The growth of the Laveen area of Phoenix is not limited to housing and commercial developments but the school district as well.

With a budget of up to $110 million, the Laveen Elementary School District is distributing the funds to better the quality of Laveen education by opening two new schools and expanding existing facilities.

The Laveen district is seeking to grow by compensating teachers through new upgrades in performance pay, creating two new schools, and expanding current school facilities. An estimated population of 2,300 students is set to grow over the next 10 years, which calls for the district to develop as current schools can occupy 1,000 students at most.

This growth is being adjusted as Charlie Martin, chief financial officer of the Laveen district, presents the 10-year infrastructure plan which will disburse roughly $80 million on two new schools which will be able to host the anticipated students. The new schools are estimated to open in August 2025 and in August 2028.

Current schools in the district will continue to expand as the district aims to renovate and develop campuses to improve the quality for staff and students. A plan for current facilities is in action as each year there are renovations and developments scheduled throughout the district. An estimated amount of $15 million to $30 million will be distributed to current elementary schools to fulfill the need for any upgrades that may be needed such as technology, transportation, furniture, and equipment.

“We believe that a lot of this funding will come from the state in the form of new school construction funding from the School Facilities Oversight Board,” Martin said. “The district’s also been diligent about accumulating some capital reserves that can go to our needs over the next 10 years.”

The district’s goal goes deeper than future students. They also aim to cater to the needs of current staff and the quality of education for students. Continuously, in the previous years, the district focused on major improvements throughout their schools.

This includes the newest Paseo Pointe Elementary School construction (2016), classroom additions in Cheatham Elementary (2020), construction of the new Estrella Foothills Global Academy (2021), and the construction of the Desert Meadows preschool (2022).

“Our community over recent history has understood the importance of bonds and overrides and what that means to the school district but also to our community for increased property values and making sure that our students have excellent facilities to attend,” said Jill Barragan, president of the Laveen Elementary School District Governing Board.

The district is also looking to recognize teachers by developing a new performance pay system, granting them a bonus determined by student’s test scores. The 2023-24 performance plan will include an annual evaluation pay and an educator goal plan performance pay which will be based on test scores in ELA and math.

“We want to be reflective and make sure that our plan recognizes teachers’ performance,” said Tim

Thomas, assistant superintendent of human resources. “And (develops a plan that) distributes funds in a balanced manner, boosts morale, and that’s clear and easy to understand.”
The consideration of students and staff as a whole is the fundamental guide which the Laveen district wants to expand on in order to create a thriving district.