Dear members of CEA,

We are facing troubling times right now in the state with many bad decisions being passed at the state level and even some decisions which we don’t like within our own district. The CEA Executive Board has been asked by the Citizens for Creighton, an independent Political Action Campaign group which is heading up the upcoming November 2009 Bond and Override Election, if we, CEA, are supportive of the Bond and Override. Our answer has been a resounding “Yes” we support it. We have not yet committed to working to pass this by phone banking, walking the neighborhoods and anything else which we have done in years past on previous override elections.

We want to know more information about the campaign as well as what the funds will be used for. CEA Executive Board and the CEA Fund for Children and Public Education (our own Political Action Campaign Group) wants to find out to what degree, we the members would be supportive and what actions we would be willing to do to support the campaign. Please read over the attachment and then please take this quick survey to help us make a better decision for our future.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dFJDQnM2aHNDMThvaVV0eThiVHFwTlE6MA..

The public in our Creighton Community will receive or have already received the voters pamphlet. Here it is for you to view and have more information.

Background

On May 19, 2009, the Creighton Elementary School District Governing Board unanimously called for a Maintenance and Operations Renewal Election and a Special Bond Election to be held on November 3, 2009.

The Maintenance and Operations (M & O) budget provides for:
•    salaries and benefits,
•    purchased services, and
•    supplies.

The M & O override enables the district to expend up to 10% over the amount provided from the state to the district for these items.  Currently 75% of school districts in Maricopa County operate with voter approved overrides.  CSD’s current Maintenance & Operations override is in the 4th year of a 7-year override.  Full funding is provided for the first 5 years only.  It is critically important to renew this year, because, if not successfully renewed, funding will decrease by 1/3 for each of the next 3 years beginning in 2011.

Creighton and most other districts use overrides as part of their regular operating budgets due to the low per pupil funding in Arizona and a ranking of 49th nationwide.  The M & O override will not result in a higher overall secondary tax rate for community members as it is a renewal.  The tax rate currently being assessed annually for each $100 of assessed valuation of property is $0.49.  For the average house in the district, worth $128,000, the annual tax is $62.10.  If not successful, there are potential budget reduction risks to the Maintenance and Operations budget of $41,450,000 which would significantly decrease the following:

1)    Fundamental educational standards for students including:
•    Art, music and physical education.
•    Current class size standards
•    Special Education programs
2)    School/Community safety programs including:
•    Assistant principals
•    Nursing and custodial staff
•    Performance pay for staff goal achievement
•    Supervisory staff
•    Counseling services
•    After-school sports and clubs
3)    School budgets for classroom instructional supplies and materials
4)    Transportation support including:
•    Academic field trips and summer programs for students
•    Additional bus drivers and staff
5)     Competitive salary schedules to attract and retain a quality staff including:
•    Compensation and benefits for certified and support staff
•    Financial incentives for goals achievement

A Special Bond Election has also been called for as part of the ballot.  By definition, a Bond
allows school districts to fund projects immediately and pay back the debt over time from the taxation of homes and businesses in the district.  The Creighton Elementary School District Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, which consisted of educators, parents, and community members, spent 18 months studying the district’s facilities and creating facilities guidelines in order to plan for the future of the district.

The committee gathered input from the school sites and community, reviewed research, developed facility guidelines and evaluated every site.  They made a recommendation to the Governing Board to put the Special Bond Election measure on the ballot in order to ensure the highest quality environments for students, staff, families and the community as Creighton looks toward the future.

The study focused on the following priorities:

Health and safety,
Environment,
Internal appeal,
Program requirements and space,
Infrastructure,
Accessibility and Traffic flow
Technology

The total bond request for funding is $44 million.  Most of the original buildings in Creighton School district were built in the 1940’s and 1950’s.  Many of the facilities have structural, electrical, and mechanical needs and lack the systems to be energy efficient.  Each campus would receive renovations and/or replacement that would focus on health and safety standards  including:   heating and air-conditioning, roofing, flooring, fencing,  restroom upgrades, parking lots, etc.

Two oversight committees would be created by the Superintendent and the Governing Board to ensure accountability and regular communication of progress to staff and community.