Parents press Queen Creek Unified over Dec. start for $2.7M turf project, cite displacement and procurement concerns

Queen Creek Unified School District officials told the governing board the district accepted a $2,700,000 water-conservation grant to replace the turf at Queen Creek High School and that a December construction start was selected in part to meet a grant 5% expenditure requirement in 2024. At the board meeting, parents and booster leaders said the December start would displace track and multiple soccer programs, disrupt major fundraising meets and impose significant transportation and financial burdens on families.

The district presented the turf work during a construction-update segment. District staff said the project team chose a Dec. 9 start date to ensure compliance with the grant’s early-expenditure requirement and to allow completion well before the next school year. “This improvement will not only save taxpayer dollars because of the grant, but it will provide improved opportunities and access to Queen Creek High programs, such as marching band, soccer, football, flag football, etcetera,” district staff said during the presentation.