Queen Creek Unified reports $73 million in construction awards, details new high school wings, elementary campus and bus yard

Amber Bridal, a district presenter, told the Queen Creek Unified School District Governing Board that the district received $73 million in awards to support several construction projects as it continues to grow. "All of the projects highlighted tonight, fall under the strategic plan under the area of effective operations and systems," Bridal said, summarizing the funding sources as growth-driven allocations and competitive grants.

The district is serving about 15,600 students now and Bridal said it is planned to reach about 20,000 students when built out. Bridal said the schools facilities division awarded secondary-space funding that enabled two major high-school additions: Eastmark High School and Chrisman High School. "At Eastmark High School, we were able to add 62,500 square feet that allowed us to build a gymnasium addition and PE classrooms, performing arts space, and a 23 classroom addition wing," Bridal said. She said the Eastmark addition completes much of that campus's master plan except for the performing arts center, which the schools facilities division does not fund.

Bob Lawson, who presented details of the projects, described the work completed at each campus. He said Mountain Trail Academy opened in July with about 90,000 square feet, serving preschool through sixth grade and offering 42 classrooms, a multipurpose/gym area and a technology-based media center. "This is currently and still is, the biggest elementary award that the schools facility division has awarded," Lawson said.

Lawson said Chrisman High School received roughly 37,000 square feet of classroom and lab space and a new concession and restroom building to support outdoor athletic events. He described Eastmark's additions as including dance studios, choir and band rooms, a large weight room, an additional gym area and a 23-classroom wing. Lawson also said the Eastmark campus dining area was expanded to reduce congestion during lunch.

The board heard that Queen Creek High received a water-conservation grant administered through WIFA to replace turf on its multipurpose field. "The business and operations team applied for a grant and we received about $2,700,000 to replace the grass ... with turf," Lawson said, adding the new surface uses an organic infill and a two-inch rubber pad to improve longevity and reduce water use.

Transportation and traffic improvements were also described. Lawson said the district built a satellite transportation yard adjacent to Queen Creek Middle School/Junior High to house part of the special-needs bus fleet and relieve overcrowding at the Old Ellsworth Road yard. He said road improvements included a new turning lane and traffic signal work at Ray Road and Copernicus near Eastmark; some project timelines were delayed by City of Mesa redesign requirements and by SRP's schedule for providing power to a new traffic signal transformer.

Board President Davis and others thanked staff and contractors for the work. The presentation closed with staff offering to answer questions and noting that some items (such as the traffic-signal energization) should finish within weeks.

Questions from board members clarified timeline and remaining punch-list items for the Copernicus intersection and SRP power installation.

The construction update was presented as information; no formal board vote was recorded on the projects during the presentation.