Higley USD forms citizens committee to study financing

 In an effort to engage community members in the process of funding local schools, the Higley Unified School District has selected members for a citizens committee to assist the district and governing board in understanding funding needs regarding a continuation of the maintenance and operations override and potential bond election. 

The citizens committee is made up of 15 community members — with each governing board member nominating one member and 10 members being selected by the district administration through an application process.

Members reflect a broad representation of the community including business leaders, parents, teachers, community leaders, and education experts.  
 
The following individuals will make up the HUSD’s Citizen’s Committee: 

• Marty Bender, financial planner;

• Eric Braun, town of Gilbert assistant public works director and HUSD parent;

• Michelle Bugg, medical device sales and HUSD parent;

• Taylor Francis, air traffic controller and HUSD parent;

• Robert Furneaux, cold case detective and HUSD parent;

• Scott Hamilton, Arizona State University assistant director of school partnerships;

• Melissa Johnson, HUSD teacher and parent;

• Ozzie Lewis, Arizona State Hospital performance improvement administrator and HUSD parent;

• Jennifer Nunez, Oasis Behavioral Health Hospital CEO and HUSD parent;

• Victoria J Payne, HUSD teacher;

• Kathleen Richards, substitute teacher and HUSD parent;

• Domingos Santos, lawyer and HUSD parent;

• Christopher Sexton, manager at Intel Corp and HUSD parent; 

• Melanie Shaha, retiree; 

• Vanessa Shepherd, HUSD property control specialist .

HUSD’s Citizens Committee will meet monthly starting in January, and discuss issues related to school finance and critical funding needs.

The goal of the citizens committee is to have thoughtful, public dialogue and provide the HUSD Governing Board with a recommendation that helps the members make an educated decision on critical needs that should be addressed.

Meetings will be open to the public and the community is encouraged to follow along and submit questions and comments at citizens.committee@husd.org .

More information, including meeting schedules and full bios for all committee members, is available by clicking here.