By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Amphitheater Public Schools is asking voters to approve the sale of six properties, including four closed elementary schools, through Proposition 426 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
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Arizona law said school districts may need voter approval before selling properties.
Closed school leaves neighborhood quiet
Mark Platt, president of the Copper Creek Homeowners Association, said he bought his home in the Copper Creek neighborhood because of the nearby elementary school.
“I live right behind the school – so you know all the children playing – all the bells ringing,” Platt said.
Amphitheater Public Schools closed Copper Creek Elementary last year due to district-wide low enrollment.
“It was kind of sad to see that go after being here for 32 years,” Platt said.
District closed four schools this year
Amphitheater Public Schools closed four school sites, including Holloway Elementary. Some of the closed buildings are being leased out. Holloway Elementary’s building is being leased to a small church group on Sundays.
Michelle Valenzuela, communications director for Amphitheater Public Schools, said the district decided to place the proposition on this year’s ballot because a governing board election was already scheduled.
“We already have an election on the ballot because we have a governing board election, so it made sense,” Valenzuela said.
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A yes vote on Proposition 426 would allow Amphitheater Public Schools to sell six properties, including the four closed elementary schools, an empty lot, and the Land Lab, a site used for Pima JTED training.
District losing money on upkeep
Before a sale can happen, the district is paying for upkeep on the properties, including sprinklers, alarm systems, and air conditioning.
“We need to be able to sell the properties at some point to really realize the savings we need to have,” Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela says if the proposition doesn’t pass, the district will try again in a future election.
Some homeowners oppose the measure
Some Amphitheater homeowners oppose the proposition, saying it lacks transparency.
“There’s nothing in there that guarantees what they’ll use the money for or guarantees who they’ll sell those properties to, so it looks like a big blank check,” Platt said.
Amphitheater voters will decide the proposition on Nov. 3.
Isabela Lisco is aReport for America corpsmember covering education solutions for 13 News. Her position is made possible through funding from Report for America and theArizona Local News Foundation’s Arizona Community Collaborative Fund.
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