MUSD board to discuss closing Maricopa Wells; vote on free and tuition-based kindergarten

The Maricopa Unified School District school board is scheduled to talk Wednesday about closing Maricopa Wells Middle School over closing Desert Wind to ease a $1 million shortfall in the 2013-2014 school year.

The board could approve a date and time for a public hearing on the matter, which would come at least 10 days after the public is notified of the hearing.

Closing a middle school could save the district $542,000. Click here to see the results of a poll on closing an MUSD middle school in which the majority of respondents supported closing Marciopa Wells.

In February, the school board voted to retain sixth-graders at the elementary school level, paving the way to create a junior high school system.

The board also is scheduled to vote on offering free half-day kindergarten coupled with a tuition-based half day. The savings from ending free full-day kindergarten is estimated to be $480,000.

Superintendent Steve Chestnut told board members during the last meeting the district could offer a tuition-based half day for $145 per month, including transportation.

Click here to read more about Chestnut’s thoughts on budget cuts. 

On Wednesday, the board also will discuss policies on:

• Medical marijuana standards and conditions for employees.
• Nonmedical use or abuse of drugs or alcohol.
• Public conduct on school property.
• Distribution/posting of promotional material.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The school board meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the district office, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

For more information on these agenda items and others click here to get to the meeting of your choice, then click on “print agenda” and then go to “detailed agenda.”