In February, the Committee for Better Upper Verde Valley Schools began a petition drive to get a consolidation push between the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and the Mingus Union High School District on the ballot for the November 2020 election.
On Wednesday, May 27, the committee successfully delivered 2,028 signatures to Jenn Nelson, Education Elections Coordinator for the Yavapai County Education Services Agency, surpassing the 1,592 signatures required to get the referendum on the ballot. The 1,592 requirement represents 10% of the total votes cast in the last MUHSD board election, in accordance with state law.
“The response from the community was overwhelming, even as the COVID-19 pandemic really slowed down our efforts, as we abided by Governor Ducey’s orders,” the committee wrote in a press release. “However, as Governor Ducey gradually lifted his orders in early May, our Committee Petition working group [Known as the Petition Warriors] headed up by Denise Kennedy went to work. We organized our efforts by walking the streets and knocking on doors to collect signatures. It was a ‘full-court press’ as we knew that we only had a short time period to collect signatures.”
This petition drive comes after a failed attempt at a consolidation election in 2018, when the MUHSD board sued the Committee, arguing that the consolidation petitions had not complied with election law. Judge David Mackey brokered a settlement between the two parties in August of 2018, canceling the 2018 election but allowing the Committee to seek a 2019 election without attempts to prevent it by the Mingus Board, and oversight of petition language by the parties and the court. The committee successfully requested an extension to 2020 and have successfully lobbied the Arizona legislature to pass bills easing the consolidation process and providing funding for potential school district consolidations.
The petition language, approved in advance by Judge Mackey, reads as follows:
“Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes 15- 459c(B)(7), I, the under- signed, a qualified elector (regardless of party affiliation) of the county of Yavapai, state of Arizona, and of Mingus Union High School District #4 [which is made up of Clarkdale-Jerome School District and Cottonwood- Oak Creek School District #6], hereby respectfully request that the County School Superintendent call an election on November 3, 2020, to consolidate Mingus Union High School District #4 and Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District #6 into a new unified school district, and further declare that I am qualified to vote in the proposed election for the purpose of consolidating public school districts.”
Barring legal challenges, the election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Residents of either of the relevant school districts will be eligible to vote in the consolidation election.
“We are in a window now that allows someone to challenge the petitions in court to determine if they have enough valid signatures,” Yavapai County Superintendent Tim Carter wrote in an email. “If that happens, the court would then hold an expedited hearing and make a judgement. We are waiting to see what, if anything, will happen in that regard.”
MUHSD Board President Carol Anne Teague said that the Mingus Board had not yet determined whether they intend to challenge the petitions, but reiterated the board’s opposition to consolidation.
“Mingus’ position has not changed,” Teague said. “We ratified a resolution against consolidation. That resolution still stands. During a time of COVID- 19 when we’re trying to
