Dysart schools need reality check on priorities

Lisa Everett

Submitted photo/Lisa Everett

Opinion

Questions surround Skvara’s Dysart bond push

OPINION —  Dysart Unified School District may once again ask voters to approve a bond. But if this proposal, led by board President Steve Skvara, is going to succeed, it must reflect reality — which it does not.

Dysart has a long history of failed bond measures. Many residents don’t realize that the bonds they remember seeing on past ballots never actually passed.

The result? A false sense that the district is already well-funded.

That misunderstanding makes it even more critical that any new proposal be focused, necessary and clearly justified. If this bond were to pass, voters probably would reject future bond proposals to make up the difference when this proposal fails.  This will leave students without transportation and other necessities.

Skvara’s current $71 million proposal started with what appeared to be reasonable priorities: new schools in the fast-growing northern part of Surprise, replacing fire panels and upgrading HVAC systems in several schools. Growth demands new campuses, and maintaining safe, functional facilities matters.

But somewhere along the way, the focus shifted.

Now, the proposal includes upgrades to concession stands and bathrooms at all four high schools. While improvements are always welcome, they raise a fundamental question: Are these wants, or are they needs?

At the same time, one of the district’s most urgent issues is being overlooked: Transportation. More than 70% of Dysart’s buses are over 15 years old. Routes have already been reduced, and there has even been an injury tied to transportation challenges. That should set off alarm bells.

In Skvara’s March presentation — no mention of buses. In his April presentation buses were an afterthought with no dollar amount attached. Funny math at best.

If students can’t reliably and safely get to school, what is the point of building new ones or upgrading facilities?

A successful bond requires trust. It requires voters to believe their tax dollars are being spent wisely and on true priorities. Right now, that trust is at risk.

Dysart doesn’t need a bigger proposal — it needs a smarter one. Start with buses. Start with safety. Then, and only then, talk about everything else.

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