The Goodyear City Council unanimously approved the annexation of approximately 16.25 acres of land to allow Liberty Elementary School District to proceed with plans to build its eighth school on the site.
Annexation is the process of Goodyear City Council officially incorporating a specific area of land into the city’s jurisdiction. This action allows the land to be subject to the city’s zoning regulations and planning processes, enabling the Liberty Elementary School District to proceed with its development plans for the new school on that property.
The new school, named Loretta Zumbro Elementary, will break ground 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13. It is named in honor of Loretta Zumbro, a LESD staff member who has had a lasting impact over her 38-year career. LESD Superintendent Dr. Cort Monroe said Zumbro’s contributions as a teacher, coach and athletic director have greatly influenced the district.
The land is located at the northwest corner of S. 183rd Avenue and W. Lower Buckeye Road near existing residential areas and vacant land.
The growth of the Liberty Elementary school district comes after overcrowding of its existing schools and new residential development in the areas it serves.
“The growth between Estrella and west Goodyear is just amazing,” Council member Sheri Lauritano said. “That school is definitely needed.”
The 73,512-square-foot Loretta Zumbro Elementary will serve grades PreK-8 and is planned to open in phases. Located at Lower Buckeye Road between Perryville and Citrus roads, the school will accommodate up to 900 students and will support various district programs, including agriculture, performing arts, dual language, career preparation, leadership, International Baccalaureate and a STEAM program that integrates science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
“Our plan is to open the school to students in August 2025. As you can see, the timeline is very tight,” Monroe said. Monroe added to achieve this goal, the school will have to start construction in September.
After approving the annexation Sept. 9, Council member Bill Stipp expressed concern about water providers and other permitting processes that will affect the City of Goodyear and the construction timeline of the new school, which will be addressed in future public meetings about the school’s development.
With the council’s approval, the city will now proceed with the necessary administrative steps, including filing required documents and organizing a public hearing for community feedback.
“I appreciate the partnership with the city of Goodyear as we grow together,” Monroe said.
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