Feb

23

Our Highest Priority

Filed Under Uncategorized 

By Carl Diedrich
Council Member City of Maricopa

“Surely no tax can be called that which we give to our children in the most valuable of all forms, that of instruction…an addition to our contributions almost insensible…in fact, will not be felt as a burden, because applied immediately and visibly to the good of our children.”

These words, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1817 are just as true today as when they were jotted down as notes while crafting the Elementary School Act.Ā  I reflect on this concept when asked to consider the MUSD Override on March 9th.

Reductions in funding will not fix perceived mismanagement issues.Ā  Reductions in funding will not ā€œforceā€ the state to send more money to our community.Ā  Reductions in funding will not make more parents consider our local education options over other more established districts.Ā  The bottom line is a reduction in funding is not a solution to any problem that MUSD faces today.Ā  Not only will programs be cut, administration will be forced to do more with less.Ā  I know I donā€™t want any of our childrenā€™s educational experiences to be compromised.Ā  We must demand more from our schools, but we must also provide the resources necessary to excel.

What a continuation of the override will do is give our children a chance to continue receiving a better education through lower student to instructor ratios, increased extra-curricular support, and the continuation of all-day kindergarten.Ā  It will be ā€œapplied immediately and visibly to the good of our childrenā€.Ā  There is no greater gift we can give to our kids than the knowledge that their community supports their education.

MUSD has made strides in both administration and quality of education.Ā  Our district is poised for a continued evolution of improvement.Ā  Now is not the time to force the district into staffing and program cuts because of past performance.Ā  What message would that send?Ā  At a point in history where Arizonaā€™s education spending is at the bottom in America, we must act locally to support education in Maricopa. Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, ā€œThe school is the last expenditure on which America should be willing to economize.ā€Ā  I agree.

Join me in supporting the MUSD Override on March 9th.Ā  Make education our highest priority by voting YES!

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