Local opinion: Vote yes on Props. 498, 499 for Sunnyside

Dear Sunnyside Community,

I have coached, taught and served as the lead interventionist in the Sunnyside Unified School District for nearly 30 years. The greatest portion of my professional life has been spent at Desert View High School. My life and my character have truly been shaped by this community. There is no question that the need to support our students and schools is great, and the Sunnyside Unified School District cannot continue to succeed without ongoing community support. To continue serving the needs of our students and schools, and to continue supporting our dedicated employees, the Sunnyside Unified School District needs its community to vote YES on Propositions 498 and 499.

If there is one thing that makes this country great, it is the opportunity given by public education. But it is not equal. While talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. And while we are not a wealthy district, we are rich in traditions and heritage. As educators, we are driven to maintain the education of our children and families, and that is only possible when there is a true partnership between our schools and the community. Our students deserve dependable transportation and modern, well-maintained facilities to support their learning every day. Furthermore, our students deserve high quality instruction, paired with safety and critical programming that ensure resilience, opportunity, and confidence within our community. There is no greater value for the maintenance of our obligations than the application of your tax dollars to the education of these students.

Sunnyside Unified School District is the soul of Southern Arizona and embodies the rich history of success and progress. We are the past and we are the future. We are fine arts and engineering, languages and mathematics. We are folklorico, mariachi, and athletics that, in many cases, our students would not have access to outside of our district schools. Our graduates serve and heal this community. Our students become our policemen and firemen, doctors and nurses. Our students are entrepreneurs and managers of family businesses that span generations. They are the future teachers and role models for children yet to be born. Your investment in students and schools will ensure the prosperity of our community for years to come.

We need you! We need you to vote YES on Propositions 498 and 499. Your yes vote gives critical support to our students and our community. The support of the Sunnyside District may not be a legislative concern of all southern Arizona communities, but I submit, to ensure quality education, safety and opportunity for the students and families within our Sunnyside District community, it should be yours. Please vote. And please vote YES on Propositions 498 and 499.