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Florence Unified board members urge voters to approve Propositions 401 and 402 for facilities and land-sale funding
Summary
At the Sept. 9 Florence Unified School District governing board meeting, multiple board members described how two November ballot measures — Proposition 401 (land sale) and Proposition 402 (bond) — would fund safety, HVAC, roofing and transportation improvements and asked the community to register and vote.
Multiple members of the Florence Unified School District Governing Board used their Sept. 9 board reports to urge community support for two ballot measures that will appear on the Nov. 4 general-election ballot: Proposition 401, a proposed sale of district-owned land, and Proposition 402, a proposed school bond.
Board member Megan Wiegand said the board unanimously approved placing the measures on the ballot in May and described the types of projects the measures would fund if approved. "The funds that would be available to the district if those measures are passed, would allow us to provide for improvements that really are imperative for our school district," she said, naming safety and security upgrades, replacement or repair of fire alarms, cameras and PA systems, upgraded HVAC systems, roof repairs and replacements, bus-loop and parking-lot improvements, and replacement and repair of student-transportation vehicles.
The board framed the measures as a way to address aging buildings and comfort and safety concerns for students. "We as a district and as a board take very seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of the budget that we oversee," Wiegand said. She encouraged residents to check voter registration, "mail in your ballot or bring it to the office or show up on November 4, and cast your vote."
Board member [Ms.] Jones, also reporting from a recent Arizona School Boards Association law conference, similarly urged civic engagement and a "yes" vote, saying the bond is "imperative to keep FUSD from going down this slippery slope" other districts have faced. Jones said the district's leadership is working to protect students and staff and called for community participation in the election.
Board members and staff discussed outreach and messaging before the election in later agenda conversation, emphasizing clear communication around tax impacts and oversight. A staff briefing and future presentations were proposed so the district can explain what passage would mean for specific schools, timelines for projects, and how a citizen oversight committee would monitor bond spending.
The board did not take a formal vote on the propositions at the Sept. 9 meeting; board members publicized the ballot measures and requested voter participation. Information about the measures and district-provided materials were made available at the meeting and on the district website (fusdac.org), according to the board's remarks.
