• What is the purpose of the override?
• When was the election?
• How much money will this raise?
• Is that increase permanent?
• What will the money be used for?
• How do I know the money will be spent that way?
• Don’t you get funding from the state for this kind of program?
• Are there other benefits?
• Will this raise my tax rate?
• How will this benefit older students?

What is the purpose of the override?
The K-3 Override, which was passed by Scottsdale voters in 2005, reduces kindergarten class sizes to a District-wide target of 21 students-to-1 teacher. These funds also allow us to reduce class sizes in grades 1-3 below normal staffing ratios. Additional funds are used for instructional assistants in kindergarten and first grades as needed. The override raises about $3.2 million per year. The override is in place for seven years and will be brought back to voters to be extended. If the K-3 Override is not renewed by the voters in 2009, it will reduce by one-third each year and result in an approximate loss of $3.5 million by 2011.

For more information about full day-day kindergarten and/or open enrollment, please contact your SUSD elementary school. For a complete list of our schools, please visit: http://www.susd.org/district/ourschools/addressphone.cfm

When was the election?
The election was held on May 17, 2005.

How much money will this raise?
The maximum amount of the override is determined by a state formula based primarily on our enrollment. This override will raise about $3.2 million per year.

Is that increase permanent?
No. The override will be in place for seven years and will be brought back to voters to be extended. If the K-3 Override is not renewed by the voters in 2009, it will reduce by one-third each year and result in an approximate loss of $3.5 million by 2011.

What will the money be used for?
The K-3 Override, which was passed by Scottsdale voters in 2005, reduces kindergarten class sizes to a District-wide target of 21 students-to-1 teacher. These funds also allow us to reduce class sizes in grades 1-3 below normal staffing ratios. Additional funds are used for instructional assistants in kindergarten and first grades as needed. The override raises about $3.2 million per year. The override is in place for seven years and will be brought back to voters to be extended. If the K-3 Override is not renewed by the voters in 2009, it will reduce by one-third each year and result in an approximate loss of $3.5 million by 2011.

For more information about full day-day kindergarten and/or open enrollment, please contact your SUSD elementary school. For a complete list of our schools, please visit: http://www.susd.org/district/ourschools/addressphone.cfm

How do I know the money will be spent that way?
Arizona law is very specific in how school districts can spend the money they receive. When we ask voters to approve a bond or an override, we must explain how the money will be used in advance, and we are required to use it for just those purposes. In addition, funds from this override will be audited each year to ensure they are being spent as promised.

Don’t you get funding from the state for this kind of program?
No. Because Arizona ranks very low among the states in per-student funding of education, all of the funding our district receives goes to support existing programs.

Will this raise my tax rate?
This is a renewal of the existing K-3 Override. Your tax rate will not increase.

How will this benefit older students?
While funds from a K-3 override must by law be spent on those grade levels, students at every level in our district will benefit. Each student who enters our district increases the state funding we receive. This level of support for all K-3 learners in all schools results in smaller classes and provides more instructional time in the early years as a foundation for the future