Higley Schools Blog

There was an interesting opinion piece over at the Arizona Republic recently pointing out that the election decision that might have the most impact on the value of your home is not at the top of the ballot but near the bottom with the school board elections. Here is an excerpt:

If you’re like most people, you’re worried about your slumping home value. And if you’re like most people, you’re weighing which presidential candidate will best protect your property values - among other things.

In reality, though, other elective offices and ballot measures could have far greater impact on whether your biggest single investment swoons or soars.

Ironically, you’ll find those candidates and measures at or near the bottom of November’s ballot.

Savvy voters might do well to vote from the bottom up, or at least not skip those often-overlooked races at the tail end.

We’re referring to school-board races and school-finance issues, as well as legislative contests that have a direct bearing on the quality of our schools.

In the Higley School District we have a serious marketing problem. One of the things I think I would bring to the Higley School Board is a marketing savvy that is severely needed. Public schools need “butts in seats” to receive state and federal funding. Yet parents have choices about where to send their kids. If HUSD doesn’t convince local parents that its schools are the best option more and more parents will send their children to other districts and charter schools. That means less money to attract and retain the best teachers and that creates a downward spiral. Conversely, a strong district with solid teacher morale and well-designed policies and programs attracts the best teachers and having the best teachers will convince parents to send children to HUSD schools. Creating a culture that attracts the best teachers starts with the governing board but at the ground level it largely is the responsibility of the Superintendent. Our new board must insist on greatness from district administration.

The other thing that will dramatically help HUSD is to renew the budget override on the ballot. Tell everyone you know to vote yes on the HUSD budget override. It may do more to prop up your home value of the next few years than any other vote you cast.

Oh, and of course tell your friends to vote for Geoff Johnston!