Arizona’s aging school buildings push districts to the brink

By Stacy Mantle
Mail

Across Arizona, students are still in classrooms plagued by deteriorating infrastructure — crumbling roofs, failing HVAC systems, outdated plumbing and fire protection systems — that pose growing risks to their students health and learning.

That issue is hitting various school districts across the Valley, many who have struggled to get funding approved by voters or through the state.

"Several critical repairs and upgrades have been deferred due to lack of funding," said Jen Snyder, director of communications and engagement for Mesa Public Schools. "Notable examples include cooling towers and chillers, roof replacements, AC package units, fire protection systems."

The problem is no secret, but solutions have been slow, tied up in funding formulas, voter fatigue and policy gaps.

Legal and political setbacks

The roots of the current crisis can be traced to the Great Recession when Arizona lawmakers swept approximately $200 million annually from the School Facilities Board, leaving many districts without funding for repairs. 

Funds meant for critical repairs like HVAC systems, roofing and plumbing were no longer available and schools deferred maintenance for years, creating a backlog of infrastructure problems. In Arizona's extreme climate, this can lead to many issues.

"Many of the older HVAC systems were not designed for modern efficiency standards or consistent performance in fluctuating temperatures," Snyder said. "During colder mornings, heating systems in aging buildings may take longer to warm up classrooms, resulting in discomfort for students and staff and affecting concentration and learning. Teachers may be forced to move classes to cooler areas, or administrators may shorten the school day entirely."

In 2017, the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest and several school districts sued the state, arguing the Legislature's move to sweep the funds violated a 1994 Arizona Supreme Court ruling in Roosevelt v. Bishop that requires the state to fund safe, adequate facilities.

That lawsuit, which cited nearly, “$6 billion in unmet needs, finally went to trial in May 2024” according to Axios.

Voter rejection adds to strain

Public resistance to school bonds has been another challenge. Dysart Unified School District, which encompasses El Mirage, Surprise and a portion of Glendale, had its last successful bond election in 2006. Since then, voters have rejected bond requests in 2013, 2019 and again in 2024.

“As a superintendent, I often hear complaints about how schools are always begging for money,” said Dr. John Croteau, Dysart’s superintendent. “But the reality is this is the structure established by the state — unless that changes, we have no choice but to go to the voters.”

Without voter support, districts must cut budgets or delay repairs. The district has made multiple adjustments, including redrawing boundaries and reducing bus services for the 2025–26 school year due to fleet aging. Schools in growing areas like the Asante development in Surprise now require busing of entire grade levels to far-off campuses.

Fixing an ongoing problem

Experts and educators agree: fixing Arizona’s crumbling schools requires structural change, not band-aid repairs. Policy proposals include:

• State and federal infrastructure audits: Funds should be allocated based on health and safety risk, starting with basic needs like water quality and air circulation.
• Green building retrofits: Sustainable systems can reduce long-term operating costs and improve indoor air quality and focus.
• Updated SFD funding metrics: Current formulas don’t consider factors like geographic spread, population density or housing booms that cause some schools to exceed capacity while others go unused.

Schools continue to adapt

Despite challenges, districts are stretching what funds they have. The 2006 bond for Dysart — capped at $190 million — was only partially used, with $122 million ultimately issued. Refinancing efforts saved taxpayers more than $20 million in interest.

Still, without structural reform or renewed public investment, those kinds of savings won’t keep classrooms safe or cool.

“In ‘A’ Rated Dysart, we will continue to share information regarding bonds and override elections so that voters can make informed decisions,” Croteau said. “And we will ensure that we are living within our means as we educate our students. I welcome anyone that would like to visit our schools and see the needs firsthand to contact us.”

Other districts are also forced to find innovative ways to cope — some even forced to use tools like holding classes outdoors or canceling the school day altogether.

"While all systems remain functional and compliant, deferred replacements have added to long-term maintenance costs and risk of system failure," Snyder said. "These projects remain on our capital priority list and will be addressed as resources allow."

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.