Focus on TUSD - March 2007

Bond Expenditures
TUSD has spent less than half of the $235 million in bond money that voters approved in November 2004, but schools have already seen major improvements.
The Bond Fiscal Oversight Committee has allocated funds for five major categories, which include these improvements:

(1) Classroom additions
The Oyama and Banks elementary schools each have three new classrooms. Classroom additions are under construction at Doolen Middle School and Rincon/University high schools. Additions are also planned at Robins, Hudlow, White, Grijalva and Blenman elementary schools and at Valencia Middle School. The committee is considering constructing rooms at other schools based on the need for class size reduction ordered by the Governing Board, said Marcus Jones, the Bonds director.

(2) Performing arts
On March 8, the committee agreed to support a contract for work on Sahuaro High School’s auditorium, Little Theater and music classrooms. Similar projects are being designed for Palo Verde Magnet High School and work has just started at Sabino High School. These projects were part of a previous plan that had been postponed because of fund shortages.

(3) Science classrooms
Sabino High School’s science area recently was completed. The committee has decided to support bidding projects at Cholla Magnet and Sahuaro high schools.

(4) High school interscholastic and physical education
Five practice gyms are planned at Sabino, Sahuaro, Santa Rita, Tucson and Cholla high schools, where only one activity space is now available. Several track renovations have been completed and tennis court resurfacing is being scheduled. Other improvements will be concession stands and restrooms at the high school stadiums and replacing the bleachers at Palo Verde High School.

(5) Library renovations
Work at Sam Hughes Elementary School has paired bond and state funding for a physical education space, a library and a new kitchen. Library renovations have been completed at Marshall and Reynolds elementary schools.
The committee has prioritized an initial list of 13 schools to receive general improvements across the board. As the work is finished at these schools, others will be added. The 13 sites are Blenman, Booth-Fickett, Howenstine, Borton, Pistor, Cholla, Naylor, Pueblo, Lynn /Urquides, Grijalva, White, Valencia and Doolen.
General improvement projects include roofing, improving restrooms to meet federal American Disabilities Act standards, lighting upgrades and other needs that school administrators and school site councils determine.

The District has sold $57 million worth of bonds and the committee will consider issuing additional bonds this summer. Community members serving on the committee are Bill Estes, Robin Hiller, Eugene Jones, Kevin Larson, Eddie Leon, Jim Lovelace, Laura Pendleton-Miller, Martha Rothman, Earl Mendenhall, Donna Calvert and Vanessa Garrison.

Bond money must be spent within nine years of an election, Jones said.

The Bond Fiscal Oversight Committee approved these proposals on March 8:

Permission to Award bids

• Hudlow Elementary -- three classroom addition
• Robins Elementary -- six classroom addition
• Sahuaro High -- Fine Arts renovation
• LIRC Paving
• High School Court Resurfacing

Permission to Advertise for Bids

• Bloom and Van Horne Elementary -- chiller replacements
• Summers Finance & LIRC -- cooling tower replacements
• Transportation & Facilities Shop Parking -- Phase II
• Sahuaro High -- science classroom renovations
• Cholla High -- classroom renovations (includes Science)

--Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

Unless otherwise noted, all photos in the March issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations.

The deadline to submit material for the April Focus is Friday, April 6. The Focus will be published Friday, April 13. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.