Members, we’ve heard from many of you who have concerns about a school locating within Sun City West.
Please be aware the Recreation Centers of Sun City West is not a city government and has no authority or say in the private businesses that locate in Sun City West. We operate only the properties (recreation center campuses and golf courses) owned by RCSCW.
We want to specifically correct some rumors that are circulating about this school as it relates to RCSCW. Here are the facts:
- The Rec Centers does not own the land or building in which the proposed school will be located.
- The Rec Centers does not approve or otherwise have a say in the school being located in this community.
- The Rec Centers does not, nor will not, receive any school taxes from this or any other school in Sun City West.
- This school will in no way affect Owner Member dues, nor will the school have any claim to access our facilities.
If you have concerns about this or any other project in District 4 of Maricopa County, please contact County Supervisor Debbie Lesko at 602-506-7642.
For additional clarification on the Rec Centers’ purpose and responsibilities, please see the following from RCSCW Governing Board President Jack Leary:
“I have received numerous complaint emails regarding the recent article regarding the new private school coming to Sun City West and must respond to member concerns.
The Recreation Centers of Sun City West (RCSCW, aka the Association) is a nonprofit corporation established for the purpose of owning, operating, maintaining and preserving facilities which enhance the recreational, social and leisure interests of its Membership. As such, RCSCW is responsible for the acquisition, construction, management, maintenance, and care of Association Property consisting of recreation centers, golf courses, buildings, etc. The Association has absolutely no authority, control, or influence over the commercial operations within the walls of Sun City West in unincorporated Maricopa County.
Individual business owners make their own decisions regarding locating their businesses within our community. They do so freely and are not required to consult, inform, or register with RCSCW. Maricopa County is responsible for issuing all licenses, permits, and other approvals, as well as enforcing and maintaining their laws, regulations, and facilities (e.g., the roads). The Governing Board and the Association have no authority to govern the businesses located within Sun City West.
Children within a private business located in Sun City West during business hours are not residents and their presence will not affect the Association’s age restriction designation nor increase school taxes. I am confident that the school will be a good neighbor to all Sun City West residents.”
Time to start looking for a new home. Don’t need a school and kids where I live.
Why would someone open a school in a 55+ community? That makes no sense at all
The camel’s nose is under the tent flap. If this proposal goes forward, we as residents will be affected by a number of things, not the least is an influx of children before, during AND after school hours.
And who is the dummy that thinks it’s a good idea to mix kids with senior citizens? Especially in an age-restricted community?
We moved here for a reason. No children, no schools, no noise and no school traffic. This has to be one of the dumbest things to be allowed in a 55+ community. There needs to be guidelines for businesses in here. Does a senior community not mean anything?
Debbie Laske! Caller office.
Where is this proposed school plan to locate?? What kind of school is it?? More info please.
Hello Val. Our information is coming from the company’s website, as we have had no involvement in the decision to locate the school here. Their website is https://www.victoryautismacademy.com/sun-city-west-campus/
nothing good will come of this. most of us are upset. i’m concerned what will come next
Why would anyone want to put a K-12 school in the middle of an age restricted community? How long before they start asking to use our recreation facilities? We chose an age restricted community purposely. Schools were NOT part of the deal!
The school serves a limited enrollment for Austisic children.
Let’s be kind.
I am kind, but does this open the door to someone opening a daycare or another school.
Where is this proposed school located?
Hello Fran. Our information is coming from the company’s website, as we have had no involvement in the decision to locate the school here. Their website is https://www.victoryautismacademy.com/sun-city-west-campus/
What a stupid idea of putting a school in SCW. Looks like the Sheriff’s Posses will be busier than usual. Children get into trouble more in residential areas.
Usually children have to live in the school district of the school but this is SCW and you have to be 55 years old. What is this all about.
There should be a law that no monies will be received by this school!
We live directly behind the proposed school on 140th Avenue! Our concern is the noise….is there going to be an outdoor recreation area? Obviously that would be noisy! Also, the traffic incurred is a concern!
We are extremely disappointed at this news. We did not move to a 55 plus community to again have to deal with children, noises made, in the stores etc. SCW is not a true 55+ community and you can be assured that we wl sell and move out. SCW has truly deceived its senior residents.
But SCW doesn’t control this, so SCW hasn’t deceiving anyone. ??
it doesn’t appear to be a large school, a smaller private one for autistic children, I wouldn’t think it would pose the same issues as a traditional school
I, apparently mistakenly, thought the land and buildings within Sun City West were owned/controlled by the Foundation, and leased to various businesses to generate income. Is this not the case? Is the land investor owned, with no restrictions? I understand the school plans to expand the existing building. If, at some future date, the school decided to offer residential care for young students, would that be permissible? Does the age restriction only apply to individual homes, not businesses? Can someone under age 55 own commercial property here? If so, what’s to prevent them from living in an office suite? Clearly, many of us thought Sun City West (in its entirety) was a senior residential community, with limited medical and commercial facilities to provide care and convenience to residents. I didn’t realize property could be purchased/owned/used by anyone for any legal purpose. Sorry for rambling on……
Why would anybody even think about locating a school in a senior community? We moved here to get away from unruly, rude and noisy children. Consider the added traffic in addition to the present cut-through traffic we now have to deal with. Too bad the RCSCW does not have involvement as to what can/can’t locate here.
As the CEO of Victory Autism Academy, I’d like to directly address the recent concerns and misconceptions surrounding our new campus in Sun City West. The level of fear and, in some cases, hostility we’ve seen has been disappointing—but not surprising. Stigma around disability still exists, and our school exists to change that.
Here are the facts.
Victory Autism Academy is a private, non-residential school serving students with autism and related disabilities. We are not a traditional K–12 school, and we will not impact the character of your community, your pocketbooks, or your daily lives.
Let’s walk through some of the common concerns:
There is no tax impact on Sun City West residents. We do not receive funding from property taxes, the Rec Centers, or any local municipal source. We are a privately funded institution.
Our students do not live in Sun City West. They come from across the West Valley—Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Vistancia, and other surrounding cities. This is not a residential facility, though Sun City West currently does house residential programs.
Our students will not use Sun City parks, gyms, or community spaces. There will be no impact on your amenities. We operate entirely on our private campus.
We transport over 80% of our students in small school vans. You will not see students walking to or from our campus. The concerns about traffic, noise, or parking overflow are unfounded.
There are already multiple autism centers, therapy clinics, and mental health rehab facilities in Sun City West. If we didn’t have the word “school” in our name, most people wouldn’t notice we were there. What we do is almost identical to what those centers offer—speech, occupational, physical, music, and animal-assisted therapies.
Our campus will be quiet, self-contained, and fenced to meet Maricopa County requirements. You will not hear school bells. You will likely not even notice we’re there.
But we’re not here to hide. We’re here to serve.
Our students are children with autism who rely on our services to communicate, to grow, to thrive. We’re not a threat to your lifestyle. We’re a lifeline to theirs.
I understand the initial surprise some residents felt—but what I ask now is simple: pause the panic. Drop the assumptions. And look at the facts.
To the many neighbors who’ve already reached out with warmth, encouragement, and a willingness to volunteer—thank you. Your kindness is deeply felt. To others, I leave you with this: we are not here to disrupt. We are here to help. And if you don’t want to be near our students, simply don’t come onto our campus.
But if you do want to make a difference in the lives of some incredible kids, we’d love to have you.
Mr. Schuerman, thank you for weighing in and providing more information to our residents. Hopefully your insight will put the rumors and misunderstanding to rest. Many of our residents and chartered clubs go above and beyond with their charitable endeavors, so we’re confident you will have many new volunteers coming forward. There are a lot of talented and big-hearted people here!
“They come from across the West Valley—Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Vistancia, and other surrounding cities”. Why not go there? Would it not be easier on the families rather than have to drive all the way to a senior community?
I have not read one derogatory comment about autistic kids so you pulled that out of the air as some sort of maneuver to create guilt and unrelated sympathy. We all love kids but we moved here to be with 55 and older.
I doubt folks will even be aware that the school is located in our area. Like many things that happen, or don’t happen in our community, it’s being blown out of porpotion. Plus, please go back to what Jack wrote; this has nothing to do with the SCW Association (to which you pay yor dues). Meanwhile to understand more about our community, contact the Rec Center to sign up for TORCH, you’ll understand and love our community even more.
So there will not be more traffic than what we have now? Who are you working for?
So there will not be anymore traffic then what we already have? Who do you work for?
Folks,
This is suprising news for our community – I was very surprised to read this! First off, I could not imagine any available property for the school. Secondly, I was concerned with the ages of the students. However, if you take a minute to look at the map of where the school building is located, you will notice that it is a completely business area of SCW – Camino del Sol and Meeker Blvd. As most of us know, autism students can be composed of ages from pre-school to post high school. I think we must go forward with a more positive attitude that a school for children with this disadvantage would not be put in an area where the children would not be safe. The set up of the building allows for buses and off main road discharge of students by buses and/or cars. Let’s give the school the benefit of the doubt and assume they have the best interest of this multiage group in their hearts. The location of the school doesn’t appear that any housing neighborhoods will be disturbed. Unless we may have to wait a bit longer at the traffice light by this building, I doubt our residents will even be aware of this school’s presence. Surely we can be a bit patient and not panic without a reason!
Regardless, the board of directors and general manager should have spoken out about the community concerns. This is not acceptable.
Tom, Speaking as a Director but only for myself. I found out about this the same time it became public knowledge. Actually, my wife told me about this, and she had just heard it on the Golf Course.
As we know now, there still isn’t a thing we as Directors can do nothing about it.
Suggestion, maybe check with Planning & Zoning or possible County permitting.
Hope this helps,
Dennis
Hello PORA!! We need you!!
RSCSW is spot on. They have no control over this proposed school. Neither does PORA, but PORA may be our best shot at addressing what I think most of us in Sun City West finds to be an invasion of our 55+ community.
When I first read about this K-12 school moving into SCW I got to thinking ” why?”.
It’s simple, there’s an empty building and there’s an owner who needs to generate a cash flow to keep it away from the tax man, the banker, and all the rest of those who may have a claim on the owner’s interest in that investment and there’s a user who can pay the freight.
So. what do you want to do?
Take away the right of that owner to protect their investment?
I don’t.
That investor most probably made that investment in good faith because they felt SCW was a good place as a home for that hard earned money.
I just think that we should send that user down the street and think about how to protect what we want to protect.
I don’t know what the numbers look like, but does RSCSW have need for that square footage?
Does PORA’ have contacts with other users?
Is this something that PORA should have been privy to before now?
I’m as guilty as the rest of us in letting PORA down.
And because we let PORA down, PORA might have let us down.
My thanks to those who stayed with PORA and I think they did the best they could for as long as they could.
They weren’t perfect but by golly they were there when we weren’t.
Join PORA! Share your thoughts. If you think SCW is the best resort to live in in the world for us of modest means do something, if you don’t, go find another place to live.
I agree this should not affect our 55 overlay.
Understand concerns expressed over noise, and hopefully management/ownership has considered this in their decision to locate here?
Since this is s facility focused upon Autistic Children management will closely monitor the children and possibly they will not be outside unsupervised?
At any rate i agree there was little our Association could do to influence this matter
I am concerned about the traffic flow, and crowded roads at pick up and drop off, especially down near our medical offices and hospital facilities off Meeker. Since it’s a K-12 school, there may be 15-25 (? I’m just guessing?) students per grade level, multiplied by 13 (kindergarten plus four years of high school). In addition, ample staff parking space will be needed.
But pick up and drop off safe traffic flows will be crucial to student and staff safety, and will definitely be heavier in that area with potentially upwards of 200 parents dropping off/parking/parent conferences nights, etc.
I am very concerned and dont agree with it. I wish there was something we could do to stop it?
Please contact County Supervisor Debbie Lesko at 602-506-7642 or https://www.maricopa.gov/260/District-4 with your concerns
This proposed school for Autistic children which is directly across the street from Virtue Detox Recovery Center is not a good idea. Concerns from the posse commander were published; in part the commander said patients of the recovery center often leave and wander around SCW and they (posse) are called to try and locate said residents.
A school for Autistic children directly across the street from a detox recovery center could be an “accident waiting to happen”. Imagine if one of these recovery center patients should wander across the street to the school, just sayin’.
Upon learning about the proposed school in the community SCW board of directors and general manager should have gotten off their collective behinds and contacted the proper government bureaucrats to stop this transaction. Instead, as usual, they are passing the buck to SCW residents to try and stop the school from putting down roots. SCW has a very weak management team that would rather not respond to confrontation.
I just closed escrow on February 26, 2025, as a newly retired Special Education Teacher (May 2024) and wanted to get the hell out of all school areas, buses, obnoxious, disrespectful students, and parents. They have no regard for dress code ethics, theft, littering, drug and gun violence, abusive language, especially to elders, and traffic and noise from all the vehicles. I thought I had found my nirvana. Sun City West has rules and regulations; how did this happen? If one school opens, guess what, folks, more to come. This is utter chaos.
What a pathetic tirade……
Agree., I am especially dismayed by former educators responses..
Really? I would have thought that a SPED teacher would be a bit more compassionate for SPED students. I get the part about students and parents in general but please tell me when was the last time you had an Autistic student act the way you describe above? I’ve been around plenty of AUTISTIC students and have not seen the actions you describe.
By the way, property values will drop, and who wants to buy a home near a school at our age? There is so much supply of houses listed as is, guaranteed, this will create more. We are being forced out of our community by residents who don’t even live in or should live in our 55+ community.
Thank you for the excellent explanation of the issue.
Has anyone looked into whether use of the property as a charter school (or whatever the use is going to be) complies with Maricopa County Zoning Ordinances? Would it be worth retaining a lawyer to determine if anything can be done?
Steve, I absolutely agree. Does this fit with Maricopa County Zoning Ordinances? It’s absolutely worth hiring an attorney. Trust me, school parking lots have high vandalism rates.
Did you know there is a preschool called Hopebridge for autistic children in SCW? It’s been there for several years. It’s on Shumway over by the hospital, overlooking Grandview golf course. Parents drop their children off – they aren’t bussed. Will the children at the K-12 autism center be bussed or is that a drop-off situation as well? I think the traffic impacts would depend on the number of students. Another thought is that those of us in the older part of town pay no property tax for K-12 schools. Will that change if this school goes in?
Don’t just tell us what RCSCW can and cannot due. Give us the facts. Is this a private school where the parents’ pay tuition and support & fund the entire cost of the school? Where is the building located? How many children will be enrolled? Why didn’t RCSCW advise the community long ago about this possibility? Why would you have to tell us it will not affect out Rec. dues? That should be a given if it’s not a part of RCSCW. I think our General Manager, RCSCW Attorney and Governing board better make sure this school doesn’t change our current property tax rates. Another bumbling fiasco that our so called “Leaders” have allowed to happen and have failed to stop. Brings back memories of the screwed-up Village Store IRS issue and the mess that the Stardust Theater has gotten themselves into. Don’t just give us useless information like you have just done with this post. Give us the FACTS, all of the FACTS. Don’t just push us off to Debbie Lesko.
This is the time for our governing board to step up to earn their wages and prevent this K-12 school from operating in our retirement community. Instead they are sitting on their hands and doing nothing.
Carlton, our Governing Board does not receive wages. The Governing Board is comprised of nine volunteer owner-members who are elected by the community to set policy for RCSCW. They receive no pay, and have no authority over private business here.
Then who is getting paid the legal and professional fees of $132,347 YTD as indicated in the March 2025 financials. They should start earning the money our dues are paying them for.
Also, if you are volunteers then I would like to know who are the individuals receiving the $1,550,877 in wages & benefits just for March alone.
Why are we paying out all this money to operating expenses when no one seems to be able to take this school issue on and help us to prevent this from happening.
Hello everyone. We understand you all still have a lot of questions about this new school. Unfortunately, the Rec Centers does not have all the answers; we have attempted to provide as much information as we can, and to provide contact information for the County, which is the governing body for this situation. If you visit the company’s website, https://www.victoryautismacademy.com/, you will find contact information for the Victory Academy, as well as the address of the school location. The company also reports that it is a for-profit, private school provider, so it does not receive school taxes. Our Governing Board has zero involvement in Maricopa County approving zoning cases, businesses licenses, etc. We DO have the responsibility to track and report the percentage of homeowners who are 55+, in accordance with the federal Housing for Older Persons Law, and we do that regularly to ensure we retain our age restriction. Private businesses in this community do not affect those reporting numbers. We encourage our residents to take our TORCH Citizens Academy, which will help explain how RCSCW operates, and what its roles and responsibilities are in the community, in relation to Maricopa County, private businesses, federal laws, etc. You can find more information and a registration form for TORCH here: https://suncitywest.com/torch/
You did not answer my question on why we are paying out $132,347 YTD in legal and professional fees if no one is able to stop the school from being in our retirement community!
Are we paying this large amount just to someone to process our annual dues and then charging us a handling fee when processing refunds?
Hello Carlton. The Rec Centers’ legal fees do not cover annual dues or refund processing. It covers a host of other things including legal advice sought by the Governing Board, occasional CC&R issues that require legal action (collections, injunctions, etc), or even age-restriction disputes. Because we do not get involved in private businesses such as this school, it does not affect our legal fees in any way.
All of Sun Cities (Del Webb) advertises catering to 55+, and nowhere did my research indicate that any BIZ, including schools, can be a part of these communities. Our townships, i.e., SC, SCW, and SC Grand, failed to do so. I’m not talking rec centers, but the townships themselves. This school has options in Surprise, Dysart, etc., somewhere where they are wanted. While touring virtually and in person, I knew that I was paying Dysart school taxes, which was my choice to buy or not in these townships. We may not be paying for school taxes, but our Sheriff’s Posse will be in high demand. Who gets priority? Do they want to patrol that area daily 2X’s/day and is there or will there be enough staff? As a newly retired SPED Teacher, I have done enough AM/PM duties for public, private, and charter schools to know exactly what this will look like. My previous NE Phoenix home had a school in my neighborhood, and the tension was beyond.
Last comment from this peanut gallery, not yet hearing back from Debbie Lesko, County Supervisor, Google my brain in the sky bolded and highlighted, “No, Sun City West is not zoned for schools.” my point is it doesn’t matter, public, private or charter funding we are NOT zoned for schools.
If you depend on Ms. Lesko you will be disappointed. I have dealt with Ms Lesko before. I’ll sign out as My Mother’s Bed Rails so Ms. Lesko will know who I am.
The sky is falling! I thought being older adults we just might have gotten past the NIMBY thing but I guess not. How’s about we block all kids in places we actually have the power to do so. Pools, Bowling, Rec Centers, Mini Golf, Golf courses and stop ALL child related activities sponsored by RCSCW! Rip out the playground at Beardsley so we don’t have to hear those dratted kids squeel with joy, keep them off the lawns, how DARE they shout and play disturbing the wonderful quiet atmosphere of constant sirens, jets, racing cars and motorcycles as well as barking dogs.
We purchased in an Adult Sr. Living community to avoid children and their activities. Locate this and any future ideas for schools near another school district that can cohabit with them. We have learned to accept Grandkids during the Holidays using our facilities and understand Grandparents wanting them to visit….
Our leaders need to be more involved with the process other than just letting us know it has happened or is about to happen.
First the leaders have to care. Of course they knew there would be feedback. They have all the other cities (“They come from across the West Valley—Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Vistancia, and other surrounding cities”. Quote unquote) to choose from and much more open space and buildings but they chose a 55 plus community. There is something going on here that we are not being told or made aware of.
Just something to consider…. as of June 1st 2025, there are 32 registered sex offenders living in Sun City West. You can see a map online, however, there are 12 not shown on the map (according to that site). I don’t understand why the powers that be want to put that school in Sun City West when surely there are many options outside of an age-restricted community – perhaps taxes? Who pays for the entire scheme? How many buses, how much more water, and sewer services will be required? Who foots all that? and all the salaries, insurance, etc that comes with a school, where does that funding come from? I don’t live in SCW, I live in the original, but I think it’s important to maintain our communities as they were intended; and for everyone, the sex offender population should be a concern.
I thought I was a grumpy old man but some of the people on here make me look pretty tame. From what I have found online we probably won’t even know it’s there. There may be a few small vans coming and going but that’s about it.
We have lived in this community for 15 years. Our parents lived here before us and the key point was that this was a 55 and older community. Someone wrote earlier that if a K-12 school is permitted here then what would prevent other K-12 school organizations from finding other buildings for sale in this community. The least that should have happened is that the residents who have property, pay taxes and dues be notified to give their opinions. The businesses in this community need to continue serving the 55 and older community as Sun City West has advertised since the beginning and still does.
As I understand, we have various treatment centres and clinics in our community that are not solely for SCW residents. That doesn’t mean our streets are threatened by drunks and druggies. Get a grip, folks. Please read the responses that explain the ‘school’ before you vent.