M&O Override Facts
The Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board called for the Maintenance and Operations (M & O) Override election because budget override authorization expires after seven years and must be brought back to and approved by the voters in order to continue.
The estimated tax rate associated with the Maintenance and Operations Override renewal is $.46 per $100 of homeowner assessed value. This equates to an annual amount of $78.80 for an average home in the District.
The override amount for the first year of the proposed override is estimated to be $32,452,341.
The override funds will continue to fund the following areas: maintain smaller class sizes; enhance course offerings for more rigorous academic course work including remote learning; strengthen alternative education programs; electives such as band and theater; attract and retain the highest qualified educators; fund small specialty schools; fund student services and counseling as well as safety and security; extended learning time for academic interventions; and student competitive athletic programs.
District Additional Assistance Override Facts
The Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board called for the District Additional Assistance Override election because budget override authorization expires after seven years and must be brought back to and approved by the voters in order to continue. This renewal is an increase of the previous District Additional Assistance Override. The amount of $21,000,000 will require a slight tax increase. The estimated tax rate associated with the District Additional Assistance Override renewal is $0.30 per $100 of homeowner assessed value. This equates to an annual amount of $51.00 for an average home in the District.
With this renewed funding, we will continue to purchase online resources and subscriptions databases, electronic versions of textbooks all in support of student achievement and engagement. We will also purchase online software protection against ransomware to protect students from malicious activities, and access for parents to our Parent Portal. Phoenix Union will maintain the 1:1 (One Laptop for Every Student) environment we have created for our students while also increasing access to hot spots and Wi-Fi. We will provide access to high quality devices for all students through the replacement of existing inventory. A portion of funding will also be used for administrative software, hardware, and equip-ment. The district will also use funding for student and administrative building remodeling, facility repairs, preventative maintenance, and construction. This work will include student cafeterias, dining spaces, and the kitchens that serve them.
This opportunity will allow us to update our classrooms to provide innovative and safe learning environments for students. Upgrades will include continued support for our 1:1 devices efforts.
Through these upgrades, we will be better able to support more efficient operations. This means more support for curriculum and classroom instruction.
We will also be able to provide support to our student athletes through athletic uniforms and other equipment they need to succeed.
Another area we’ll be focusing on is providing additional spaces for student dining both indoors and outdoors. We also want to deploy additional technology that supports the safety and security of all students and staff.
We will continue making all classrooms safe and collaborative spaces by continuing to provide fully flexible furniture to support student learning styles, teacher designed instructional experiences, and physical distancing as appropriate in response to current conditions.
We will continue to upgrade infrastructure to support the delivery of high quality digital learning experiences through support for learning in all content areas.