flagstaff district seeking funding for school construction and renovation projects

Still recovering from a decline in state facility funding that dropped from $7 million in 2007 to just over $600,000 this year, the Flagstaff Unified School District is asking voters this November for a bond to pay for its continuing facility needs.

The $75 million bond would pay for the renovation of the Mount Elden Middle School, located at 3223 N. Fourth Street on the northeast side of the city.
 
Also planned is the construction of a new elementary school that will replace either the existing W.F. Killip Elementary School or the Lura Kinsey Elementary School.

The Killip school is at 2300 E. 6th Avenue in east Flagstaff, while the Kinsey school at 1601 E. Lone Tree Road is on the southern side of the city.

Both of those schools are among the oldest facilities in the district and, according to officials, have had increased maintenance costs due to their age.

 If passed, the bond would delegate $29.6 million to the renovation of the Mount Elden Middle School, as well as the new replacement school.

Just over $22 million would go for health and safety enhancements at all of the district’s schools, with another $3 million targeting general repairs to the schools.

The district previously relied on Arizona’s Building Renewal Fund for its facility needs, but FUSD officials note that that source has been underfunded by some $22 million over the last 6 years.

By Garry Boulard

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