TUSD hosting public meetings to gather feedback on school closures

A roundup of upcoming Tucson-area political events: TUSD hosting public meetings on school closure plan; Arizona attorney general and treasurer candidates to debate; Early voting in Nov. 3 election starts in October & more:

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Faced with declining enrollment, Tucson Unified School District officials are hosting three public meetings this week to discuss school closures:

6–8:30 p.m. Monday at Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco.

4–6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Cholla High School, 2001 W. Starr Pass Blvd.

9 –11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Catalina High School, 3645 E. Pima St.

TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said the number of K-12 students attending TUSD schools has declined from more than 60,000 a decade ago to roughly 53,000 this year.

“There are some inescapable realities,” Trujillo said during an August appearance on the Buckmaster Show.

Trujillo blamed a number of demographic factors, including a drop in the number of K-12-aged students, especially in neighborhoods east of Swan Road. Parents are putting students in charter and private schools. Birth rates are also in decline.

Trujillo said he knows school closures are sure to upset people.

“We know this is going to be an emotional process because when you close a school, you’re not just closing a building,” he said. “You’re closing the most important chapter in people’s lives. As a parent, you’re closing the memory. If it’s a student, you’re closing that chapter that has been probably the most impactful in their lives. If you’re the former employee, you’re closing a chapter of years that they broke bread with cherished colleagues. If you’re the neighborhood resident, you’re closing a chapter of watching your grandkids and your neighbors go to that school, and then you’re also worried about your property value.”

Trujillo said he would be working with a community advisory committee and hoped to take recommendations to the TUSD Governing Board by January of next year, with closures going into effect in fall 2027.

Wednesday, Sept. 23:Arizona Media Assocation/Clean Elections host a debate for the office of state treasurer. Democrat Nick Mansour and Republican Elijah Norton have confirmed plans to attend. 4 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including TucsonSentinel.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 23: AMA/Clean Elections host a debate for candidates running for attorney general. Both Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes and Republican challenger Warren Petersen have said they will attend. 6 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including the Sentinel.

Thursday, Sept. 24: AMA/Clean Elections host a debate discussing the pros and cons of Prop 320, which asks voters to approve a law requiring at least 60 percent of a school district’s funding be spent on direct classroom spending. Proponents say too much school funding is being spent outside the classroom, while opponents say school districts have rising expenses for utilities, food, transportation and similar vital functions. Chris Thomas of the Goldwater Institute will argue in favor of the proposition, while Arizona School Boards Association Director of Government Relations Jimmy Arwood will argue against it. 6 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including TucsonSentinel.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: AMA/Clean Elections host a debate for candidates running for Arizona secretary of state. Both Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes and Republican challenger Alexander Kolodin plan to attend. 6 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including TucsonSentinel.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Clean Elections/Arizona Agenda team up to host a Legislative District 23 debate. Both Democratic House candidates, Rep. Mariana Sandoval and Emilia Cortez, have said that they will attend, while neither Republican House candidate, Rep. Michele Pena and Gary Garcia Snyder, has accepted invitations. Incumbent Sen. Brian Fernandez has not accepted his invitation, although his GOP challenger, Michelle Altherr, said she plans to attend. 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Thursday, Oct: 1 AMA/Clean Elections host a debate discussing the pros and cons of Prop 144, which asks voters to approve a law changing Arizona’s election law, including requiring picture ID to cast a ballot by mail. The proposed law does not detail how those voting by mail would provide such identification, which voters who cast ballots at polling places are already required to do. Greg Blackie of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club will argue in favor of the proposition, while Tempe City Councilmember Randy Keating will argue against it. 6 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including TucsonSentinel.com.

Thursday, Oct. 1: Tucson Sentinel reporter Jim Nintzel joins the Frank Show. 9 a.m. on KLPX, 96.1 FM.

Monday, Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote in Nov. 3 general election

Tuesday, Oct. 6: AMA/Clean Elections host a debate for candidates running for governor. Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs announced she would not debate her Republican challenger, Andy Biggs, a congressman who instead will share the stage with Green Party nominee Risa Lombardo and No Labels Party nominee Teri Hourihan. 6 p.m. via various TV and radio stations as well as streaming platforms, including the Sentinel.

Wednesday, Oct. 7: Early voting starts in the Nov. 3 general election and early ballots are mailed to voters on the Active Early Voting List and others who request one. Early polling sites will open. for those who wish to cast a ballot in person or drop off a completed ballot at from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Completed early ballots can be dropped off at those locations and at the recorder’s East Side office, 6920 E. Broadway.

Additional early voting sites will open ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Thursday, Oct. 8: Clean Elections/Arizona Agenda team up to host a Legislative District 17 debate. LD17 leans toward the GOP, but Democrat Kevin Volk was able to win a House seat in the 2024 election, knocking out MAGA conservative Cory McGarr. Volk is back for another run and joined this year by a second Democrat, Hollace Lyon. The Democrats are up against Rachel Keshel and John Winchester. In the Senate race, Republican Christopher King faces Democrat Edgar Soto for an open seat. All candidates except for King and Keshel have confirmed plans to attend. 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Friday, Oct. 23: Last day to request an early ballot from the Pima County Recorder’s Office. Visit the voter dashboard to request a ballot.

Tuesday, Oct. 27: Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly recommends voters send back their early ballots by this deadline. Ballots that are not in the possession of the Pima County Recorder’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day will be discarded. After Oct. 27, voters are urged to drop off ballots at early voting locations, ballot drop boxes or at a voting center on Election Day.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: General Election Day