School District Unveils Exciting FY24 Bond Update

The Lake Havasu Unified School District is actively progressing with its renovation and upgrade plans supported by a $49 million bond approved by voters in 2016. Recent updates shared during a board meeting highlighted the ongoing enhancements funded by this bond.

Of the bond’s total, over $47 million is allocated for capital improvement projects across the district, alongside a 15% budget override. This bond achieved passage by a narrow margin of 2,764 votes, while the budget override was approved with a lead of 351 votes.

As required by Arizona law, the district has held annual public meetings to report on the expenditures. Director of Business Services Michael Murray provided a financial overview at the latest meeting, noting that as of June 30, approximately $39 million had been spent on non-administrative projects, with an additional $1.4 million on administrative improvements.

Significant improvements have been made at the elementary schools, notably at Smoketree Elementary, where renovations on preschool facilities, office spaces, therapy rooms, and restrooms are currently underway for the 2024 fiscal year.

Technology upgrades are also a key focus, with funds dedicated to purchasing projectors, monitors, laptops, and desktop computers. In addition, the district has invested in new transportation options, including two recently acquired route buses and three more on order, which consists of another route bus, an activity bus, and one for special needs. Moreover, two maintenance trucks and a box van have also been purchased.

Fiscal year 2024 also marks the final year for the 15% Maintenance and Operations Budget Override. Murray emphasized the importance of this initiative, describing how it has enhanced salaries through cost-of-living adjustments, thereby aiding in the retention and attraction of teachers.

“Knowing that the override is a voter-approved initiative, we had to be very mindful of that and ensure that those extra funds for staff retention were allocated annually,” Murray stated.

The override has additionally allowed for a reduction in athletic participation fees from $800 to $400, the expansion of art, music, and physical education programs, and the funding of full-day kindergarten classes. For further details about the district’s finances and ongoing projects, stakeholders can visit the district’s official website at www.lhusd.org.