Combining Tempe districts draws criticism

Voters in the Kyrene Elementary, Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union school districts will decide in November whether all three should be combined into a single unified district.

A "yes" vote on the Nov. 4 ballot question will combine the three districts into one.

The question came about after the School District Redistricting Commission, created by the Legislature, recommended 76 school districts statewide that are not unified be combined to form 27 unified districts. A "no" vote by any one district would stop the proposed union.

Kyrene, Tempe Elementary and Tempe Union would be combined to form what is referred to as "Maricopa East" Unified School District, according to the ballot measure. This year, there are about 12,700 students in Tempe Elementary district, 13,300 students in Tempe Union and 18,000 students in Kyrene. The union would make a 44,000-student district. It would become the second-largest district in the East Valley, behind Mesa with its 69,000 students and just above Gilbert, with more than 39,000 students.

One group has formed to oppose the union. The Preserve Kyrene committee was started by Tom Sounart, who has lived in the Kyrene district for more than two years. Sounart's group has planned public forums, including one today. "The Kyrene district is already a model district," Sounart said. "We have a lot to lose starting over with a new giant district. We've looked at examples for big mega districts. They don't compare well to Kyrene."

Sounart said the proof is with the high administrative costs of districts in Mesa and Tucson, the two largest in the state.

But former Tempe Union High School District governing board member Dick Foreman disagrees.

"I have always supported unification," the 10-year board member said. "It's the 21st century."

Foreman, who last served on Tempe Union board in 2001, said the issue is vital because governing boards that aren't unified aren't required "to meet, to talk, to share curriculum." He said many districts that serve the same communities do it voluntarily.

"If the voters vote to unify these districts, it will mean a transition period where three districts will work together to form one governing body," Foreman said. "It won't change boundaries. It won't change the classroom. It won't change anything at any of the school sites. It will change the governance."

Foreman said there is "much misinformation" about unification, including statements that taxes will be raised.

"Only the governing board can raise taxes or the state Legislature," Foreman said.

Sounart cites the School District Redistricting Committee report about the possibility of taxes rising.

The "report shows a 10 to 20 percent tax increase in their estimate," Sounart said.

While the letter from the state Board of Education regarding potential tax implications does show a possible rate increase for Kyrene, it shows a possible rate decrease for Tempe Elementary. It does not give estimates for Tempe Union.

In fact, Foreman said the statute requires each district to pay off its own debts and bonds, even if the three combine.

Zita Johnson, governing board member for Tempe Union High School District, said all three boards oppose the unification. Each spent about 18 months researching it and forming an opinion to give to the redistricting committee, she said.

"Our main position was this is an unfunded mandate," Johnson said. "The costs associated with this would be so extraordinarily high it will affect student achievement and it will hurt kids."

What: Preserve Kyrene PAC Community Forum

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Chandler Police Department, Desert Breeze Substation, 251 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. West