The Yuma Elementary School District One Governing Board has advanced an updated plan to replace the James D. Price Elementary School on the Yuma Proving Ground.
According to a presentation from District CFO Denis Ponder to the Board, the school had been targeted in 2020 for replacement as part of the federal Public Schools on Military Installations Program, which will cover 80% of the costs. At the time, the Arizona Legislature agreed to provide $800K for the required 20% match.
The project encountered COVID-related delays, and the cost estimates have gone up. The estimated 20% match has grown by $1.2M.
Ponder told the Board that the District has resources to cover the match because of strategic planning and available fund balances.
The development plan consists of building the new school on the site of the existing school’s playing fields, then demolishing the existing school and restoring the fields. The new school will also have a cafeteria to prepare hot meals on-site, eliminating the current system of busing in hot meals for service.
The District is currently targeting the new school to open in fall 2025. (Source)
