During the January Board Meeting, the Governing Board heard updates on campus rebuilds, playground renovations, the Maxine O. Bush Future Ready Academy and the enrollment marketing campaign.
Bond Projects
Campus Rebuilds
Sunland School
The Sunland Phase II multipurpose facility, which may include a gym, cafeteria, and performing arts spaces, was approved by the board in December with Grace Design leading the design. The design kickoff was held on Dec. 17, and the project is planned to run through December 2026 while the scope continues to be developed.
Cesar Chavez Community School
The Cesar Chavez school rebuild project with DLR Architecture was approved. A CMAR will be chosen later in January. This project is expected to run through August 2028, with a strategic option to shift its kick-off date to ensure the project and bond sale schedule remain aligned.
Irene Lopez School
At this meeting, Grace Design was awarded the contract for the Irene Lopez School rebuild. A CMAR will also be selected later this month, and the project is scheduled to run through August 2028.
Playgrounds
Active Projects
At Julian, safe demolition and site preparation have already begun, with work concluding on Dec. 24. Kennedy began its safe demolition and preparation phase on Dec. 29. Greenfield started its demolition and site preparation on Jan. 5. Both the Kennedy and Greenfield projects are scheduled to run through early February.
Future projects
Southwest and Pastor schools have completed their internal facilities and construction assessments. They have also started the bidding process with scheduled vendor walks.
Maxine O. Bush Future Ready Academy
The school is currently in a formal planning and design phase, with a proposed launch beginning in grades PreK through 2. The purpose of this work is to strengthen early literacy and student engagement while developing future-ready skills through a district-led innovative model.
The instructional design intentionally balances innovation with rigor, including a strong Science of Reading–aligned literacy foundation, interdisciplinary project-based learning, and daily structures that support belonging and collaboration.
We are also developing a team-based staffing and leadership model to support instructional quality and adult collaboration, while engaging families and community partners through a Community Advisory Council.
All planning is aligned to district policies and state requirements.
Enrollment Marketing Campaign
During November and December, we launched campaigns promoting sports and after-school programs, as well as STEM and STEAM. These campaigns included outreach across various paid platforms, radio ads in both Spanish and English, social media, and targeted video ads on streaming services like Hulu.
For the January and February campaigns, our focus will shift to Academics, Teachers, and Safe & Caring Schools. We will continue using a mix of paid platforms, including radio (Spanish and English), "The Arizona Informant" newspaper, social media, targeted video ads, and billboards.
We are also introducing a second campaign dedicated exclusively to the opening of Bush Future Ready Academy. This campaign will include paid social media and video ads on additional platforms, and printed materials such as door hangers and postcards targeted to specific ZIP codes.