HOW BONDS WORK
According to the City Sun Times, education bonds are “voter-approved funds used to purchase technology, school buses, school safety and security, athletic infrastructure, and school facilities improvements.” The bond is worth 40 million dollars, and is planned to be used to purchase technology, STEM materials, buses, repair buildings, upgrade school safety and security, provide classroom furniture, upgrade athletic facilities, and pay off the energy contract debt. Every school site in the district will benefit from it.
“The school districts in Arizona ask their taxpayers to vote to approve bonds so that we can have additional money to buy things the district needs,” said Marcie Rodriguez, Chief Financial Officer.
The money will come out of taxpayer dollars. The average value of a home in the district is $557,880, and a home at that value will pay about $94 per year, or $8 per month.
“It’s better to have more money towards the school… sure, it’ll be a little bit more tax money, but that’s not very much,” said Belize Ellis, a sophomore.
When a bond is passed, funds are not spent immediately. For the district to receive funds, it must sell bonds to investors. Then, once bonds are sold, funding is received and purchases can be made. Taxpayers then pay those bonds back.
“The way the bonds work is the taxpayers say ‘yes, we approve selling bonds, and we will pay those bonds back with our property taxes,” Rodriguez said.
The most recent bond in Cave Creek was passed in 2014.
WHAT THE BOND FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR
The district posted information on their website as to what the money from the proposed bond would be spent on. The list includes: “Purchase instructional technology and STEM learning materials, school safety and security upgrades, repair and renovate school buildings, furniture and equipment for collaborative, 21st Century learning spaces in schools/classrooms, school buses, update athletic facilities, and pay off energy contract debt.” A more detailed list is available at ccusd93.org.
According to edweek.org, 21st century learning is an educational philosophy that requires students to “master content while producing, synthesizing, and evaluating information” from a variety of topics.
21st century learning spaces typically model those of “universities,” said Cort Monroe, Superintendent.
Bond funds are also intended to upgrade the district’s facilities and security. A specific concern is fencing around school buildings. During an audit by the Department of Homeland Security, it was determined that schools need better fences to prevent intruders from gaining access to the campuses. Additionally, better fencing prevents wildlife from entering schools.