly Pingerelli abstaining.
The resolution for a $125 million bond measure to be placed on the ballot passed 3-2, with Ms. Doane and Ms. Pingerelli dissenting.
If voters were to approve both measures, it could net residents a combined tax rate decrease, according to PUSD officials.
At an earlier public meeting Ms. Doane and Ms. Pingerelli had indicated they would support the measures if this was the case.
The governing board made their decision based on recommendations from the 2020 Citizens’ Advisory Bond & Override Committee.
The proposed override includes the same funding categories for positions and programs as the current 13% override. There would be no increase to the tax rate as this would be a continuation of the current override.
The override provides about $28 million in additional funding for the district’s maintenance and operations budget. This includes: teacher and staff compensation, all-day kindergarten, athletics and extracurricular activities, physical education, nurses and health services, art, band and chorus, assistant principals, reading and gifted programs, and will maintain class size.
The proposed $125 million bond includes $56 million for elementary school upgrades, $23 million for high school upgrades, $25 million for technology, $6 million for transportation and $2 million for district facility upgrades. The bond also includes $13 million to purchase land for a new high school in the norther part of Peoria.
It is described as a critical needs bond, which does not include new construction.
Each governing board member shared their reasoning for voting the way they did.
Beverly Pingerelli
Override: “The economic shutdown due to COVID-19 has had a painful impact on local businesses and families. These are the constituents we as a governing board represent. I believe a 13% continuation of the override at this time, especially if there is a potential tax increase on our community, is unwise. I was hopeful we could have proposed a reduction in the override amount to slightly lower than 13%. Expressing to our community, we understand their situation and we are trying to provide the additional services that we believe are important to district families and students that the override funds would accomplish. ... Right now I cannot support a potential tax increase on our constituents. I will always be respectful of a majority decision by the board, therefore I am willing to let Peoria Unified voters tell us what they think. So I am abstaining on this agenda item."
Bond: “I believe we need to set up the facility utilization committee first to figure out where our needs are before we put money in particular schools. I believe one initiative on the ballot stands a much better chance than two.”
Judy Doane
Override: “I really believe this is a very unfortunate time to do this and I’m not going to argue the whole point, but this is a time of great economic uncertainty in our community and literally nobody that I have spoken to outside of the education realm has agreed that they would vote for this. I was hoping we could put this off until next year and go out then, or I was willing to support a lesser override than this. I’m not ready to support a 13% override."
Bond: “I feel the same way about the bond. I know we need it, but we can probably get it easier next year.”
David Sandoval
Override: “With a thriving district, you have a thriving community. We must continue with the high caliber teachers and rigorous curriculum and all the important services we have. To continue to do right on behalf of our students, teachers, staff and administration will result in doing right on behalf of all our stakeholders which includes our surrounding communities. That said, we are making a concession and putting the community in the best position in realizing a more efficient tax level."
Bond: "The need of the district is greater than what this bond represents. But this bond will allow us to at least maintain a minimum of staying somewhat flat. Our goal should always be to go from good to great. ... I have continued support of the $125 million bond to be placed on the November ballot. We have to be diligent and smart about how we go to market . We have a lot of data and knowledge base from the last few times we’ve gone out. We need to maximize our opportunities and leverage our wins and understand the biggest impacts as we go to market."
Cory Underhill
Override: “I understand this is a time of economic uncertainty, which is why we absolutely need a continuation of our 13% override. With the pandemic and the recovery period coming up, we know there is going to be associated costs with this new normal. And we know we have existing programs and innovations that we had already planned to integrate within our community. And number one, we need to take care of our people and our programs and our children.”
Bond: “We have had several failed attempts for a bond which means our facility needs have continued to grow. We have many issues we know about. This critical needs bond will allow us to address those as well as allow us to move forward for purchase of the land for the high school. We are forming a facility utilization committee and that committee will do the due diligence needed for us to figure out how to best utilize our schools throughout our district. But I also know there is flexibility within this bond, and we can definitely utilize these funds to maximize our existing schools in the future. But this bond still barely touches some of the needs in our district."
Monica Ceja Martinez
Override: “There is no way to sugar coat the uncertainty we are all facing. My priority has and always will be safety first. This includes nurses, who will be crucial moving forward. I guarantee you that our school nurses, who are included in this override, are gong to be instrumental in keeping our children safe. In addition, our assistant principals are instrumental as we help our staff and community members recognize safety through these challenges. I believe in the mission that the Peoria Unifed stands for and I am a proud alumni, K-12, and I trust my children in this school district as well. So I will stand for the 13% override.”
Bond: “We are accountable for setting clear expectations and communication for our communities going forward. I am in support of the bond so we can follow the law and stay compliant and keep our kids safe.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
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