In response: This override is needed for our kids

By Jackie Gonzalez

It seems that you cannot swing a dead political polecat without landing on someone who is for or against the Maricopa Unified School District override. On Oct. 12, Alan Marchione published an opinion piece against the override. It reads in an exasperated manner, calling into question the intentions of the school district to the “democratic process” and that it is “disrespectful to the voter,” while comparing a public school district to the charter school system.

I have been through the rigmarole of six failed override proposals, each with their own reasons as to why they were needed. Each was met with skepticism by both myself and the community at large. It was comparable to passing a plate at a religious service and asking for a contribution; there was no established plan, just please give us money. I voted “No” then.

This time seems different, however. Upon doing my own research, in conjunction with the pro and con views presented, it gave me a clearer picture of WHAT they are asking for and more importantly WHY (as opposed to previous years). The presenters of the bill explain WHERE the money is going. Contrary to Mr. Marchione’s opinion, this actually shows the voter respect; it says when you approve this, here is what you will pay and what it does for the community at large ($500,000 that goes to hiring 50 new teachers, technology, and other programs and support marked out). Like many others, this reassures me that the money granted will go where it’s meant to. Like many others, I have changed my stance on this proposition.

The questions and distinctions were raised as to the difference between a district school and a charter school. I believe that it is unfair to compare a whole school district to one specific charter school (Legacy Traditional). For instance, many charter schools raise substantial amounts of money and funding from private sources (GreatSchools.org). Spending per pupil can vary drastically even within the same city between schools. This is different from district schools, where AZ/MUSD spending is around $7,890 per student, compared to a national average of $11,927 per student (Niche.com). And while we are on the topic of sources, it was quoted through Niche that Legacy Traditional School is ranked #1. I am not sure where that information was found, since Niche.com shows Legacy as unranked for their K-10 offering.

Maricopa is indeed ranked 75th for their entire district. If you ask me, that’s atrocious. While the reasons might be cloudy, it boils down to the fact that the teachers are overworked, underpaid and expected to perform tasks way above simple “teaching.” We can all agree that better schools equal better students. This in turn equals a better workforce and punts the ball back to the job market to create jobs in town. Even if you do not have children yourself, it is selfish to think you will not see a boost to the property values that will occur. Maybe then will the parents who ship their kids off to Tempe, Kyrene or other cities trust in what MUSD has to offer.

We look to other cities often for guidance on economic matters. How do cities like Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek attract the companies and places that Maricopa wants? Let’s look at the investment that those respective cities make for their districts’ education. We cannot seek to carbon copy other aspects, but leave education out in the cold. The expected cost is around $11.80 per $100,000 of assessed value of your house. This is much lower than the market value of your house. For me, it comes out to about $17.54 per month for me. That’s not a large impact, and would not be for any sensible person or family.

Speaking specifically about Prop 123 for a moment, this statewide ballot allocates money to the entirety of the state; not just Maricopa. This override is strictly for Maricopa to enjoy and benefit from. There is overwhelming support from the MUSD Board (duh), but also from most of, if not all of the major groups in town. Maricopa City Council has come out in favor of it, as has the mayor himself, the justice constable, the Maricopa Economic Development Alliance, and the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. With so many credible groups coming out to support it, it seems as though the only ones against it this time are those who use the charter school system and who bus their kids out to other districts, robbing our Maricopa Unified School District of even more money. Just think if those kids were here, an override may not be needed.

Believe in the kids. Believe in the school system in Maricopa. Invest in the future. It may pay off sooner than you think.

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Jackie Gonzalez is a resident of Maricopa.