Schools Rule in Gilbert

I got an email from a woman whose family is moving to Arizona from Kansas, and she liked the way that Morrison Ranch looks. She asked for some information from a resident's point of view on the schools and shopping and such, and so I thought I would expand my answer to her today concerning schools in Gilbert.

The Mister's family has always placed a premium on education. The Mister's father served on the school board for several years, as did our sister-in-law; and The Mister's father has been a frequent donor to the ASU program (we have a culturally diverse family including attendees of both ASU and UA, as well as NAU and Grand Canyon University; all rivalries are friendly). Being very high on education is not exclusive to The Mister's family, however; it has been the norm in Gilbert for as long as I can remember. The School Board has been one of the most influential bodies in Gilbert, and arguably continues in that role today.

Back in the day, each school district was responsible for funding their own schools, and so Gilbert used bonding to do that. We built really nice schools, from Elementary through High School, and it was noticed. In fact, one of the comments we heard (said with disdain, I might add) was that our high schools look like junior colleges! Personally, I took that as a compliment; are we supposed to make our buildings and facilities as mundane as possible?

Then came the various lawsuits from folks who felt that the funding for schools should be distributed by the State rather than individual districts so that the poorer districts could have better facilities. Thus was born the Students First legislation in Arizona, which dictated that school funding would come from a statewide sales tax, and those distributions would have state parameters. This actually resulted in less need for Gilbert residents to fund the schools in our district, but it increased the state's oversight on what schools are needed at what time. For example, Gilbert's capacity for elementary students is now greater in areas where the population has aged, like Gilbert Elementary or Houston Elementary. But the capacity in the newer areas, like Morrison Ranch (4 miles away), is decreasing due to an influx of younger families. Under Students First legislation, the solution is not to build more elementaries in Morrison Ranch, it is to bus children to Gilbert Elementary. Not surprisingly, most Gilbert residents (especially in Morrison Ranch) don't agree with this policy.

Thankfully, one of the provisions in the Students First law allows individual school districts to go ahead and bond if they desire to build or expand facilities that Students First doesn't fund. Gilbert parents still want to provide the best facilities (and most convenient - we have a very high rate of parental participation) for their kids, and so we have continued to use bond issues for that purpose. As a matter of fact, that is precisely what is on the November 8 ballot, and it very much affects Morrison Ranch kids. The AZ Republic has an article today on this issue:

Gilbert's latest elementary school, now called No. 27, could go from desert landscaping to finished classrooms in eight months.

But the ultimate timing on school construction will be up to voters, who will decide a $120 million bond and override initiative Nov. 8.

If passed, the school opens its doors in August 2006; if not, 2010.

During a regular meeting last week, School Board President Helen Hollands asked about community support for the school, which is on 10 acres in the Holliday Farms subdivision, on the northwestern corner of Cole Drive and East Park Avenue.

"They've been very supportive of it," Superintendent Brad Barrett replied.

Paul Holland of HDA Architects presented the architectural rendering of the $7.4 million school, which will have a medium-size capacity of 830 students.

The school, however, could handle more students. The rendering showed where three portable classrooms could be located.

The longer it takes to build the school, the more it could cost. Schools cost about $85 a square foot last year, but that has risen to $98, Holland said.

Most of the students will walk to the school, which sits adjacent to the Higley Groves and Morrison Ranch areas.

School officials said they expect about 2,000 students from new homes in the coming years.

This school site was donated by the Holliday Family as they built the Holliday Farms community next door to Higley Groves. It has been waiting to be built for several years, and it sits at the very eastern edge of Higley Groves. We have also donated an elementary site within Lakeview Trails North to serve those residents. One of our desires has been to provide a community where kids can walk to school without crossing major streets. This seems attainable because, once again, of the value Gilbert places on education.

I hope you will vote, and I hope you will vote yes on both questions on November 8.