MUSD Board unanimously OKs campus upgrades to enhance school safety

The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board on Wednesday approved renovation of the main entrances and offices of Maricopa Elementary School and Maricopa Wells Middle School.  

The district is working with CORE Construction to add barriers and another set of doors this summer. 

Board Member Patti Coutré said this project goes hand in hand with the district’s commitment to student and staff safety. 

“Visitors won’t be able to go anywhere past the initial lobby,” Coutré said. “They’re making it an area that is not easily accessible. You would have to be buzzed in.”  

Jacob Harmon, MUSD’s chief financial officer, said the $400,000 project is fully funded by the district.  

Maricopa Wells is allotted $272,000 for the improvements and the remaining $128,000 is dedicated to Maricopa Elementary. 

Unless the district decides to upgrade the new systems, the price tag is set.  

“We will start having weekly meetings (with CORE Construction), start ordering supplies and start planning this project out,” Harmon said.  

Harmon added the only concern is the door shipment. If those are not delivered promptly, Core Construction will begin working on implementing the new security structures with plans to finish the renovations by fall break. 

Harmon said this is an ongoing security project. Desert Sunrise and Maricopa high schools already have these systems in place, but the district plans to continue upgrading and improving five other schools’ campus safety. 

“We have a multi-year plan for a lot of these items,” Harmon said. “We are going to fit this right into our yearly planning period.”