Cash Starved School Districts Are Seeking Either Bonds or Budget Overrides this November

Cash-starved school districts across Arizona need the voter’s help this November.

With the fate of Invest in Ed-Proposition 208 unclear, schools transitioning to normalcy from the Coronavirus Pandemic, and a continuing teacher shortage that plagues consistent quality instruction, these districts have no choice but to ask residents for additional support by either asking for a bond or budget override.

As Save Our Schools Arizona notes, bonds or overrides are:

“… initiatives to fund projects or operations that voters in a local school district can vote to approve. Check out this great video from KJZZ to learn more, or check out the Bond/Override FAQ page produced by our friends at Expect More Arizona.

Unfortunately, because Arizona’s local public schools are so dramatically underfunded, districts often have to move funding around so much that they rely on these initiatives to pay the basics – like teacher salaries, bus drivers, computers, basic building maintenance, and more.”

Some of the support these school districts need will be targeted toward instructor salaries. Other areas will be toward site improvements and renovations. Technological investments is another area some of these districts would like to build on.

Commenting on the need to pass these crucial bonds or overrides, Kyrene Elementary School District Board Member Michele Fahy said:

“The M&O Override provides for about 200 teachers which is 20% of our total teaching staff. This money allows us to continue offering special area classes like art, music, PE, band, choir, orchestra, etc. as well as special services and intervention to students and lower class size. Without it, I cannot imagine the kinds of decisions we would have to make about class size or about the possibility of no longer being able to offer special area classes. It is critical that our community understand that our state funding for public education is so poor that puts us in the position to have to request these bonds and overrides from our community.”

Please click here to view the full list of Arizona school districts conducting bond and override elections.

Even though there may no individual candidates on the ballot this November in some of these cities or towns, it is still very important that people either turn out on November 3, 2021, and vote or submit their ballots through the mail several days before then.

The quality of your child’s education and future may depend on it.