Crystle Nehrmeyer, Superintendent
The Oracle Elementary School District continues to improve the educational environment for students and maintain existing school facilities, all while maximizing tax payer dollars. During fiscal year 2021, the school district received $311,989.65 in Building Renewal Grants from the Arizona School Facilities Board.
Created in 1998, the Arizona School Facilities Board (AZSFB) is a cabinet-level, state-government agency managing nearly $300 million in state funding appropriated for K-12 school district facilities. The 10-member board meets monthly to grant funding for new school construction and to renew existing school facilities.
The $311,989.65 in Building Renewal Grants received by the Oracle Elementary School District last fiscal year allowed us to replace the old cafeteria flooring, which also required asbestos abatement ($28,742.85). We also replaced the HVAC system on the science building ($7,150.00), repaired the roofs of three classroom buildings ($126,798.80), and completely replaced the roof on one of the classroom buildings ($149,298.00).
During fiscal year 2020, the Oracle Elementary School District received a $42,265.67 Building Renewal Grant from the Arizona School Facilities Board. This grant replaced the bleachers in the school gymnasium, which were over 30 years old and were not fully compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Allison Hendrix, an employee of the Oracle Elementary School District and a former classroom teacher at Mountain Vista K-8 School, now serves as the Grants and Special Programs coordinator for the district. Since moving from the classroom to the district office in 2019, Mrs. Hendrix has written and received competitive grants totaling close to $1 million. When asked what grants Mrs. Hendrix will write next, she said, “Any grant that will benefit our students and our community is a grant worth writing and pursuing.”
The Oracle Elementary School District looks forward to sharing more stories about the great things happening at Mountain Vista K-8 School with our SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch communities throughout the 2021-22 school year.