Amphi to seek voter OK for sale of some properties | News

On the Nov. 3 ballot, Amphitheater Public Schools is seeking permission from voters to sell, lease or exchange land and buildings it no longer needs.

Amphi, which closed four elementary schools at the end of the 2025-26 school year due to declining enrollment, would use any proceeds from property disposition “to purchase school sites and/or to construct, improve, equip and furnish school buildings, including technology, to purchase student transportation vehicles, and/or any other permitted capital expenditure,” according to a notice on the Amphi website.

“By state law, we cannot sell properties without voter approval,” explained Scott Little, chief financial officer for the school district. “This is about having the options to be able to make decisions in the future. We can’t do anything without voter approval, so we have to have voter approval before we actively go out to solicit buyers or enter long-term lease agreements.”

Among five specific properties listed in the ballot question is the 14.53-acre, former Copper Creek Elementary School campus and grounds, located at 11620 N. Copper Spring Trail in Oro Valley.

Effective July 1, Amphi and the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind entered a five-year, $1.3 million annual lease for that campus. That duration is considered “short term;” Little said Amphi is “limited by law” from entering longer-term leases.

“My hope is that in the long term, we could negotiate a sale directly with ASDB on that property,” Little said. “For them to be able to do that, they would have to sell their own property.”

Other properties listed by Amphi are:

• The former Donaldson Elementary School campus and grounds, at 2040 W. Omar Dr. It is 9.95 acres. Part of that campus is now leased to a tenant;

• The Amphitheater Land Lab, 6.64 acres at 450 E. Wetmore Rd.;

• The former Holaway Elementary School campus and grounds, located at 3500-3501 N. Cherry Ave. It is 9.67 acres. A church is renting part of that campus;

• 13.77 acres of vacant land at 5940 N San Joaquin Ave., land located west of La Cholla and north of Oracle Jaynes Station Road. It is near the Northwest Medical Center campus;

• And the former Nash Elementary School campus and grounds, located at 515 W. Kelso St. It is 4.81 acres.

The office of Pima County School Superintendent Dustin Williams is going to prepare an informational pamphlet to be mailed to voters’ households within the district. Any persons wishing to submit an argument “for” or “against” the proposed sale, lease or exchange of real property (not to exceed 200 words) has until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to submit their statements.

They may do so by mail or hand delivery of the argument to the Pima County School Superintendent, 200 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, AZ, 85701. You can also call by telephone at 520-724-8451. A fillable form is being posted on its website at schools.pima.gov/elections/bond-and-override-election-information

To learn more about the election, people may contact the Amphitheater Unified School District at 520-696-5000.