Voters across Tucson signaled a strong commitment to public education in November, approving millions in school bond funding that will soon translate into modernized classrooms, safer campuses and long-overdue repairs for two of the city’s districts.

With aging buildings and growing student needs at the forefront, leaders from the Flowing Wells and Sunnyside school districts say the newly passed bonds mark a pivotal step toward reshaping learning environments for decades to come.

Voters approved a $30 million bond under Prop. 415 for the Flowing Wells district and a $120 million bond under Prop. 416 for the Sunnyside district. Both measures fund capital improvements, including facility upgrades, equipment and major repairs.

Tucson Spotlight spoke with Sunnyside Superintendent Jose Gastelum and Flowing Wells Superintendent Dr. Kevin Stoltzfus to discuss spending plans, timelines and next steps.

Both superintendents said rigorous evaluations of school facility needs were conducted by district facilities teams in Flowing Wells and by a third-party vendor, H2, in Sunnyside to determine appropriate bond amounts for renovations and essential repairs, as well as to identify campuses requiring immediate attention due to age or damage.

“Our need was we have aging buildings. Sunnyside District, we have … 21 schools, and we have, I believe, 23 buildings,” Gastelum said. “The average age of our schools is about 40 years old. And Sunnyside High School … turns 70 this year.”

Because the process of receiving funds from bond sales takes time, both districts structured their plans in phases based on when proceeds become available. Gastelum said a significant portion of the Sunnyside bond will be directed toward a major renovation of the district’s oldest campus, Sunnyside High School.

“The reason for the $120 million is … we want to do a major renovation at Sunnyside High School. (It) needs to be modernized. (It) doesn't have modern classrooms. It was built in the 1950s,” Gastelum said.

He also stressed the importance of student transportation and service vehicles, highlighting the ongoing maintenance required to keep Sunnyside’s fleet of about 90 buses operational and equipped with safety features such as cameras, Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Stoltzfus said Flowing Wells faces similar transportation needs, noting that new buses and vans will be purchased during each phase of the plan.

Stoltzfus also said Flowing Wells will begin several major renovation projects this spring, including the addition of a new preschool option for families and the demolition and rebuilding of select district facilities.

“Richardson Elementary School, which is our northernmost elementary, is where the new preschool will go. I've got a meeting coming up in … a few weeks to walk that site and identify,” he said. “We think we've got a good location for it. There are some existing portable buildings in that spot that we'll probably need to demolish and rebuild. That was also part of the bond. All of that work … will be starting possibly in the spring, at the latest in the summer of 2026.”

Safety and security were also key priorities in the bond plans, with Flowing Wells proposing new fencing and digital marquee installations and Sunnyside planning upgrades to security equipment across the district.

“Although we have a … very solid safety infrastructure around our district, it allows us to make it even better in terms of getting the most updated equipment, whether those are cameras, radios, gates for security, doors for security, that type of thing,” Gastelum said. “All these impact the student experience.”

Stoltzfus described similar priorities in Flowing Wells, with a focus on campus safety and traffic flow.

“We know we've got some security challenges at Flowing Wells High School in terms of … fencing and foot traffic, and vehicle traffic flow. We've got a plan for how we want to install some new fencing to help improve safety, and also just improve the flow,” Stoltzfus said. “That work will take place starting in the summer. So there'll be several projects that … are hitting the ground.”

Sunnyside also has plans to enhance fine arts and athletic facilities and modernize aging campuses to serve students better.

“We'll be able to upgrade some of the facilities…. Whether they're fine arts or athletic facilities. Classroom technology, furniture, and equipment,” Gastelum said. “When they come into their classrooms, we want them to come into classrooms that have modern layouts. Classroom layouts in terms of modern furniture, modern technology. That helps teachers and that helps students.”

Both superintendents expressed gratitude to the families whose support turned long-held hopes into tangible improvements for students, helping ensure they can thrive.

“We're so grateful for our community. It sends a strong message and it speaks volumes of our community that they have backed us once again in terms of supporting this bond effort,” Gastelum said.

Stoltzfus shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the trust the community placed in the district.

“It's a big ask, and like I said before … our community, they're resourceful. It's … not a wealthy community, so … every dollar counts, and just to have that faith and confidence with the community in our school system to invest in us and ultimately invest in our kids,” Stoltzfus said. “It's just really a beautiful thing, and we're grateful for that.”

The bonds’ impact on students, staff and families will extend far into the future, underscoring the importance of continued investment in public education.

“It sounds simple, but you know when the air conditioning is working, and the building is well maintained, and the campus is secure and safe, all of that contributes to an environment where kids' physical needs are being met, their social and emotional needs are being met, and it creates conditions to allow them to learn and grow and thrive,” Gastelum said.'

Nya Belcastro is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at nya2005@arizona.edu.

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