Deer Valley USD Seeks to Restore Maintenance & Operations Override with November Ballot

Here is what you need to know!

The Deer Valley Unified School District is requesting voters restore the M&O (Maintenance and Operations) override for the FY27 (2026-27) budget by 15%. This restoration is crucial to prevent further cuts to teacher pay, free full-day kindergarten, and arts & athletics programs. The override aims to replace the $11 million the district lost when the override request failed in 2024.

The community must pass this M&O override. If the measure fails again, the district will need to reduce investments in district and school programs by an estimated $11 million in each of the next two years, totaling approximately $22 million. This would mean there will be no raises for teachers and staff, fewer resources for students, and cuts to programs that make schools a place kids want to be.

The 2025 ballot measure is different than the 2024 ballot measure. The 2024 ballot measure included an M&O override voter authorization request and a Bond initiative. There is no bond initiative associated with the 2025 ballot. Bonds pay for capital improvements like physical structures, HVAC systems, and security systems. The M&O override funds essential operational costs.

The override will help pay a portion of every DVUSD teacher's salary (approximately 8.5%) and ensure the maintenance of full-day kindergarten, electives, and extracurricular activities. It also funds counselors, nurses, and other vital support staff, helps keep class sizes manageable, and provides a portion (10%) of school and department budgets. Without it, the quality of education across DVUSD is at risk.

There are future growth, and long-term benefits voters should consider. The override is not new to DVUSD. It continues funding that has been in place since 1991 and keeps the district competitive with neighboring school districts. Approximately 20,000 new housing units are expected to be built in the district over the next three years. Our A-rated school district has a significant impact on home values and neighborhood safety.

The override will cost the local taxpayer approximately $240 per year based on the average district home value.

Supporting this override is a vote for educational stability and excellence, safeguarding the future of our students and the vibrancy of our community. Our children are the future. We owe them the best. 

Here is what you need to do!

1. Make sure our community is aware of the upcoming election and understand why it is so important.

2. Make sure voters know this will be a mail-in ballot only. There will be no polling places, although there will be ballot drop offices.

3. Make voters aware that there will be a Land Sale initiative on the ballot along with the M&O override. (More information next week.)

4. Share important dates with voters

a.     October 6, 2025: Last date to register to vote.

b.     October 8, 2025: First date to vote by early ballot.

c.     October 24, 2025: Last date to Request a Mail Ballot.

d.     October 28, 2025: Last date to mail in your ballot.

e.     November 4, 2025: Election Day – last day to drop off a ballot.

Talking points to counter the pushback comments:

DVUSD Schools Have Failed to Improve Student outcomes:

1. DVUSD's 4-year graduation rate ending June 2025 was 95.3%, which is 16.8 percentage points higher than the state average.

2. The percentage of students passing state assessments last year exceeded the state average by thirteen points in math, eleven points in English Language Arts (ELA), and eighteen points in science.

3. DVUSD has 25 schools that have earned the "A+ School of Excellence" designation by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF), including three of the AEF's 53 awards in 2025.

The money goes to administrators, not teachers or classrooms.

1. DVUSD spent 72.5% of its FY24 budget on classroom spending, which includes instruction, student support, and instructor support. This is above similar "very large" unified school districts in Arizona. Only 9.4% of the budget goes to administrative costs.

2. DVUSD is audited by the Arizona Auditor General and publishes its budget on the website: DVUSD.ORG.

3. DVUSD offers fifty award-winning Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and extracurricular activities in athletics and visual and performing arts.

Private schools offer better options for our children’s needs. (Not necessarily!)

1. Private schools are not required to take state tests.

2. Private schools are not required to make finances, costs, student progress or anything else public.

3. DVUSD is audited by the Arizona Auditor General and publishes its budget on the website: DVUSD.ORG.

4. DVUSD offers 50 award-winning Career Technical Education (CTE) programs that assist high school students in being career-ready after graduation.

5. DVUSD offers extracurricular activities in athletics (grades 6-12) and visual and performing arts (K-12) to help further growth in each child beyond the classroom.