News Schools

DVUSD to Vote on New School in Norterra

January 7, 2019January 9, 2019 Karen Goveia

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sonoran foothills and norterra canyon schools — Sonoran Foothills and Norterra Canyon schools are expected to exceed capacity by fall 2019.

A decision on whether to build another Norterra-area school may be determined Tuesday night, as the Deer Valley Unified School District Board is set to discuss and likely vote on a land-exchange agreement with USAA, developer of Union Park at Norterra’s master-planned community.

If approved, the district would exchange 14 acres of land it owns near 43rd and Alameda Road to USAA for the existing 13-acre school site in the Union Park development.

The agreement (first reported in July 2017) would obligate the district to begin construction once 200 home closings are complete. DVUSD already has funding to build the school from its November 2013 bond authorization election.

Nearby Norterra Canyon and Sonoran Foothills schools are already at or near capacity, according to demographer’s projections presented to the board in May. No other elementary schools are in the plans within in this area to accommodate the expected influx of 1,125 students from Union Park at 19th Avenue and Happy Valley Road, as well as other developments planned or under construction in the area.

As of mid-2017, the district’s enrollment projections indicated no new high school will be needed in the near term, but a site is reserved for one in North Phoenix should the need arise.

DVUSD School Board Meeting
20402 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix
7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8

Union Park at Norterra property plan — The Union Park at Norterra development. Note the location reserved for a school. Image: USAA

Karen Goveia

NoPho resident Karen Goveia joined In&Out Publications in 2009 and is managing editor. Goveia is a Chicagoland native with two decades of experience in the news industry, starting as a reporter for a chain of weekly papers serving Chicago’s suburbs and later serving as managing editor within the chain.