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I am writing on behalf of the Catalina Foothills Association to ask for your support in challenging the district’s plans to build a new bus depot on an otherwise residential street. This issue has recently been in the news, (http://tinyurl.com/foothills-bus-depot) and is something that all district residents should feel upset about. The district has disenfranchised us all in their handling of this project by not allowing public input.

What: Bus Depot with above ground diesel storage tank and maintenance facilities is proposed to be installed by Catalina Foothills School District in a residential neighborhood.

Where: Camino Escuela north of River Rd.; The District uses the address of 2101 E. River Road although ingress/egress will be on Camino Escuela, a residential street.

When: The district wants to break ground immediately.

Aside from the fact that an industrial complex of the type suggested by the district for this site will likely have a substantial negative impact on the values of homes and other properties in the area (far beyond those that are immediately contiguous), it will negatively impact the historic character of one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in Tucson. Too often Tucsonans have allowed our historic architecture and neighborhoods to be bulldozed in the name of progress, we have done this with blinders on, focused on short-term goals. The district administration needs to step back and see the broader impact of this proposed project. John W. Murphey essentially donated this property with the stipulation that the land be used for a public school, not for what amounts to an industrial bus depot.

We are not aware of any other public school district that relies more on community support than ours. Every year the district petitions the community for funds above and beyond those supplied by the state, and above those which come from the nearly-always-approved bonds. The area residents consistently rally behind the school district to provide needed funding to keep class sizes low, to augment teacher’s salaries, to maintain facilities and to provide funding for community schools programs and extracurricular activities. We find it deeply disturbing that our community’s support for the District is answered with such a dramatic lack of concern for our neighborhood and lack of interest in community involvement; particularly in a project of this scope and magnitude. It raises the question of how the school administrators view their relationship with our community.

Please join us in requesting that Catalina Foothills School District immediately:

A) Suspend this project for a minimum of six months; and
B) Collaborate with the CFA to form a joint district-community committee that involves district officials, neighbors adjacent to the proposed facility, and outlying Foothills community members.

Said committee shall perform a comprehensive review of the proposed bus yard expansion; such review shall include alternative sites and solutions, environmental impact studies and traffic analyses as well as review of district policy and finances to determine what is the best resolution for the Catalina Foothills community as well as the school district.

If you agree that CFSD should suspend this project and involve the community, please:

1) Write to the following individuals and tell them how you feel, including points A and B above.
2) Share this email with your friends, family and neighbors who may live in the district and encourage them to do the same.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns I would be happy to respond to them. You may contact me at president@catalinafoothillsassociation.org

Sincerely,

Will Pew

President — Catalina Foothills Association

Governing Board Members:
Sheri Silverberg: ssilverberg@cfsd16.org (board president; up for re-election)
Janell Jellison: jjellison@cfsd16.org (board member)
Mary Lou Richerson: mlricherson@cfsd16.org (board member; up for re-election)
Tom Camenisch: tcamenisch@cfsd16.org (board member; running for state senate)
Carole Siegler: csiegler@cfsd16.org (board member)

District Officials:
Mary Kamerzell: mkam@cfsd16.org (superintendent)
Terry Downey downey@cfsd16.org (associate superintendent)

County Supervisor:
Ann Day: Ann.Day@pima.gov

The site includes About and History sections that contain background information about the CFA, a Blog, a Projects & Activities section, an Events page, and a Newsletter page where PDF downloads of the printed CFA newsletter are available.

CFA members and residents of the Catalina Foothills community are welcome to visit the site and register to receive CFA updates.