Dysart Unified School District is estimating its new campus needs and expects to require a new high school and two or three elementary schools before 2030.
About half the needed funds will come from the Arizona School Facilities Board, but state funding will likely not be available to meet all DUSD’s needs before space needs become critical.
A new high school will be essential to handle expected volume increases of as many as 3,000 students before the end of the decade, according to officials. SFB monies are considered likely for this project.
The pandemic has affected enrollment numbers, making projections tricky, but the District expects high school enrollment to be back to its standard 8,400 range next year. An enrollment greater than 9,700 will trigger state funding for a new campus.
The District currently has approximately 15,000 K-8 students. It needs 22,000 to receive SFB money for new schools for that age range. SFB calculations are based on District aggregate numbers and do not take volumes at particular campuses or sections of the district into account.
Dysart estimates it will need a new school in the southwest portion of its service area once the new northern high school is eventually planned and built. Rising construction costs could slow housing development and in-migration, which would consequently extend the District’s growth curve. However, if construction slows, it will not have the student population gains that will trigger state funding for new elementary schools to the north or west of Grand Avenue, which is a high growth area at risk of maximizing its useful service capacity. Dysart is in the process of deploying portable units to address short-term needs.
Without outside help, the District will have to seek a bond measure for new facilities it says it will need. Bond requests have traditionally not fared well in the area. (Source)