Neely Estates school site donation finally approved

A development site and cash donation agreement (tabled since February), between Maricopa Unified and the Neely Estates development by Fulton Homes, received school board approval last week.

The development, located between White and Parker and Bowlin Roads, will be an 817 single-family home development. MUSD accepted the 12-acre elementary school site offered by the Fulton Homes, with an additional $81,700 cash donation (relatively $100 per household). School officials have not yet worked out details on the school and its possible student capacity.

“We haven’t done the projections on that site yet,” Superintendent Dr. John Flores commented.

The Neely Estates site is only one of several donation sites presently up for approval from the State Facilities Board; the school district must obtain its approval before any construction begins. Discussions and a review of district policy, regarding future donation agreements with other developers, are to take place before the next board meeting on October 11. Current policy has the district stretching dollars to the maximum to afford building schools of optimum quality, as well as educating the children attending those schools.

“We’re really trying to find a better way of collecting fees to have funds for our kids, for how we build facilities,” board president Jim Chaston said. “Because the state doesn’t fund an adequate school.”