$33 million budgeted for next phase of high school

The budget for phase two of the Maricopa High School reconstruction was approved by the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board Oct. 24 (see related story). The total guaranteed maximum price for this phase of the project is just over $33 million.

Phase two includes 160,800 square feet of new construction. A two-story classroom building, administrative building, additional classroom wing and kitchen will be included. The construction of new baseball and softball fields, which were demolished in phase one, is also part of phase two.

Final phases of the project will include additional softball and baseball fields and a performing arts center.

Teacher Recruitment
To help fill the new classrooms at the high school, the board also approved a proposal for two teacher recruitment trips.

Designated representatives will travel to Illinois in November and February to participate in job fairs at universities throughout the state. Director of Human Resources Heidi Fawcett said she hopes the trips will prove successful in bringing teachers to Maricopa.

Fawcett said many teachers in Illinois have recently lost their jobs, and she looks to bring some of those teachers to Arizona.

Fawcett presented the district’s recruiting plan, which includes new ways to advertise Maricopa as a place teachers should start or continue their careers. The recruiting department is looking into incentives for new teachers as well.

Both motions were unanimously approved by 4-0 vote (Shannon Amos was absent).