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November 14, 2019
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
Voters reject PUSD override BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Associate Editor
It was a rollercoaster week, with stomachs flipping nervously at Peoria Unified School District’s Glendale office. For the likes of Danielle Airey, PUSD chief communications officer, Monday through Friday of last week were filled with tension, hopes — and, ultimately, disappointment. It will be back to the chalkboard for PUSD after voters rejected a bond override request by 133 votes. The difference is .29%. Is that close enough for PUSD to ask for a recount? “We will reconnect with our team next
week to determine next steps,” Airey said Saturday. The district, which has 42 schools in Peoria and Glendale, asked voters for a $33.7 million budget override. The loss does not mean immediate budget cuts. “We are in year four of our 2015 approval,” said Airey. “If not renewed in year five — November 2020— mandatory budget reductions start in year six. “The way override is put in place, you can go out to community to secure your override. We technically have one more year to go out to the community.” The failure to secure financing of $33 million means “potential for a lot of dif-
The Best of the West award winners are ...
ferent things,” Airey said. “We’d have to look long and hard at a number of other things about how we do business. Safety will always be a priority for us, we don’t want to cut too deeply.” According to the district’s website, the failure of the override could mean classsize increases, an end to free kindergarten, fee increases, staffing cuts and salary reductions: “Without an override in place, the district would lose more than $26 million a year in funds that supports people and programs. “All staff would see a compensation decrease, the district could no longer SEE PUSD PAGE 2
Living Room • Bedroom Children’s Furniture • Dining Room • Electronics Outdoor Furniture • Office/Entertainment
BY TOM SCANLON
Peoria Times Associate Editor
SPORTS ....... 15 Peoria swimmer trains at Olympic Center
OPINION......................... 10 BUSINESS ....................... 12 SPORTS ........................... 14 CALENDAR ..................... 16 FEATURES ....................... 18 RELIGION........................ 22 YOUTH ............................ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ................... 28
While business leaders were socializing before WESTMARC’s Best of the West awards show and dinner Thursday, Nov. 7, the Lee Perreira Trio played a version of Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up.” Fitting, as WESTMARC —the Western Maricopa Coalition— has stirred up the West Valley business and leadership scene for 27 years. Equal parts cheerleader, coach and matchmaker, WESTMARC is “a public-private partnership of the 15 communities, the business community and the educational sector in the West Valley.” The organization, according to its mission statement, “is committed to our members’ success and to our mission of enhancing economic development SEE AWARDS PAGE 4
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