CHANDLER, Ariz. (Sept. 5, 2017): Ballots for the upcoming override election to allow the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) to maintain the current 15 percent maintenance and operations override without any new taxes will be mailed beginning Oct. 11. Ballots must be returned to the Maricopa County Elections Department before election day on Nov. 7.
The override will allow the district to continue current funding for one of the state’s highest-rated school districts. Students and staff are routinely recognized at the state and national levels for excellence in academics, fine arts and athletics. The 2017 graduating class earned a combined 30,096 hours of college credit and committed to 112,993 hours of community service.
“The Chandler Unified School District is consistently among the state’s leaders in academic achievement,” said YES for Chandler Students Co-Chair Jim Bishop. “A ‘Yes’ vote from Chandler voters renews and supports a reinvestment of critical funding into CUSD classrooms, enables the district to keep and attract great teachers and ensures the success of district students.”
In 2017 alone, CUSD had a record 30 National Merit Scholars and five schools were rated A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation.
“This override benefits everyone,” said Nadine Mathis Basha. “If we all want to share in the continued success of Chandler, we must invest and support CUSD.”
She pointed out that last year’s graduating class earned a collective $118 million in scholarship offers, equating to $35,000 per graduate. “Our schools are producing talented and well-rounded individuals who will serve our community for years to come,” she added.
Former two-term Chandler city council member Jack Sellers praised the district for its strategic financial efficiency which “allowed them to weather the drastic education cuts during the five-year period from 2007 to 2012” and to allocate more of its budget into the classroom than any other district in Arizona.
“CUSD also has the lowest administrative costs in the state,” he said. “The district has proven to be a great investment.”
Trinity Donovan, Director of the Chandler Food Bank and a two-term city council member described an override “as an investment,” citing a former override that “afforded the district the chance to establish a STEM program and open Chief Hill Learning Academy.”
“Investing in the STEM program has produced tangible results,” she said “Students attending CUSD schools make up a mere 4 percent of all students in Arizona; however, CUSD students won half of all statewide awards in science and engineering fairs over the past two years.”
Jena Phillips, a teacher in the district, views her job “instructing and shaping 45,000 students with a great deal of pride,” she said. “CUSD remains committed to educating every child across the full spectrum of needs and abilities.”
For more information about the override, visit www.YESforChandlerStudents.com.