11/18/2009 10:24:00 AM School considers bond election Facilities’ safety a high priority
Ryan Williams/WGCN
Williams Unified School District Board President Becky Nelson and Superintendent Steve Hudgens discuss a possible school bond election.
WILLIAMS - Members of the Williams Unified School District (WUSD) Governing Board discussed the possibility of a bond election during their regular meeting Nov. 12. Topping the board's list of proposed improvements to be funded by a new bond are renovations to the district's athletic facilities.
A November 2010 bond election was initially discussed at the Oct. 27 board work session. At the session, the board developed a list of projects that would benefit from funding from a new bond. Among those items is renovation of the Williams High School locker room, replacement of bleachers at the Williams Elementary-Middle School and WHS and construction of a new indoor sports practice facility.
Board member Becky Nelson said that the goal of the renovations is to keep spending to a minimum.
"All of the items that are on this list are things that we want to keep on top of so that we don't let things deteriorate to the point to where you have to put more money into something in order to keep our buildings in good shape," she said. "In light of the economy, we're looking at the SFB. What money is going to be available through the state to fund anything is slim to none. Probably none. So I agree that we need to be looking at these and what we need to do."
The Arizona State Legislature held a special budget session this week in which more cuts to K-12 education were considered. With the state budget still in limbo, the WUSD Governing Board continues to operate without a clear understanding of what its budget realistically looks like.
WUSD Superintendent Steve Hudgens said that even if the legislature makes budget decisions this week, by the time the governing board has a budget set for fiscal year 2010 it will be time to prepare for fiscal year 2011.
If the board does decide to request a bond election, it must do so with the Coconino County Election Board by July 2010. The governing board stressed the importance of community involvement and awareness and proposed forming a community member committee along with a Bond Election Committee. Nelson requested that a revised project list be available at the February governing board meeting.
Board member Herman Nixon stressed that the public should be informed about the possibility of an upcoming bond election due to the importance of some of the proposed projects to be funded by a new bond.
"We need to get this out to the public because we need to go forward with this bond to take care of some of the issues we have to keep the schools safe for our kids," Nixon said. "I'd like to see us do something with this football field out here. Improve it. I'd love to see artificial turf on it to keep it from maintenance, water all the things we have now." Nixon went on to add that weight room equipment is outdated and that there isn't enough room to accommodate demand with the middle school actively using the facility.
WUSD Assistant Superintendent/Business Manager John Livingston said the amount of the proposed bond has yet to be determined as the board is still in the process of identifying and prioritizing potential projects.
"We're going to do what we can to support going out to bond again because we definitely have needs as our buildings continue to age," he said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
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In response to the article...school considering bond election.
Having read the article, my response is: it is vital to keep our schools up for our children. (Mine, of course, are grown up.) I share great concern for our schools and fully understand the importance of their upkeep. The only question I have about the list of needs is the interest in replacing the football field with artifical turf. Are you serious? What next, a domed stadium? I'm sure that the funds could be better spent than that.
I realize that we have fallen onto tough times in our country but we will survive. I've seen our city grow for the last 40 years that I've lived here....(Most of my friends have lived here their whole life.)
I fully support the Williams school district and it's decisions; however, I feel that projects like that shouldn't even be considered as long as our teacher's are in need of support within our classrooms.
