A bond designed to pay for a wide variety of facility improvement projects in the growing Kyrene School District of Tempe has received an important thumbs up.
The Kyrene Governing Board has approved putting a $161 million bond on the ballot for the upcoming November election, with most of that funding going to simply maintaining and upgrading the 25 schools that make up the district.
Those facilities, along with the district’s headquarters, have an average age of 35 years.
Nearly $5 million in the bond will be allotted for roof repair or replacement work; general renovations are pegged at $2.1 million; with another $1.5 million set for school LED retrofits.
Additional projects will see the installation of safety and security systems, new doors and windows, electrical and plumbing system upgrades, building weatherization, and parking lot pavement work.
One of the oldest school districts in southern Arizona, the Kyrene district last year saw an enrollment of around 16,000 students, with individual schools located in parts of Chandler, Phoenix, and Tempe.
Kyrene district voters have generally been supportive of ballot bond proposals in the past. In 2016, those voters approved a $56.8 million bond for general facility upgrades.
By Garry Boulard
