Pima County Schools Face Enrollment Crisis, Voucher Drain, and Looming Closures

Pima County School Superintendent Dustin Williams delivered a stark warning to Democrats of Greater Tucson: Urban schools are headed toward an unprecedented wave of consolidations and closures as early as this November, driven by plummeting birth rates, explosive voucher program growth, and a billion-dollar taxpayer subsidy with zero accountability.

“I don’t see how it doesn’t happen,” Williams said at the on September 29, 2025 DGT meeting, describing schools built for 1,000 students now serving just 200-300. “Economically, it just can’t work.”

He questioned whether federalized tests with “double negatives” and “pick the two best answers” formats truly measure student learning, particularly given that tests are administered only once a year with no retakes.

Williams noted private and homeschool students face no such testing requirements, despite receiving public funds through vouchers.

ICE Stays Out of Schools — For Now

Williams credited a “verbal agreement” with Homeland Security Regional Director Frank Barola for keeping immigration enforcement off Pima County campuses during the Trump administration crackdowns.

“Schools have maintained their autonomy,” Williams said. “We have not had, knock on wood, schools pretty untouched here in Pima County.”

He noted schools remain defined as “safe harbor” areas, though raids have occurred at restaurants.

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Also read:

• Tucson Schools Bleeding $20 Million as Voucher Program Fuels Budget School Closures with Shelly Hartman from Save Our Schools
• Right-Wing Private Schools Use Taxpayer Money Through the ESA Program to Indoctrinate Children by David Gordon

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Budget: $3M Office Manages $600M Monthly Flow

Williams oversees a $3 million county-funded office that manages $50 million in monthly school district payroll and expenditures, as well as all bond and override elections, teaching certifications for 4,000 educators annually, and professional development programs.

The office also operates the Accommodation School District within the juvenile detention center and adult jail, serving approximately 350 justice-involved youth and adults at a cost of $850,000 annually — a separate funding source from the county budget.

Williams emphasized his office answers to voters, not the Board of Supervisors or the state Department of Education.

“You’re the constituents. I work for you,” he said. “This office doesn’t report to anyone above the elected county school superintendent.”

Call for Community Engagement

Williams urged community members to volunteer through programs like Literacy Connects and the county’s CommunityShare platform, which connects professionals willing to share expertise with teachers.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘What can I do?'” Williams said. “You can get really locally involved with your schools. That is the cornerstone of how you improve your community, and it’s the easiest way to do it.”

What You Can Do Right Now

• Call your legislators and demand an end to universal vouchers.
• Show up at school board meetings and speak out for funding and DEI.
• Join local education advocacy groups fighting for teachers and students.
• Register voters and turn out in 2026 — because this battle will be won at the ballot box.