Elections
The Queen Creek Unified School District Governing Board is calling on voters to decide two ballot measures this November to support the needs of the rapidly-growing population of the district. Queen Creek is the seventh fastest-growing city in the nation and the fastest-growing school district in the state.
Bond
Voters will consider a bond of $98M for projects over the next five years to fund enhanced safety and security features, renovations to existing schools, construction of new classroom space, and other improvements to address the needs of the growing community.
Override
In addition to the bond, voters will decide on whether to continue the current 15% maintenance and operations budget override used for teacher salaries, reduced class sizes, and academic offerings.
2023 Bond and Continuation Override
Questions about the Bond & Override
The following is a list of collapsible links. After selecting the link, additional content will expand. Arrow down to read the additional content.
What is a bond and an override? How are they different?
An override allows local school district voters to approve additional funding for operating costs, like salaries for teachers and additional security staff. A bond allows local voters to approve funding for capital expenditures, such as construction of new schools, safety and security improvements, and additional buses.
Isn’t the district currently operating under an override? Why is the district asking local voters to continue the override?
Queen Creek Unified School District has been operating under a locally supported 15% M&O Override for eight years.
The QCUSD override has been in place since 2015. It allows the district to increase salaries and benefits for teachers, add security staffing, elective offerings, and keep athletic and AP course fees lowered.
In order to continue an override at 15%, state statute requires local voter approval every five years. Without local voter authorization after five years, the rate of the override drops in years six and seven. After year seven, without voter approval, the override no longer exists.
How will the override continuation appear on my ballot?
- Budget Override Continuation, Yes ⃣
- Budget Override Continuation, No ⃣
Questions on Projects
The following is a list of collapsible links. After selecting the link, additional content will expand. Arrow down to read the additional content.
What happens if the override is not approved?
Without local voter authorization after five years, the rate of the override drops in years six and seven. The first year QCUSD will experience a 5% reduction in budget capacity. The second year QCUSD will experience another reduction of 5%. In the third year, all override funds will be removed from the budget. Without voter approval, the override no longer exists. QCUSD will need to review options in making budgetary decisions for salaries, class sizes, and programming.
What happens if the bond is not approved?
Without a bond, QCUSD will be unable to build new student space and will need to continue placing additional portables throughout the district. QCUSD has already put in 7 million dollars in portables to help with student space for the current year. The projects listed within the bond will likely not occur.
What will the funding of this proposed bond and override support QCUSD?
Approving the continuation of the override will:
- Attract high quality teachers and continue with employee compensation.
- Continue academic programs that prepare students for postsecondary education and workforce success.
- Continue art and music classes throughout the district.
- Continue school security to maintain a safe and secure learning environment.
- Maintain class size at the kindergarten through eighth grade level.
- Continue salaries to retain and attract exceptional teachers and staff.
- Enhance athletics, ROTC, and gifted programs.
- Maintain the reduced fees for athletics and advanced placement programs.
Approving the bond will:
- Update safety and security features such as security cameras, fencing, alarms, and cyber security (digital safety).
- Cameras for all sites.
- Fire alarm replacement for the following schools:
- Desert Mountain Elementary
- Jack Barnes Elementary
- Queen Creek Elementary
- Queen Creek High School
- Increase/add access controls to secure all existing sites:
- Desert Mountain Elementary
- Frances Brandon Pickett Elementary
- Gateway Polytechnic Academy
- Jack Barnes Elementary
- Newell Barney Junior High School
- Queen Creek Elementary
- Queen Creek High School
- Queen Creek Junior High School
- Safety & Security
- Buses
- Technology
- New Construction
- Renovation
- QCHS queuing redesign on Ocotillo Road
- EHS facilities and parking (portions of masterplan)
- CHS facilities and parking (portions of masterplan)
What projects were funded by previous bonds?
- The construction of one high school (Eastmark High School) and four elementary schools (Silver Valley Elementary, Faith Mather Sossaman, Gateway Polytechnic Academy, and Schnepf Elementary).
- Desert Mountain classroom addition.
- Classroom additions for Desert Mountain Elementary, Silver Valley Elementary, and Faith Mather Sossaman.
- Additional buses.
- Security features in all school lobbies.
- Classroom addition, field house, and parking added to Queen Creek High School.
- Outdoor restrooms added to Newell Barney Junior High.
- Renovations to Queen Creek Junior High.
- Re-carpeting at existing sites.
- Queen Creek Performing Arts Center expansion and seats.
- New and updated furniture/equipment at existing sites.
Questions on Taxes
The following is a list of collapsible links. After selecting the link, additional content will expand. Arrow down to read the additional content.
Voter Information:
Voting truly matters and is one of our civic duties. At Queen Creek Unified School District, we teach this responsibility to our students. We encourage parents to model this behavior for their children. To verify your voter registration, please visit BeBallotReady.Vote.
For upcoming election dates and information, visit the Maricopa County Recorder's website.