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For the first time in three decades, Tucson Unified School District is asking voters to approve a multimillion-dollar budget override that leaders say is essential to raising teacher pay, expanding student support and transforming classrooms from preschool through high school.

In total, the proposed override would include nearly $45 million in investments. To fund it, the district would levy a secondary property tax at an estimated rate of $1.02 per $100 of net assessed valuation.

Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo presented the package to the board during its April 27 meeting. He said TUSD is falling behind peer districts when it comes to teacher pay and staff support, and that the average district salary is $56,000.

“They have overrides that are investing in that ecosystem to make sure that they have an entire infrastructure in regard to compensation to attract and retain the very best in teachers and counselors and social workers,” Trujillo told the board. “We need to be able to do the same in addressing the challenges we know that we face.”

The override would dedicate $16.8 million to staff compensation, including $7.3 million to raise teacher pay and $8.7 million for a 4% raise for all other employee groups.

If the override passes, the district would invest $11.2 million in academic support, including $6.6 million to hire reading and math interventionists for schools that currently lack them and $4.6 million to expand fine arts programs to 14 more campuses, which Trujillo said bring parents to schools.

“What it means to our campus, what it means to this district would be just monumental. And that transformational piece that is going to keep the best quality educators here and attract more, perhaps, from those competing districts,” said Jim Byrne, president of Tucson Education Association. “It would make TUSD the place for highly qualified educators to come and build the foundation for a successful future for TUSD.”

The override plan also addresses students' physical, emotional and social well-being, with $12.9 million allocated to hiring more counselors, placing social workers in every high school and adding physical education teachers to every elementary and K-8 school.

“For a long time our parents have asked for PE,” Trujillo said. “This package would invest $3 million in making sure there are PE teachers available at all of our schools according to enrollment.”

High school credit recovery programs would get $900,000, with an additional $197,000 to incentivize attendance liaisons in every school. Career and technical education programs would get a $1.1 million boost to hire instructional specialists in high-demand trades like automotive and welding.

“Those instructional aids are critical at this point,” said Chuck McCollum, TUSD CTE coordinator. “We just can’t afford to do that right now. We are turning away kids in our instructional program because we just cannot service them.”

Early education is also a priority in the package. The override would fund five new full-day preschool classrooms and provide supply budgets for all pre-K teachers — an $800,000 investment that would provide additional hours for working families and more hands-on learning for young children.

“This really provides access for a longer day that a lot of our families need and want,” said TUSD Community Schools and Preschool Programs Director Reem Kievit. “This will also really help support purchase of very critical and important instructional materials and supplies that support hands-on learning and materials that are engaging to students.”

Ballots will be mailed to district voters beginning Oct. 8, and Election Day is set for Nov. 4. The district estimates the cost to run the election — including mailing publicity pamphlets, paying election workers and tabulating ballots — at $1 million. Community members and organizations will have until Aug. 8 to submit statements in support of or opposition to the override for the voter information guide, which will include up to 10 arguments for each side.

“This is needed, and we need it now,” said Board President Natalie Luna Rose. “I am a veteran door-knocker and I am not afraid to tell people why this is needed.”

The motion passed 4-0, with one board member, Val Romero, abstaining from the vote.

“I am not against what we are looking to do,” he said. “I just know we still have to do the other work of fixing our budget so we can live within our means and not have to have the public bail us out again.”

For many who’ve watched the district struggle to meet the needs of students and educators, the override has the potential to reshape the future of TUSD.

“This is truly a transformational package that can change the face of our district as never before,” said Trujillo.

McKenna Manzo is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at mckennamanzo@arizona.edu.

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