Potter: MUSD’s measurable progress is threatened

I am writing in response to Mr. Duane Vick’s counterpoint of not supporting the Maricopa Unified School District override.

I am also going to confront this as both a citizen and a candidate for Maricopa City Council. Mr. Vick’s assessment of MUSD is not consistent with the actual reality of progress that has occurred in the school district. Looking at one fact, Pima Butte Elementary has been the only excelling school in Pinal County. In total, MUSD has six schools with a grade level of B (see related story) and Santa Rosa was knocking on the door of that excelling label given by the state. This can be attributed to a community effort to really make our education system top notch. It’s not there yet, but I believe it’s an obtainable goal.

Also keep in mind that results do not happen overnight. However, they have reached a point of showing significant progress, especially when you look at Maricopa Elementary making AYP for the first time. The name Maricopa Elementary itself is historical to the community and that’s why, as a candidate, I want the proud history to equally include a bright future. Bright future is looking at it in the long term.

This year, all progress is threatened because the district’s has been reduced to “below a minimum amount” to provide an all-around education that includes reduced library time, computer usage, physical education, and the arts.

That’s where community comes in. This is our opportunity to ensure our schools continue their progress and to make it the model for Pinal County, and to go beyond that, to the State level. Lot of work to do, but it’s all in motion, let’s not stop it.

The school district belongs to us, the community. The same case cannot be made for the Charter Schools and rather than say one is better than another, it is outside the current predicament because while there can be measurable successes both ways, as an entire community — The City of Maricopa as a whole, has to be able to offer a school system with options. I fully agree to let the parents decide what school fits their child better. However, are the charter schools are going to accommodate the 6,000 students of Maricopa? Of course not.

So, for the sake of argument, let’s say “the charter schools are better,” but they are also allowed to put a cap on their student enrollment while Maricopa Unified accepts every child. Mr. Vick wants more parental support to “fix” MUSD, but unless Mr. Vick can find qualified teachers to volunteer as replacements for the teachers that may be let go because of budgets, I’m afraid the financial problem is real. My private sector experience is all about finance and I wouldn’t be supporting it if I didn’t see the economic reality and the grim forecast.

Now, also looking at this as a candidate for city council, I see education as part of an economic plan. I am not alone on this either. Looking at the county level, they are looking to include education as part of their Strategic Economic Plan as the historically low results of the Pinal County educational system are referenced when trying to attract industry. In fact, here’s the mission statement:

“Pinal County must develop an educated, skilled, available workforce, diversify its economy from one historically focused on natural resource industries and government to one focused on base industries; one that maximizes prosperity for all residents and ultimately enhances the County’s regional, state, national and global competitiveness.”

Substitute “city of Maricopa” where “Pinal County” is and I believe the mission statement should be ours as well. We cannot chop from the base of our economic strategic plan which is an educated workforce. We want to develop a workforce that can contribute and give us a strong return on our investment. If strong schools and a strong community are our selling points to attract new homeowners and business, why gamble on losing them?