Although voters have turned down the Queen Creek Unified School District's last two budget-override requests, the district seeks an $80 million bond for construction projects and a 15 percent operating budget increase in November's election.

There appears to be no formal, organized opposition to either proposal, but school supporters are still nervous about whether district voters will support the requests.

Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, Vice Mayor Jeff Brown and the town's first mayor, Mark Schnepf, are among those supporting both requests.

A political-action group called "Yes for a Stronger Community" has about 50 active members who have raised $15,000 for signs and other publicity.

Brown noted Queen Creek is one of the top-rated school districts in the state. The district's AIMS score was the sixth highest in the state this year.

He wonders if the success will continue if the district continues to struggle financially, however.

"We are currently unable to offer (free) all-day kindergarten too since we don't have the funding," Brown said by e-mail. "Kindergarten classes are not about playing with blocks and firetrucks these days but instead are a very important aspect of a quality education. In order for our kids to be competitive, education needs to start at home at the earliest ages, then continue with preschool and pre-k and all day kindergarten"

Brown said too many teachers are leaving Queen Creek for other districts or professions that pay more.

"Great teachers have left our district or left the profession and will continue to do so if we are unwilling as a community to acknowledge their contributions and increase their pay," he said.

Queen Creek voters last approved a budget override in 2007 and last approved a bond in 2010.

Judah Nativio, a Queen Creek governing board member and treasurer of Yes for a Stronger Community, said the pro-bond and override group is campaigning particularly hard in areas of the district that are within the Mesa and Gilbert limits. Some newer residents of those areas do not have children in school and do not realize they are part of Queen Creek's district.

If approved, the override would allow the district to spend an additional $3 million next year on free full-day kindergarten, expanded arts, athletics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classes, smaller class sizes, teacher raises and improvements to school security.

An $80 million bond would allow the district to repair aging schools and athletic fields, purchase buses and build a new school in the northern section of the district during the next 10 years.

The owner of a $180,510 Queen Creek district home — the district's average — would pay about $227 a year in property taxes in the override is approved. If the bond is approved, a typical property owner would pay about $192.21 a year