Tucson Unified School District officials say new technology and better air conditioning will be installed for the start of the new school year, thanks to a historic school bond approved by voters last year.
The $480 million bond is the district's first school bond approved in 20 years, according to Dr. Charlotte Carter, bond program manager for TUSD.
“I'm very happy that it's happening now,” she said. “We have an opportunity to be transparent and accountable and make sure the community knows we're doing these projects in good faith so we can continue to issue bonds.”
The district announced this week that work on the first round of bond-funded projects is currently underway.
This will include HVAC repairs, adding safety equipment, new signage and updating instructional technology, according to a district press release.
“Having this special bond will make a huge difference in the services provided to the community and students,” Carter said.
Carter said potential bond projects will be prioritized based on facility condition, cost and community input. The district said 14 schools will get air conditioning repairs and eight schools will get digital signage as part of the first round of projects.
School officials said the funding will also go toward modern technology for students, including Chromebooks and iPads.
Carter said this is part of the district's long-term one-to-one technology goal.
“It's a place where every single student can have a device,” she said.
Automated external defibrillators will also be added to 57 schools “to improve survival rates in the event of a cardiac emergency,” the district said in a press release.
The project is expected to be completed this year in the fall, and the bond will continue to fund additional projects in the district over the next 10 years.
