The Department of Defense has awarded a mammoth $8 million grant to Yuma Elementary School District One for the construction of a new James D. Price Elementary School at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
The federal funding represents the lion’s share of a larger $10 million project that aims to address critical facility issues at the school, which ranked #35 on the 2019 Deputy Secretary of Defense “Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List,” according to a statement from the DOD released Thursday.
Military Children Get New Learning Environment
The new facility will support 125 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, replacing an aging structure that has struggled with both capacity and condition deficiencies. A multi-disciplined Federal Evaluation Team — comprising representatives from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation — carefully reviewed the project before approving the funds.
“In correcting the identified facility condition and capacity issues at the James D. Price Elementary School, this grant keeps faith with service members, improves the quality of education for defense-connected students, aids in the recruitment and retention of vital skills at Yuma Proving Ground, and enhances partnerships between the community and the installation,” the DOD noted in its release.
The funding comes from the Department’s Public Schools on Military Installations Program, which prioritizes schools with the most pressing facility issues as determined by the Priority List. James D. Price Elementary is already designated as an Arizona Purple Star School, a recognition awarded to institutions that demonstrate exceptional support for military-connected students and their families.
Part of Broader District Improvements
Why now? The timing aligns with broader capital improvement efforts throughout Yuma Elementary School District One. The district is currently seeking voter approval for a separate $77 million bond measure, which would fund additional improvements focused on safety, modernization, and creating accessible, 21st-century learning spaces beginning November 5, 2024.
District One Superintendent James Sheldahl, himself a finalist for the 2025 AVID Global Achievement Award for District Leader of the Year, has been vocal about the challenges of managing school capacity amid significant growth.
“Multiple new housing divisions are being built out. District One is experiencing significant growth in the number of families residing within the district…resulting in both students, both schools, reaching near and exceeding their capacity,” Sheldahl said in a May interview with KYMA.
He noted that some District One schools, including Roosevelt Elementary School which serves the College Acres and Del Prado Estates housing communities, still have capacity to support new students. But the situation at Yuma Proving Ground required federal intervention.
Supporting Military Families
The DOD grant represents more than just bricks and mortar. For military families stationed at Yuma Proving Ground, the new school promises to provide stability and educational excellence for children who often face unique challenges associated with military life.
The connection between quality educational facilities and military recruitment and retention has been well-documented by Pentagon officials in recent years. Schools like James D. Price Elementary serve as anchors for military communities, offering continuity for families who may move frequently during their service careers.
Construction timelines for the new facility haven’t yet been announced, though similar projects typically take between 18-24 months from groundbreaking to completion. For now, the 125 students and their families can look forward to a school that matches the commitment they’ve made to serving their country.
