The Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board voted 3-0 last night to advance a boundary change that would move about 2,700 acres in the southeast of the city from the Casa Grande school districts into MUSD.

In 2022, MUSD built Desert Sunrise High School in an area that currently lies within the Casa Grande Elementary and High School Districts. MUSD officials say the adjustment would shorten trips for students because the affected neighborhoods are closer to Maricopa Unified schools.

Arizona law has rules about this type of thing, technically called a “minor boundary adjustment.” The change requires approval by a majority of each affected governing board and a petition signed by residents affected by the change. MUSD also promised the state that no more than 1½% of either Casa Grande district’s student body would shift, although the total number of students affected wasn’t immediately clear.

MUSD’s chief financial officer, Jacob Harmon, explained the next steps to the board at last night’s meeting: The school district has to tell the Arizona Department of Revenue, the Pinal County Assessor and the Pinal County School Superintendent about the change. The agencies will then formalize it on tax, boundary and election rolls. The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has to approve the change, too.

The resolution notes a completion before Nov. 1 to stay ahead of state tax-calendar deadlines. Harmon estimated the change would appear in county and state systems by July, just a few months before next year’s midterm elections.

“It’s about time we get this done,” said school board member Patti Coutré to Harmon during the discussion, “so I’m happy that we are finally moving forward.”

State law allows for a single boundary change like this, so this is one-and-done process. Even after all of that, final implementation isn’t done until Casa Grande signs off.

InMaricopa contacted the Casa Grande districts for comment but received no responses.