The Fowler Elementary School District (FESD) is asking for a continuation of a 15% budget override for $3,500,000.

- If you aren't already registered to vote, the last day to register in order to be eligible to vote in this election is Tuesday, October 10th, 2023.

• Check your voter registration status at ezaz.org/vote

- Ballots will be mailed on October 11, 2023. The last day to request early ballot October 27 

- VOTED BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 7 p.m., November 7th. MAIL ballots by October 31st.

All registered voters that reside in the FESD will receive a ballot by mail with voting instructions in the envelope.

Dedicated to and Implementing Social Emotional Learning - SOURCE - SOURCE 

- Those dedicated to teaching Social Emotional Learning [SEL] believe “Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a process through which children and adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. We need SEL skills for ourselves, our relationships, and our work. In OUSD, we believe that strengthening these skills enhances our ability to effectively and ethically connect across race, class, culture, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning needs, and age.” - SOURCE 

- SEL uses emotional responses to generate student attention to drive learning. - SOURCE

- 19% of students are proficient or highly proficient at English Language Arts 

- 13% of students are proficient or highly proficient at Math

Fowler Elementary pays an average annual salary of $52,415 per teacher. The average annual salary in Phoenix is $48,000.

Voters will be asked to say yes or no on one measure: 

- A 15% Budget Override

- The total 15% budget override amount for the first year of the proposed continuation is estimated to be $3,500,000 and would be funded in that year by an estimated $0.72 tax rate per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes which is approximately equal to the current secondary tax rate for the existing budget override. 

- Shows up on your tax bill as secondary property tax. 

- Property taxes combined add up to thousands of dollars! 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx

Fowler Elementary spends $12,408 per student

- Without passage of the override, the district will have to reduce the operational budget. 

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

Comparing to the 2018-2019 School Year Performance to the 2021-2022 School Year Performance 

- Over 15% Drop in Enrollment 

- Drop Out Rate More than Tripled from 1.69% to 5.27% 

- 13% Drop in Math Proficiency 

- 11% Drop in English Proficiency 

- Reported Instances of Violence More than Halved from 61 to 23 

- Total Students Reported as Harassed or Bullied Quadrupled, going from 6 to 24 

- Total Students with Chronic Absenteeism was slightly reduce, going from 741 to 664

- Once any outstanding Bonds and Overrides are repaid, you won't have to continue paying Secondary property taxes related to the bond. 

- If the measure passes, the current Secondary tax rates will remain the same; however; 

- If the measure passes, the total amount of taxes paid will likely go higher if there is continued inflation related to property values.

Fowler Elementary is legally allowed to call the override a continuation even though we will vote to approve it as if it is new.

The override funds will be used for the following: 

- Maintain staffing levels, specifically student-teacher ratios 

- Maintain class sizes in all grade levels 

- Maintain school-based student services (library and health services) 

- Retain assistant principal positions at all schools 

- Maintain music, art, PE, and other special area programs 

- Maintain band programs 

- Maintain salary for all staff 

- Maintain the ability to accept students that reside outside the district boundaries

- If the override is defeated, your landlord’s taxes will go down and could mitigate future rent increases. 

- Irrespective of being a property owner, we all want to see the kids receive a quality education. 

- To view your current property tax liability, visit https://treasurer.maricopa.gov/Parcel/ParcelSearch.aspx