Scottsdale school chief considers bond election

The Scottsdale Unified School District is considering a bond election for the November 2009 ballot, Superintendent John Baracy said.

Many Scottsdale elementary and middle schools are old ­— 12 of the campuses originally opened the 1950s and 1960s — and have outdated systems for heating, cooling and other needs, he said.

“We have said for years that after we did the much-needed renovation at the high schools that the next step would be to look at the elementary and middle schools,” Baracy said, calling it a “strong possibility” that district administrators would ask the governing board to put the issue to voters.

District staff is studying what building maintenance is needed across the district, said David Peterson, assistant superintendent for operations.

That report will be presented to the governing board in September.

While Peterson declined to give a preliminary figure for a potential bond until he’s prepared more information for the governing board, he did say about 10 elementary and middle schools need major renovations or to be completely rebuilt.

“It’s going to be almost as big as the one we completed,” Peterson said, referring to a $217 million bond to rebuild the district’s high schools that voters approved in 2004.

It’s a year before the issue actually has to be decided. The governing board could vote as late as June 2009 to put the issue to voters that November, Baracy said.

Last year, voters OK’d a $69.3 million capital override that will allow the district to pay for classroom technology, playground equipment, books and other items over the next seven years. The district also won approval of a $12.9-million-a-year maintenance and operations override that will primarily pay for 179 teachers’ salaries.