Blog: Your vote for school board will be amongst the most important votes you’ll cast
Sep 28, 2012, 2:58 PM | Updated: 2:58 pm
Hundreds of school board seats in Arizona will be up for election this November. Odds are that many voters don’t know who is vying to represent their interests on their local school district governing boards or how critically important the decisions made by those individuals, if elected, will be.
School board members set expectations for student achievement, support district success through setting goals and the allocation of resources, and, in doing so, work to strengthen the communities they serve. They make decisions that determine how a community’s children will be educated and how tax dollars are spent.
Every child enrolled in your school district is a reason for you to vote in school board elections. Local school boards can impact the overall quality of your local schools, both now and in the future. You want the most qualified people in charge.
School board elections aren’t just for parents with children in school. Everyone has a stake in the success of public schools. Everyone in the community benefits when neighborhood public schools are strong and students are successful.
• Great schools are good business. They attract employers, strengthen the local economy and enhance property values.
• Great schools ensure our students will be prepared to keep our nation competitive in a global economy.
• Great schools keep the American Dream alive with opportunity for every child to receive a world-class education.
• Great schools keep the quality of life in a community high by producing citizens who pay taxes and obey the law.
• Great schools teach students from all backgrounds how to live and participate in our democracy.
Voting in a school board election is an investment in the future of all children, of your community and of the nation.
I hope you’ll take the time to learn more about the candidate for your local school board and decide if they have the qualities, skills and experience to serve your community by first serving and supporting the success of its students and schools. A list of questions to consider when voting in school board elections is available at http://www.azsba.org/