PHOENIX — Nothing says election season like a forest of campaign signs crowding every major street corner. One sign depicting an apple perched on a graduation cap calls voters to “Invest In Schools.” It’s part of a campaign to renew what education advocates say is critical funding for Arizona’s public school districts.
School districts across several Arizona counties are seeking voter approval for budget overrides that provide additional funding for their schools. The overrides are crucial to the quality of learning environments and equitable opportunities for students, said Estaban Flemons, the president of the Phoenix Union Classroom Teachers’ Association.
“We want to give all of our kids the advantage that everyone else should have,” he said.
In September, the Journal of Consumer Research ranked Arizona last in the nation for school funding. It also called state classrooms as the “most crowded” – with an average of 23 students per teacher.
The budget override has historically been vital for Arizona’s public school district, said Lennon Audrain, a research assistant professor at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
In 1994, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Roosevelt Elementary School District that property-rich school districts received far more funding than those in poorer districts. In turn, the Arizona Legislature created an equalized funding formula to reduce disparities. Audrain said this led to strict spending limits.
Overrides provide a voter-approved opportunity for districts to generate more funding to meet the evolving needs of schools.
“We’re seeing new costs for things like student well-being — counselors, support specialists — and for safety infrastructure, like security cameras and detectors,” Audrain said. “Those are things older generations didn’t have to budget for.”
In the Phoenix Union High School District, the Maintenance and Operations Override and District Additional Assistance Override – known as M&O and DAA overrides – are on the ballot.
The M&O override covers salaries and benefits, which make up about 87% of the budget, according to Flemons. Passing it helps keep class sizes down, ensures teacher pay and preserves extracurricular programs, such as student government.
During the 2019-2020 school year, the Arizona Department of Education reported that of the 93,000 certified teachers in Arizona, just over a quarter were not currently teaching. Audrain said that the statistic shows that the salaries are too low to retain qualified teachers.
Anastasia Jimenez, president of the Classified Employee Association for Phoenix Union High School District, speaks at a rally on Oct. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (Photo by Lorenzo Gomez/Cronkite News)
Anastasia Jimenez, president of the Classified Employee Association for Phoenix Union High School District, said the M&O overrides help retain some of the school’s most valuable employees. They include staff for safety, food services, transportation services, information technology, educational assistants and custodial services.
“We’re the backbone of the district,” Jimenez said, “We’re the first people to open the gates or to greet children on the bus every day, and oftentimes the last people to see our students off.”
DAA overrides pay for technology and classroom resources. That funding ensures students have laptops, reliable Wi-Fi and updated materials. Flemons pointed out that money from this override can’t be shifted to staff pay, and M&O dollars can’t be used for technology.
As a former high school science teacher, Flemons, like many educators, was used to buying his own materials for classrooms. But now, the demand for updated technology like laptops and tablets far exceeds the financial resources of educators. He says the DAA override ensures all students have access to the same classroom resources.
“The student in another district that could afford the laptop is going to be better prepared than us,” Flemons said. “We want to give all of our kids the advantage that everyone else should have, and a laptop and technology is now just the norm.”
According to the Phoenix Union High School District’s website, the estimated tax rate associated with the M&O renewal is 45 cents per $100 of homeowner assessed value, equating to $77.00 annually for an average home in the district.
The rate for DAA renewal is 30 cents per $100 of homeowner assessed values, equating to $51 a year for an average home in the district.
The district says the taxes will generate an additional $31.8 million and $21 million in funding, respectively.
Jared Reynolds, who assists with fundraising and marketing for the Yes for Phoenix Union PAC, says communication and transparency are key in its messaging. He wants voters to have the correct information before they vote.
“If you break it down, you know, it’s pennies per day to really give these kids the opportunity to have a well-rounded education,” Reynolds said.
Jimenez says the district is already working with minimal funding, and the override renewals will ensure they do not have to ask their employees to do more with less. Without funding, she said, jobs will be lost and the district will have to turn to privatized services to cover things like food and custodial services. She said she wants voters to think of it as an investment.
“To me, it’s an investment in yourself,” Jimenez said, “It’s an investment in the future of the community.”
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