The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board voted last week to “exercise its option” to receive a donated parcel of land from developers in Hidden Valley’s Amarillo Creek and Palomino Ranch communities.
The move positions the district to eventually build its first school outside of current city limits.
In practical terms, exercising the option means the district is telling developers it is accepting the land that was set aside for a school site last year. The agreements give MUSD the right to take ownership of the property within 10 years. Last week’s vote triggers the legal steps needed to transfer the land to the district.
The action, approved unanimously at Wednesday’s routine meeting, allows the district to move forward under option and donation agreements approved May 8, 2024, with the developers of Amarillo Creek and Palomino Ranch. The agreements commit the developers to donate land to MUSD at no cost as residential growth continues southwest of Maricopa.
The land involved is located near Papago and Amarillo Valley Roads, outside of city limits but within district boundaries. Together, the donated parcels total about 24 acres and were master planned decades ago to support future school construction.
Under the agreements, as discussed in 2024, approximately 14 acres are designated for a potential middle school site near the future northwest corner of Marino Road and Hawkweed Lane in Palomino Ranch. An additional elementary school site of about 11 acres lies near the northeast corner of Amarillo Creek Parkway and Coltsfoot Road, also yet to be paved.
Taking ownership of the land includes environmental reviews, land surveys and title work. District officials emphasized that the donation applies to the land itself and does not commit the district to constructing a specific type of school.
“This action allows the district to formally accept the donated property and preserve it for future educational needs,” Chief Financial Officer Jacob Harmon told InMaricopa. “Once the district owns the land, the governing board will determine how it is ultimately used based on enrollment projections, facility planning and community growth.”
While the original plan was to use these spots as a junior high school site, district leaders stressed that no final decisions have been made regarding the type of campus that could eventually be built there. The district also has a spot option on the far eastern edge of Maricopa city limits.
The next step for the district is to send formal notices to developers.
