PHX Reporter

The Deer Valley School District accepted a letter of intent to alter a lease agreement with the city of Phoenix, as well as the potential use of adjacent land, during the district's meeting on May 9.

The district leases land from the state land department to operate Sandra Day O’Connor High school. The lease is a long-standing agreement, not set to expire until 2076. Phoenix officials recently reached out to the district seeking the purchase of land adjacent to the high school. The Arizona State Land Department has agreed to work with the city on the purchase, which is state land. Because the property is adjacent to the school, the school must change the legal description of its parcel, which would then affect the district's lease agreement with the city.

"This is exploring an option to release ourselves from a state land lease for a portion of the property that Sandra Day O'Connor High School currently sits on," Deputy Superintendent Jim Migliorino explained. "We do not own the parcel. It was a 75-year lease when we acquired it back in the early 2000. And this would allow us [to release] our interest, and that would allow the city of Phoenix to entertain the option to purchase it from the state land department."

The school district had already been in talks with the city on what to do with the land, having received presentations on the matter from the city in April. After the purchase, the city would connect the land with the Deem Hills recreation area and trails. They plan to develop a 120-space parking lot at the new connection to the trails, with 100 of those spaces available for use by students and teachers during school hours. The district will take care of clean up and maintenance of the lot in return, Migliorino said.

The city must also ensure a buffer zone of at least 250 feet between school grounds and any trails or city park areas, and ensure proper signage and security in the area to keep students and faculty as safe as possible. The district will also be allowed to use the property for educational purposes. 

Some members expressed concern that the lease payments wouldn't decrease despite losing part of the land, but the payment amounts were not based on the undeveloped lot, officials said. The board approved the letter of intent, and will move forward with a public engagement process before purchasing the land.