2024 FUSD Candidate Questionnaire by Question Number

1) Bonds and overrides are one of the main ways to pay for infrastructure maintenance and physical improvements of schools. Do you support this type of taxing?

Aaron Cirzan

Bonds and overrides can provide the necessary funding to address urgent infrastructure issues that otherwise may be delayed, or go unaddressed, due to budget constraints. This investment in our schools can support well-maintained and modernized facilities that can improve learning and in fact, lead to better educational outcomes. That being said, the tax burden that comes from overrides, and the interest paid by the district on bonds, can place a burden on those in the county. Therefore, it is imperative that funds from both options be used effectively, in line with our context and Flagstaff’s community values. In our current context, bonds are an important piece of the fiscal reality for FUSD, and I support bringing back an override to the voters. I would also like to see increased state funding, whether through general state aid or dedicated capital funds, to address infrastructure needs across FUSD.

Carolyn Kidd

Yes. The Bonds and overrides are important when the state funding is not enough to meet the needs of all students. The school districts ask for local support through bonds and overrides. This requires the School Governing Board approval to be placed on a ballot for the community to vote. Bonds and overrides are important to provide school districts with the flexibility of obtaining available funds from tax rates to be used for essential needs e.g., infrastructure maintenance and physical improvements. It is important to oversee the utilization of these funds and to be creative and open to include other options for financing alongside bonds and overrides, such as:

Rental of school facilities to the community
Offer fee-based after school programs
Leverage online courses or tutoring to expand learning and generating revenue.
Host summer camps or other events for a fee.
Establish an internet cafe with coffee shop for faculty, students, and the community.
Secure government or private grants. Train staff and students (depending on age) to be more effective grant writers, to secure more grant dollars with limited resources.
Sign exclusive agreements with beverage companies like Coco Cola or Adidas to exclusively use those brands throughout the district.
Sell advertising space on the school district’s website, aligning products to the district’s vision, to raise revenue.

Melissa Kirk

I am a huge supporter of revenue raising via bonds. Before I would support requesting a tax increase via property taxes, I would suggest and vote for a bond. As bonds are purchased by investors, this type of revenue raising does not pose a burden to the local tax base of Flagstaff and/or Coconino County. I support overrides as a means of funding, but believe that before the district requests extensions, these need to be studied and evaluated. We must know the reasons for the override extension and there should be transparency as to where these funds are going and details on how they are being used.

Kathryn Kozak

I personally would rather see education funded through income tax and then divided equally to all school districts. However, since this type of funding is not possible in the state of Arizona, then bonds and overrides are the best option to pay for infrastructure maintenance and physical improvements of schools. Bonds and overrides also provide the local community to priorities what needs the school districts.

Scott Walmer

Some states have dedicated funding plans to help pay for school construction. The Arizona legislature offers districts a per student amount expected to pay for school construction, curriculum, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and instructional aids such as microscopes. The amount is woefully insufficient to maintain these things without bonding. Overrides provide some support for district salaries and supplies. Education funding in Arizona ranks toward the very bottom among the states and has since the eighties. Therefore, teacher salaries do too. Yes, I support FUSD bonds and overrides. As former FUSD Director of Finance and a taxpayer I actively participated in the bond and override propositions in 2018 by meeting with groups, media, and anyone who would listen in support of FUSD efforts. Those efforts were and continue to be successful with over 60% support among Flagstaff voters.

Kortney Zesiger

Yes, I fully support bonds and overrides as essential funding mechanisms to maintain and improve our schools. The 2022-2023 FUSD Annual Report demonstrates responsible use of bond and override funds, highlighting key projects such as facility upgrades, playground improvements, and technology enhancements for student learning. For example, $3.1 million from bond funds was used to replace aging HVAC systems, ensuring healthier school environments, and $1.8 million was invested in technology, providing students and staff with the tools they need for success. Additionally, fiscal responsibility is essential. We must ensure that funds are allocated wisely, focusing on high-impact areas and prioritizing transparency with the community. I will advocate for the careful oversight of these resources to maximize benefits for students while maintaining trust with taxpayers.

2) What is your opinion of the State’s education voucher program that provides up to $9,000 per year for a child to attend a parochial or private school or be home schooled?

Aaron Cirzan

Education is a public good and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students must remain a priority. The ESA voucher program, as it currently exists, undermines this notion by disproportionally disadvantaging students in public schools by diverting funds away from schools that are already severely underfunded by the state. Often, these funds are funneled into environments that are not held to the same standards as public schools, which raises concerns about the quality of education being provided with public funds. Historically, Arizona provided vouchers for specific reasons, for example vouchers for students with disabilities who needed personalized education options, which I support. That said, the current ESA program raises concerns around equity, accountability and the diversion of already limited funding resources for public schools.

Carolyn Kidd

In my opinion, the State’s voucher program is killing the public-school model.

– Every new ESA voucher subtracts funding from our local public schools. According to the Education Law Center, Arizona is funded 49^th in the US (Making the Grade 2023). Clearly, ESA Vouchers do not save Arizona money.

– The minimum ESA voucher is $500 higher than the state per-pupil funding to district schools. The Arizona Dept of Education ESA’s Quarterly Reports stated that ESA vouchers will cost our state $825 million in FY2024 (Arizona Department of Education).

– To top it off, 75% of vouchers go to students who are already enrolled in private school or homeschooled, per (bit.ly/VoucherVerdict).

– Also, $175 million of taxpayer’s money are sitting in ESA Accounts which can be invested in keeping our school safe, climate change action (installing heat pumps for cooling air in schools), and other pertinent resources.

Melissa Kirk

I believe that the voucher system is the single hardest hit to our public schools. I believe that parents can choose where to send their kids for education, however, public dollars MUST stay within the public domain. The trickle effect of parents removing their children from public schools and using public funds for private and home school, can be seen more every year. As the squeeze of proper funding diminishes every year, public schools are finding it hard to outshine private schools by offering electives, keeping class size small and having the funds to retain amazing teachers. I do not support the Arizona Empowerment Scholarships. Part of my platform is to advertise and show parents how amazing FUSD is so that they will choose to send their children to one of our great schools.

Kathryn Kozak

I am very against the education voucher program. Public education is to create a well-educated citizenship. It is not about educating only your child. It is about educating all children. The taxes that a person pays is to help all citizens and you should not expect something for just yourself. If a person chooses to send their child to a private school or homeschool, that is their choice, but a person is not paying taxes for only their child to go to school. If a person doesn’t have children, or like me their child is beyond school age, that person still pays taxes to support all children. The vouchers give the impression that a person is paying for their child to attend school and that is not the case.

Scott Walmer

I believe, like our Founding Fathers, that church and state should remain separate. At the very least, I wish my tax dollars and the church could remain separate. Seriously, the argument should end there. We should not have to debate the enormous cost of the program, the number of children left behind by schools not accountable to public standards, that many beneficiaries were already attending private schools, or that many Arizona children do not live near a private school. I see the voucher program as poor policy in a way similar to the alt fuels credit of the 90’s and the kind of corruption you get for allowing any one party to rule for decades. I am against the Arizona voucher program.

Kortney Zesiger

I am firmly against the current education voucher program. To my core I believe that public education is a cornerstone of democracy, providing a space where children from diverse backgrounds come together to learn and grow. Originally, vouchers were intended to assist students with exceptionalities that public schools couldn’t adequately serve, which was both fair and necessary, and something I would advocate to keep. However, as they stand now, vouchers undermine public education by diverting critical funding away from public schools. According to the 2023 SOSAZ report, universal vouchers are predicted to cost Arizona over $900 million annually, siphoning essential resources from public schools. This strains public schools’ ability to serve all students, disproportionately affecting low-income and rural communities. Vouchers threaten to deepen educational inequity, and I believe we should instead focus on strengthening public schools, ensuring they remain vibrant and equitable for all.

3) There is a significant shortage of school bus drivers across FUSD. How could you, as a member of the School Board, address the transportation challenges of getting children to school?

Aaron Cirzan

FUSD has taken steps to promote the recruitment and retention of bus drivers, optimize bus routes and schedules and explore partnerships with Mountain Line to get students to school. Nonetheless, addressing the shortage of school bus drivers is critical to ensure students can get to school safely and on-time. Moving forward, FUSD will need to engage in long-term workforce development initiatives to encourage individuals to become school bus drivers. Vocational programs focused on transportation careers at Flagstaff High School or Coconino High School, alongside apprenticeship programs, could provide a pipeline of future drivers. Focusing on expanding bus stops, alongside Mountain Line, to ensure residents across Flagstaff have equitable access to transportation will also be important. A multi-faceted approach that engages all stakeholders will be necessary.

Carolyn Kidd

– Involve all internal and external stakeholders in a brainstorming effort on a community level, whether in the form of a town hall or mailing survey questions.

– Revise a total compensation package for bus drivers.

– Encourage the retired community to volunteer as Aids/Helpers to the bus drivers to supervise the students while in transit, reducing the bus drivers’ stress and the children’s bad behavior.

– Engage car rentals and companies with large capacity vehicles (transit vans or buses) to assist with transporting children to and from school until the bus driver shortage is resolved.

Melissa Kirk

This is the primary reason that I am seeking election to the school board. As a family living in city limits, with a student at Flagstaff High School, we fell victim to the loss of the buses. This is not ok for any family that attends the district. City buses are a good band aid, but not they are not the solution as bus stops can be long walks for students. We need to take a good look at the FUSD budget, and we must come up with a way to find the funding to reinstate school buses. This budget needs to include appropriate wages for the drivers and to allow for proper maintenance and fuel costs. This is a benefit that makes FUSD stand out from Charter, Private and Homeschool programs. If parents are struggling for transportation, they may find alternate means of education for their children.

Kathryn Kozak

I don’t have a solution for this. Bus drivers need to be treated with respect, and the children they pick up need to be taught to respect the drivers. Also, drivers need to respect the children. I also do not agree with the concept that if school is canceled, the bus drivers do not get paid for that day. I realize that they do end up working the same number of days in a school year because of built-in snow days, but it is hard to tell someone that their paycheck is less this time because of a cancellation. It gives the impression that they are not as respected for the work they do. I would like to find a way to address this issue. Otherwise, using alternative transportation, such as public buses, may be the best solution for this shortage. This is currently being utilized.

Scott Walmer

This is not a new problem, nor is it unique to Flagstaff. During my twenty-five-year career in Arizona school finance with four different and differing districts, not for one day were the “Now Hiring Drivers” signs ever taken down. Smarter people than me have grappled with this problem for a long time.

FUSD is further disadvantaged by a funding formula that does not account for geography. The same formula funds Creighton Elementary School District in Phoenix where the average bus route is three miles, the neighborhood is flat and paved and it never snows. I have seen drivers offered choices of shift (eight-hour, eight-hour split shift, half shift), priority for additional opportunities (summer maintenance work, holiday work), and pay increases beyond those given other employee categories, to little effect. I will continuously monitor efforts by other districts, support ideas, and examine recruitment and retention opportunities.

Kortney Zesiger

The shortage of bus drivers is a critical issue that impacts student attendance and success. As a board member, I would prioritize recruiting and retaining drivers by offering competitive wages, benefits, and support. The FUSD 2022-2023 Annual Report highlights efforts to enhance staff compensation, which could be expanded to include transportation personnel. Innovative solutions could involve partnering with local transit agencies to offer reduced-fare public transportation options for students, establishing community-driven carpool networks, and adopting staggered school start times to make bus routes more efficient. Additionally, leveraging technology for real-time bus tracking could optimize existing resources and improve route planning. By thinking creatively and investing in our transportation staff, we can mitigate this challenge and ensure every student has reliable access to education.

4) FUSD recently purchased two electric school buses and charging stations after receipt of an EPA grant. What is your opinion on purchasing additional electric school buses and associated charging stations?

Aaron Cirzan

In 2022, a group of students, parents, staff and community members presented a climate action report that advocated FUSD become an active partner in striving towards climate neutrality by 2030. Purchasing electric school busses and a charging station is an early step in moving towards this goal. Furthermore, electric busses provide improved air quality for our city. Beyond the environmental impact, electric busses provide an opportunity for students in the district to further engage with cutting edge technologies in STEM by providing real world examples of renewable energy and sustainable practices. Alongside many of the environmental programs offered through Camp Colton, for example, electric busses Provide FUSD the opportunity to exemplify that the education provided in the classroom is replicated in our broader practices. Exploring opportunities to ensure this is a real fiscal opportunity is crucial, but it is a necessary investment moving forward for the district.

Carolyn Kidd

– In keeping with the City of Flagstaff’s regional plan climate mandate, purchasing electrical buses and associated charging solutions to replace petrol/diesel-run buses, would reduce pollution and improve air quality in our community.

– There should be focus on retaining and training bus drivers to operate the electric buses.

– Create an incentive for FUSD staff to acquire a Commercial Driving License and collaborate with Coconino County College for training.

– The Arizona State Legislature looks at school transportation (or the lack thereof) as a major barrier for families, especially those in under-served or low-income communities.

Melissa Kirk

If buses and charging stations are being purchased via 100% grant money, then I support this. But until we can solve the problem of being able to bus every child in the FUSD boundary, I believe FUSD funds should be focused on offering a competitive wage to hire and retain bus drivers. Funds need to be available to maintain and fuel existing buses. Once this step is accomplished and implemented, I would then agree to work on a 5–10-year plan to start replacing older buses with electric or hybrid. If our goal is to lessen the carbon footprint of FUSD, I believe there are more impactful ways to accomplish this rather than spending funds on electric buses.

Kathryn Kozak

Climate change is the largest issue facing the Earth right now. All effort should be made to reduce this threat. Buses have a large carbon footprint, so any efforts to reduce the footprint is important. So, I agree with this program and would like to see it expanded.

Scott Walmer

First, knowing the effort it takes to prevail in grant opportunities, I offer appreciation to FUSD from this taxpayer. I see value in a public institution becoming more environmentally responsible and in embracing the future. As of the time I campaigned for the FUSD Bond initiative in 2018 FUSD owned 99 buses, two-thirds of which had over 200,000 miles on them. It is to be sure, a very large and aged fleet, and probably not very efficient. That bond initiative included a good start on replacements. As electric buses prove themselves to be safe and reliable, I will continue to support them as a growing portion of the fleet.

Kortney Zesiger

I support the idea of purchasing additional electric school buses, as they offer significant environmental and long-term cost benefits. Electric buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to cleaner air for our students and community. Additionally, over time, these buses can lower operational costs due to reduced fuel expenses and less maintenance compared to traditional diesel buses. However, there are challenges to consider. The initial purchase price of electric buses is higher, and the infrastructure required—such as charging stations—can be costly. Furthermore, FUSD’s geography and bus routes may require careful planning to ensure buses have adequate range. I believe that with continued support from grants like the EPA’s and a well-thought-out strategy for infrastructure, electric buses can be a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the district.

5) In June 2024, the School Board enacted a new sexual health curriculum (https://www.fusd1.org/Page/40)? Do you support this new curriculum?

Aaron Cirzan

I voted to adopt the new sexual health curriculum and I continue to support that decision. The new sexual health curriculum includes age-appropriate education topics. By providing students with the facts and knowledge surrounding sexual health, our education system is preparing students to understand themselves and others better and engage in healthy relationships that respect differences and promote positive interactions. It is crucial to develop an inclusive environment that validates students identities and reduces feelings of isolation and confusion. This curriculum has the ability to do just that, and do so without prescribing identity to anyone who does not identify in a certain way. It does not threaten or pressure students, but instead provides the opportunity to understand the realities of gender identification, relationships and sexual health.

Carolyn Kidd

Sex health education is not mandated in Arizona and school districts are left to decide the sex health education curriculum to provide the youth.
If sex health education is offered, curriculum is not required to include instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity nor consent.
Arizona law doesn’t require schools to teach sex or HIV education. If a school district chooses to enact a program, instruction must stress abstinence, age-appropriate, and include instruction relating to the laws of sexual conduct with a minor (grades 7-12).
I support teaching the whole child and supporting a sexual health curriculum should not be disruptive; not forced upon students and parents but should be provided in a specific elective lesson concerning sex education as a supplement to a health course of study.
All stakeholders should have “buy in” on the content of the curriculum before approval.

Melissa Kirk

I think that the change in the curriculum will be devastating for our future generations and wouldnot have supported this change. Biological sex is not the same as gender identity. Educating kids on their bodies and sexual health is extremely important. As this is an “opt-in” curriculum, we will find that many more parents will choose for their kids to opt-out. Instead of first-hand knowledge, they will now receive information second hand or via internet searches. I also believe that by not separating boys and girls, we may be silencing students that would otherwise ask genuine questions about their bodies and development. They may not feel comfortable asking these questions in front of what they perceive as the opposite gender. They will now miss out on crucial information that will assist them as they mature.

Kathryn Kozak

I do support this curriculum. Sexual health teaches about how the human body works, how our bodies change as we grow older, and how to keep our body working well. This education is more than just about how to not get pregnant or transmit sexually transmitted diseases. These topics are also important, but people being against this curriculum do not understand all that is being taught in these classes.

Scott Walmer

I believe that factual knowledge in the subject of sexual health is critical to social success and in avoiding a minefield of life changing risks. I strongly approve of public schools teaching a sexual health curriculum that is based on good science and that provides protections for families. This policy includes provisions to keep families informed and to protect those not wishing to participate. Yes, I support this policy.

Kortney Zesiger

I strongly support the adoption of the newly implemented comprehensive sexual health education curriculum in FUSD. Medically accurate, evidence-based education is crucial in preparing students to make informed and responsible decisions regarding their health. As outlined in the curriculum, comprehensive sexual health education covers vital topics such as anatomy, reproductive health, relationships, and consent, which are essential for promoting both physical and emotional well-being.

Research shows that comprehensive sexual health education is more effective than abstinence-only approaches in preventing pregnancy, STIs, and promoting healthier outcomes. Furthermore, FUSD allows parents to opt-out, providing flexibility for families while ensuring that students who participate receive instruction from qualified and well-trained public health educator. This balanced approach supports both student health and parental choice.

6) Some believe that the Arizona Parents Bill of Rights (A.R.S. § 15-102) is a way to have parents more involved in their children’s education. Others believe it has a chilling effect on the individual child as well as school librarians https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2022/09/23/arizona-book-ban-prohibiting-sexual-content- school-materials/ What are your thoughts on this state law?

Aaron Cirzan

I respect a parent’s ability to be involved in their students education and encourage families to engage with their students in conversations surrounding materials presented at school. I also support a parent’s ability to talk with teachers and administrators about materials presented in class. That said, schools must foster an environment where diverse ideas are explored respectfully through an inclusive curriculum where age appropriate educational materials are not unduly censored. Books like The Color Purple, describe realities that many of our students, and their families, have experienced. Just because an experience is uncomfortable, or foreign to an individual, does not mean it needs to be removed from the classroom. Banning books often leads to voices from communities of color and the LGBTQIA+ community being left out of the classroom, and this a huge problem. It can limit the understanding of our students to a singular, mainstream experience.

Carolyn Kidd

– This is a difficult question. On one hand, parents and guardians have the right to direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health.

– On the other hand, parents should let the experts BE experts and trust the public education system.

– There will always be disagreements among stakeholders on how far literature and information should be censored but I believe we can be empathetic and listen to “the why” the book is chosen and trust the advice of a true consensus.

– Book banning has been around for centuries and will be for the distant future, once people share their likes and dislikes of the contents in a book. I hope we would be open to change, and allow our children the quality education and awareness they deserve to survive in years to come.

Melissa Kirk

I believe that parents are and should be the #1 educators in their children’s lives. I also believe in a parent’s right to “opt-out” if a book or activity, chosen by a teacher, does not reflect the morals they teach in their home. However, I do not believe in overall “book bans” or club bans. What may not be okay for one family, may help another communicate better with their student and help guide them through a rough time in their life. This is a very serious subject and should be studied very hard by the board. If we want to attract and retain students and not lose them to vouchers, the best course of action is to promote teaching and learning. Controversial items have no place in K-12 education.

Kathryn Kozak

Education is about learning new and exciting material. It is about learning concepts and ideas that a student may not be exposed to in other parts of their life. Education can be uncomfortable, but I feel that students need to learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Though I do believe that every parent has the right to be involved in their child’s education, they do not have the right to tell other parents what their child can be exposed to. If a parent does not want their child to read a book, that is their choice, but they cannot say that other children should not be able to read a certain book.

Scott Walmer

I believe professional educators under public oversite are better prepared to approve a list of readings that inform, challenge, and help students find their path than Arizona state legislators…by far. P.S. Jean Casteen (quoted in the article you reference) was once a board member at a district where I served as Director of Finance and I would list her as an influence. My website and other campaign materials list seven guiding principles I compiled at the beginning of this campaign. I pledge to use them as a filter through which to evaluate alternatives. One of these guiding principles states “The best policies enable the best teachers and professionals who support them.” A.R.S. 15-102, as a policy, would fail under that principle. As a parent I never once felt my involvement in the education of my children was limited. No public school teacher or administrator ever made me feel it was.

Kortney Zesiger

As a parent, I believe it’s important to be involved in my child’s education and support Arizona’s statute (A.R.S. § 15-102) that upholds parental rights. Ensuring that instructional materials are appropriate is vital, but I don’t see a strong need to ban books from school libraries. Students, especially young adults, have access to a wide range of information beyond school, so the focus should be on guiding them, not restricting access. Trusting librarians and educators to select age-appropriate materials while maintaining open communication with parents fosters a balanced approach. Collaboration between parents and educators ensures that content is appropriate without overly limiting educational resources.

7) FUSD loses one-third of its teachers in their first three years of employment. What are your ideas about how to lessen this turnover rate?

Aaron Cirzan

I taught middle and high school history for four years before transitioning to higher education. While I miss K-12 teaching, I left due to low pay and insufficient support, which led to low job satisfaction. Teachers leaving education is a problem because a good teacher is the lifeblood of a good education system. In turn, on the FUSD Governing Board, I will continue to advocate for better pay and targeted, meaningful professional development for teachers. Starting teachers, when adjusted for inflation, make $4,273 less than they did ten years ago, according to a report issued by the National Education Association earlier this year. Furthermore, professional development is often generic and lacks real-world applicability. We need resources that address specific needs, help teachers grow, and guide them through challenges. Supporting teachers effectively ensures they can best support our students in the classroom.

Carolyn Kidd

– Collaborate with retired educators and administrators as mentors to the school’s workforce to train and relieve staff from their hectic routine. This may reduce burn out and increase retention.

– Linking test scores to teacher’s performance should be revisited or discontinue as it reduces the chance of a teacher imparting quality education to a whole child.

– Affordability is key to live and grow with a community. Flagstaff’s cost of living and housing have skyrocketed over the years, and salaries haven’t. FUSD workforce is shifting to other parts of Arizona and the US to survive. A joint investment between the city, County, FUSD, and other foundations, creating affordable housing for FUSD workforce, is a great start.

– Collaborating with the University graduates and encourage them to join our education workforce, through mentoring, partnerships, internships, and externships. This will depend on housing availability and affordability.

Melissa Kirk

There is a simple formula that contributes to FUSD teacher attrition. The high cost of housing and the low entry wages does not equal a place where an educated professional can thrive and get ahead. We need to ruthlessly review the entire budget and look for areas where we may be bleeding money. Increasing the salary of our classroom educators should be at the top of the list every year when a new budget is put forward. I also think that we need to return our educators to doing what they do best, educate. They should be better supported when handling discipline issues and educators should be respected by parents and students.

Kathryn Kozak

Scott Walmer

Like your bus driver question this is not a new issue. Districts statewide have and continue to grapple with the issue of teacher turnover. District funding levels have not been the purview of governing boards since the seventies. The use of appropriated funding is, but an addition to one part of the budget is a subtraction to another, and negotiating committees composed primarily of teachers (and always include the director of finance) spend countless after work hours looking for ways. I worked at two districts that had well developed systemic traditions to celebrate teachers and staff that could offer some improvements to the FUSD program. If elected I will visit those districts with the intent of developing a plan to present to the greater body. I do not suggest this as the solution, but as one step toward making FUSD a great place to be.

Kortney Zesiger

This question speaks to the cornerstone of why I’m running for office. After eight years preparing quality educators at NAU, few stay in FUSD. Reducing teacher turnover is critical for maintaining educational consistency. The Governor’s December 2023 report highlights Arizona’s high turnover rate, with 13% of teachers planning to leave, compared to 8% nationally. While salary increases, as noted in FUSD’s 2022-2023 Annual Report, are a great start, we must strengthen support systems. Mentorship programs, professional development, and fostering a positive school culture can significantly reduce attrition. Research shows that lack of administrative support is a key reason teachers leave, so extending mentorship to instructional leaders is essential. Additionally, reducing class sizes and providing mental health resources can alleviate stress, creating a more stable workforce.

8) The City of Flagstaff recently approved a zone change to allow residential housing to be built on Public Facility land including land owned by FUSD. FUSD has hired a consultant to examine the feasibility of doing this. What are your thoughts on FUSD using their vacant lands for employee or workforce housing?

Aaron Cirzan

I voted to approve the Vitalist Health Grant Housing Study and am supportive of using vacant land for employee and workforce housing pending the results of the study. The fact that housing is expensive in Flagstaff is not a secret, nor is the reality that teacher pay across Arizona is low. Providing opportunities for housing for teachers across the district will help in attracting and retaining great teachers, which, as mentioned in Q7, is the lifeblood of primary and secondary education. If developed thoughtfully, it can also turn existing land into an asset for the district. I encourage this work to not be done in a silo, but instead be done in collaboration with the City of Flagstaff, NAU, CCC, NACA and other organizations looking to bring high quality and effective public servants into our community.

Carolyn Kidd

– This is a great idea. I am excited to see the feasibility outcome and would be looking forward to town halls and/or a presentation on this.

– My thoughts are that we should increase density by sustainably building villages with homes, “mom and pop” shops, green grocers, schools, playgrounds, after-hours and daycare, diverse and inclusive

recreation, peds and bikes, thereby reducing vehicles and the carbon footprint.

– I would like to see a further collaboration on a grander scale with the City, County, and others to develop vacant lands for affordable workforce housing.

Melissa Kirk

It is a missed opportunity that we have waited this long to explore this as an option. I would fully support building single family homes that could be rented to incoming teachers at a fraction of current rental market pricing. We can better retain our excellent teachers if they have an opportunity to grow in our community, without the financial burden of trying to establish themselves in Flagstaff or having to commute due to housing and rental costs. I am eager to review the feasibility study and implement a program that will benefit our schools, teachers and students for years to come.

Kathryn Kozak

The school board must work within its budget and so providing a higher living wage may not be possible with the current budget. One solution to this is to reduce the cost of living. The cost of housing in Flagstaff is very high compared to the wages, so a solution to this is to create housing that is more affordable. If this means that FUSD uses their land that has no other purpose to provide housing for its workforce, then this is a great use for this land. I highly support this concept.

Scott Walmer

At risk of repeating myself, this possibility has been in discussion for a long time. If FUSD can make this happen I will applaud them. On several occasions over the last ten years the district would make an offer of employment to someone from the Valley who would accept the offer, only to call a few days later to say they could not find a place to live. This includes well paid administrative positions. Imagine the frustration for all parties.

Kortney Zesiger

I wholeheartedly support FUSD exploring the use of vacant land for workforce housing. Affordable housing is a significant barrier for educators who love their jobs but are forced to leave due to financial pressures. The Governor’s Educator Retention Task Force reports that Arizona teachers earn 33% less than other college graduates, making it difficult to stay in Flagstaff. However, any housing solution must be sustainable and family-friendly, not just temporary dorm-style units. We need housing that can support educators long-term, helping them build their lives here. This could be one of the most critical short and long-term issues facing our community. It is crucial that numerous stakeholders come together to address the despairing cost of living if we have any hope of retaining quality teachers and staff in FUSD. By addressing housing in a meaningful and sustainable way, we can retain the talented teachers our students deserve.