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Bitcon & Treon: Ensuring school override dollars are used wisely

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We have mailed in our SUSD override ballots and we both enthusiastically voted yes. We hope you do too.

Arizona public education is underfunded. Our children have never known a fully funded education in their K-12 careers, and one is a sophomore in college! As a result, we co-chaired the 2014 and 2016 Yes to Children campaigns for SUSD.

The override had failed in 2013, and 2014 brought significant changes to SUSD.

Every Wednesday became an early release day, elementary PE, art, music, and band decreased, and class sizes grew.

To say that we were desperate for an override renewal would be an understatement. Thankfully, our efforts paid off with a solid win in 2014.

It is hard to believe, but that same override is about to begin phasing out if not renewed. It is not an increase to your taxes, but a continuation. Homeowners in SUSD boundaries pay one of the lowest property tax rates in the Phoenix Metro area.

For the cost of a drink at Starbucks once a month, your yes vote will support nearly 23,000 children. We ask you to consider it an investment in our future.

These school-age children are our future doctors, mechanics, programmers, musicians, artists, politicians, and community members. We are grateful to the taxpayers who funded our public education years ago and consider our yes votes as returning the favor.

SUSD has had a rough few years in the administration and governing board departments, but the teaching and learning in the classroom never wavered.

Our schools and teachers are dedicated to educating SUSD children and preparing them to be good citizens.

Thankfully, SUSD is back on track after parents and community members fought fiercely for accountability and transparency. You can trust that your tax dollars are spent wisely in Scottsdale Unified because the community will accept nothing less.

Please join us in voting yes to the continuation of the M&O override. Our future depends on it.

Editor’s Note: Karen Treon and Cindy Bitcon were Yes to Children 2014, 2016 co-chairs.