Phoenix Elementary leaders outline November ballot measure to allow long-term leases; community speakers urge transparency

The Phoenix Elementary District on Tuesday detailed a proposed ballot proposition that would give voters permission for the district to enter into long-term leases, sell, or exchange district real property.

District Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Sarah Sims told the governing board the measure would allow long-term leases of 21 to 99 years, sales with proceeds restricted to bond debt repayment and reinvestment in buildings, and, rarely, property exchanges. "Lease funding allows for flexible spending. It's much more flexible than sale," Sims said, explaining examples of permitted uses including constructing or improving buildings, purchasing buses, upgrading safety infrastructure, and supporting programming such as preschool supplementation, after-school activities and teacher mentoring.

Sims presented a slide listing current lessees, square footage and approximate price per square foot. She said Monterey Park’s figure — $15.54 per square foot — is an in‑kind valuation for services such as discounted childcare and half‑day preschool access; she characterized long‑term leases as a tool that can help potential developers or tenants secure financing.

Members of the public used the board’s public-comment period to press for greater transparency and to link property decisions to wider enrollment and equity concerns. Allison Gulick, who identified herself as a parent in the district, told the board enrollment has fallen steeply since recent school closures and said district decisions are eroding trust. "At the last 40 day count, we lost over 10% of our enrollment from last year," Gulick said. "This loss is not just numbers on a page. It's families leaving, walking away, and children leaving our classrooms and community losing trust in this district." She said preschool access has become nearly unattainable outside a few sites and urged the board to stop what she called cycles of divestment.

Paul Booth, another commenter, asked for clearer terms in lease agreements and stronger public oversight: "What is the actual rent being paid? Are utilities included? Who's responsible for maintenance or security?" Booth said the district's past handling of closed campuses left properties underused and urged competitive bids, explicit maintenance terms, and community involvement in negotiations.

Sims responded to board questions about whether voter approval of long‑term leases would permit immediate school closures. She said it would not: "To close a school would be a completely different legal process" requiring public meetings, notification and community comment, and that the ballot item concerns access to land or buildings for sale, lease or exchange, not the closure process.

Board members pressed staff for additional details during a lengthy Q&A: which properties already have voter authorization for long‑term leases (Booker T. Washington, Fillmore and Monterey Park were noted as already allowed), how utilities and custodial obligations are allocated in individual leases (Sims said these are specified per lease and reviewed by legal counsel), and whether lease revenue projections are demonstrably sufficient to underwrite proposed district programs.

Sims said current real‑estate lease revenue totals about $1,100,000 a year across long‑ and short‑term leases and identified intended uses currently under consideration, including supplementing preschool costs, expanding sports and after‑school programming, funding contracted transportation for field experiences, supporting family‑engagement staff, and seeding new programs (she cited a $250,000 allocation for new programming while acknowledging the listed uses do not yet match the full revenue total).

The board did not take a formal vote on the ballot language at Tuesday’s meeting; the presentation was informational and included discussion and clarifications in response to board and public questions.

Looking ahead, Sims said the district will use a review committee — including community members, procurement staff and plant services — to vet lessee inquiries and to evaluate proposed lessees on criteria such as community benefit, student access and history serving the neighborhood. She said some proposals have requested free or donated use of property, which the district cannot accept because of public‑fund gift rules.

With enrollment and community confidence recurring themes in public comments, several board members and staff said they would seek additional transparency and details for voters before finalizing any ballot language or lease proposals.