Board: J.O. Combs to Seek High School: District Plans Unification Vote
Posted on: Friday, 6 January 2006, 15:00 CST
By Jackie Leatherman, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.
Jan. 6--Elementary school districts in Arizona can move forward in constructing high schools and have the state -- instead of taxpayers -- pay for it.
The Arizona School Facilities Board voted unanimously Thursday to fund construction of high schools in elementary districts. Under old rules, the state didn't fund high schools in these districts, which instead had to ask voters for bond approval of their first high schools.
"I think it's a real positive step for our community," said J.O. Combs Elementary School District Superintendent Jan Langer. "If you are going to build a high school anyway, build it in the community where the children live." Combs is the only East Valley school district affected by the rule change, and one of 48 statewide.
Rural districts with significant student growth will be most affected, according to the board. Prior to the rule change, the Legislature determined that if elementary districts had "adequate high school service" by sending their pupils to neighboring school districts, then they were ineligible for the state-funded construction of a high school.
The Queen Creek Unified School District, which also is experiencing rapid student growth, accepts the majority of Combs' high school students.
The board decided to fund high school construction if districts unify after June 30, which allows them to teach high school students; if they are projected to have more than 350 high school students within three years; and if at least 350 students must travel more than 20 miles to high school or if the district accepting high school students expects to need additional high school space within seven years.
The Combs district plans on placing the unification question on the November ballot and, if approved, open the high school in August 2009.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.
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Source: The Tribune
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