By VYTO STARINSKAS The Verde Independent
Sep 22, 2026
1 of 2 Superintendent Jessica Vocca displays a piece of water pipe that was removed during repairs at Cottonwood Elementary S Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce Breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (VVN/Vyto Starinskas)
Superintendent Jessica Vocca and the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District are taking their $30 million bond on the road.
9/25/26, 8:42 AM COCSD takes $30 million bond on the road | News | verdenews.com https://www.verdenews.com/news/cocsd-takes-30-million-bond-on-the-road/article_207c1127-0548-43cd-8c03-89738c96d30d.html 1/3
The district has been meeting with community members like the Verde Valley Chamber ofCommerce, senior center, and Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs to get the word out about howimportant the November bond vote is to COCSD schools and students.
“Our goal is to make accurate information readily available and give community membersopportunities to hear directly from district leadership, ask questions and better understand thefacts,” said Tricia Winters, executive assistant to Superintendent Jessica Vocca.
At a Verde Valley Chamber breakfast Sept. 15, Vocca began by explaining that because thedistrict doesn’t have a funding mechanism for large capital projects, the state has establisheda mechanism of a capital bond.
The district manages its operational budget responsibly, but Arizona law requires schooldistricts to seek voter approval through capital bonds for large facility, infrastructure andschool-safety improvement projects.
Vocca said many of the schools in the district were built in the 1950s through the 1970s. Manyof the HVAC systems are failing, and the district has had a water break at about every campusalong with septic issues.
“We find since our schools were built in the ‘50s, ‘70s and ‘80s, even 2004 and 2007, is thatthey’re not built in such a way that provides the safety that students need,” Vocca said.
She said the schools still have swamp coolers in the kitchens and gyms, and that it can bechallenging this time of year.
“We’ve had some roofs that are going to need repairs, that cost about $200,000 apiece,”Vocca continued.
The lighting and electrical systems in the classrooms need to meet minimum guidelines.
“So, what we’re finding is that with our aging buildings, it’s hard for us to stay within thatdistrict’s additional maintenance budget.”
Vocca pointed out that the state has come out with minimum guidelines to operate as a schooldistrict.
9/25/26, 8:42 AM COCSD takes $30 million bond on the road | News | verdenews.com https://www.verdenews.com/news/cocsd-takes-30-million-bond-on-the-road/article_207c1127-0548-43cd-8c03-89738c96d30d.html 2/3
The school bond is for safety, security and public address system upgrades, HVAC, pumpingwater line and well improvements, lighting replacements, roof repairs and replacements, andsidewalk and parking lot asphalt improvements at the four district schools.
“When we’re looking at a project such as replacing a HVAC system, it’ll be between $3 to $6million depending on how many you replace,” the superintendent said. “What we’re finding iswe don’t have enough capital money to replace a lot of those systems.”
Vocca’s information sheet shared at the meeting broke down the bond investment by school:Dr. Daniel Bright, $6,700,000; Cottonwood Community School, $6,700,000; Mountain ViewPrep, $6,700,000; Oak Creek Elementary, $5,300,000; Cottonwood Educational Services,$800,000; Bus Barn, $2,100,000; Curriculum, $1,00,000; and district office, $700,000.
For the $30 million bond, the tax increase would be about $43 a year for a $100,000 tax-valued home or about $86 for an average $200,000 tax-valued home for this area, explainedMike LaVallee of Stifell Public Finance during the May 6 school board meeting when the bondwas announced.
“Remember, a tax-valued home is different than a market-value home,” LaVallee said, when itcomes to figuring out a tax rate. People have to look at their county tax bill to figure out thetax value of their home by the county assessor. A $200,000 tax value home, appraised by theassessor, could be a $400,000 or $500,000 home, he said.
The district also is in its first year of a $6 million override approved by voters, and it’s for sixyears. That funding goes directly to programs, salaries, and benefits to keep programs inplace.
Vyto Starinskas
Photo Journalist
9/25/26, 8:42 AM COCSD takes $30 million bond on the road | News | verdenews.com