Yavapai County Supervisor Donna Michaels’ Big Park Community School Proposal Hits a Roadblock

The proposed lease-to-purchase agreement between departing Yavapai County Supervisor Donna Michaels (D-District 3) and the Sedona-Oak Creek School District regarding the former Big Park Community School appears to have collapsed. The plan, known as “Heart of the Village: Repurposing Big Park School,” aimed to enable the county to acquire the property located at 25 West Saddle Horn Road in the Village of Oak Creek.

Following her defeat in the July 30 Democratic primary election by Nikki Check, Michaels hasn’t publicly commented on the future of her proposal. Check, a former mayor of Jerome, won decisively with 71.4% of the vote. She will face Republican candidate Lori Drake in the upcoming November elections.

Michaels will depart from her role after the general election, leaving the future of the proposed deal uncertain. Neither Check nor Drake has expressed a desire to revive Michaels’ plan. Check indicated that discussions regarding the property might occur in the context of future planning for county law enforcement or library services.

Randy Hawley, President of the Sedona-Oak Creek School District (SOCSD) Governing Board, confirmed that the proposal is likely inactive. “At this point, yeah,” Hawley stated. “We have heard nothing from the county or from [Michaels] for months.” Consequently, the board has placed a measure on the November ballot seeking permission to sell the property, emphasizing its deteriorating condition. “It seems doubtful to me,” added SOCSD Superintendent Tom Swaninger, expressing skepticism regarding any continued interest from county officials.

In April, the SOCSD board voted to seek voter permission to sell the 20.8-acre Big Park property, citing a lack of action from the Board of Supervisors. Selling to a private entity requires voter approval, but the district can sell the property to another government agency without such consent. The need for repairs—a roof fix estimated at $146,000—compounds the urgency of the sale. The district’s annual management costs for the property stand at approximately $14,000.

Current tenants of the former school include the Sedona Public Library and a community church. The SOCSD has assured that existing leases will be honored during the transition period, keeping tenants secure for now.

Future discussions about the school’s role are planned. The SOCSD Governing Board will hold a special meeting on September 23 to address community questions and gauge interest in the proposed sale.

Interest from county officials regarding Michaels’ proposal appears minimal. A recent update from Yavapai County Public Information Officer David McAtee stated no intended pursuits of Michaels’ plan, as the county’s focus remains on concluding their broader space study. This study encompasses recommendations for optimal management of county facilities and suggests reallocating resources rather than acquiring new properties.

During her advocacy for the county’s purchase, Michaels proposed the school as a dual-use facility for Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office operations. However, plans for new substations in the region seem to ignore the Big Park site. Current staffing levels at the Sheriff’s Office indicate that they will remain at their existing facilities for the immediate future.

In conclusion, the path forward for the former Big Park Community School is uncertain, driven by political transitions and community needs. Further meetings will aim to clarify the best course of action for all stakeholders involved.