The 2013 bond funds have been stretched pretty far for Fountain Hills Unified School District, with remaining projects utilizing those monies focused on security enhancements at each district site.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, Dr. Robert Allen, recently updated the Governing Board on the remaining projects being covered by the 2013 bond.

The 2013 bond provided $630,000 for non-administrative safety and security upgrades, $4,595,000 for non-administrative renovations and improvements at district sites, as well as $215,000 for safety and security upgrades for administrative purposes.

According to Dr. Allen, about $4 million of those dollars have been spent to date, with $1,440,000 left to spend by May of 2018. The remainder is planned to primarily target security and renovation projects, the bulk of which FHUSD hopes to have wrapped up by next school year.

To prepare for the final wave of projects, the district conducted a Site Vulnerability Assessment that primarily focused on lobby renovations to keep schools safer. A follow-up assessment will focus on site perimeters.

From this survey, it was determined that priority should be placed on a few key areas, including upgrading exterior front entries at all sites, upgrading front office reception areas, lobbies and surveillance equipment.

According to Dr. Allen’s timeline, the goal is to have building construction projects completed this coming summer, with perimeter projects to follow in the fall.

Summer projects are expected to include things like additional security deterrents (benches, planters, bollards) at site entrances, as well as rebuilt lobbies with more security features such as ballistic-proof glass and security cameras.