Board authorizes advisory committee to study school-site consolidation

The Fountain Hills Unified School governing board voted Jan. 26 to authorize a board-appointed facilities-use advisory committee to study potential consolidation of district sites and report recommendations to the board.

The proposal follows a Jan. 26 board study session and is consistent with board policy BDF, the superintendent said. He recommended creating a facilities-use committee and asked for authorization to establish guidelines and ensure the committee follows open-meeting-law requirements. The superintendent said meetings will be publicized and suggested holding meetings at school sites to increase public participation.

Board members discussed a typographical error in the draft guidelines regarding a termination date (a board member asked to correct an item that referenced FHUSD 2021–2023 and a date of 06/20/2022). The board confirmed the committee will be subject to open-meeting-law requirements and that the superintendent will review those duties with committee members.

The motion to authorize the superintendent to create the committee was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. The board indicated it expects the committee to develop guidelines, hold public meetings, and report findings and recommendations back to the board for any future action.