Marchione: Override is just more taxation in over-taxed city

By Alan Marchione

A new election cycle is upon us, and once again, we find the Maricopa Unified School District desperately trying to pass another override. The voters have now turned down this proposition six times.  At this point, it’s degrading to the democratic process, and disrespectful to the voter, to continue pushing this redundant agenda which has been vehemently rejected.

While I fully support education, I cannot support an additional education tax that isn’t distributed equitably amongst all of the students in our community.  If you’re a parent whose student attends one of our local charter schools, such as Legacy Traditional, Sequoia Pathway, or Leading Edge, your child won’t see a penny of the override funds.  That’s right, the additional taxes you’d be paying will only benefit those students attending MUSD, and your earnings will be further levied to purchase laptops for someone else’s student.

As for my tax dollars, I’ve become increasingly irritated with the ferocious appetite and sense of entitlement various government entities feel they have on what we earn.  MUSD can word-smith this however it wants to, but it’s further taxation on an already over-taxed community. Between current federal, state, county, city, MUSD, CAC, utility and gas taxes, already higher utility rates, HOA dues, and every other tax and fee that can be put on us, I’d actually like to keep what money I have left – for my family.

MUSD has a wonderful assortment of vibrant and highly qualified teachers.  However, the district is ranking at an embarrassing 75th place, according to Niche.com.  With our district sitting in the lowest quarter of districts statewide, we need to ask ourselves, why?  Marginal net improvement over the past several years indicates a severe lack of innovation and leadership. Money isn’t the only factor in well performing districts, as it comes down to leadership, effective educational philosophy and parental involvement.  Education at school is only one-half of the equation, as the other half is at home with Mom and Dad.

Here lies the important difference between our local public charter schools and MUSD.  Parental involvement.  Our neighborhood charters assign elevated significance on family participation in a child’s learning, and the result is flourishing students. MUSD is serving as a free, glorified daycare for many families, and the district needs to magnify the expectations placed on parent investment in education, instead of throwing money at the problem.

Recently, in an online discussion, Vince Manfredi, chairman of the Vote Yes on the Override campaign, crudely suggested that I thought my children were “too good for MUSD.”  Nothing could be farther from the truth. Children are receiving a comprehensive and more challenging curriculum at our local charter schools – because they are effective, efficient, and accountable. In fact, Legacy Traditional is the No. 1 Charter School in Arizona.  Simply put, as a parent who places immense importance on his children’s education and future prospects, why would I want to send my children to a district ranked 75th, when I can send them to a Charter School with a first class rating?

When considering the current override on the ballot, let’s not forget the additional, newly found revenue the district will be realizing from the recently passed Prop. 123 funds.  How much has our district needlessly spent in its continued attempts to pass the override?  The cumulative cost has been enormous, and one must wonder how that money could have been better allocated. I think MUSD should show us it can perform better within the constraints of its existing budget, as the Charter schools, and other higher performing districts around the state have done.

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Alan Marchione is a 10-year resident of Maricopa.