by Anne Gibson
Citizens of Vail for Education (COVE) wasted no time on jumping into action on Tuesday, June 26th after the Vail School District Governing Board called for a $61.3 million dollar bond. The bond question will appear on the November general election ballot for residents of the school district. COVE is a political action committee existing to work in support of bond and override elections called for by the district’s governing board. It tends to rest in between elections, but is activated when needed. With the word that the election had been called, the co-chairs immediately called for a kickoff meeting of supporters held on Monday, July 9th.
Matt and Tanya Hoose will co-chair Citizens of Vail for Education (COVE) for their second general election.
Matt Hoose issued an open invitation to interested volunteers to attend the 4:30 PM meetings at Desert Sky Middle School, 9850 E. Rankin Loop in Rita Ranch. The August meetings will be on Monday, August 6th and Monday, August 20th in Room 303 at the middle school.
COVE is co-chaired by the husband and wife team of Matt and Tanya Hoose. Matt is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel currently employed by Raytheon. Tanya spent the last seven of her ten years in education teaching math at Vail’s Desert Sky Middle School. Working with Matt and Tanya are Kiki Ngo as treasurer, Darcy Mentone as a communications specialist, Ethan Hurley coordinating the banners and signs, Jean Peglow heading up the employee rallies, organizing the volunteers for events is Travis Newton, and Stacy Winstryg is heading up fundraising. “We believe this election is important to the students, teachers, and community because we understand the value of a quality education,” said Matt. He and Tanya have seven children ages 15 to 22, all of which have benefitted from the Vail School District.
A committee of Vail community members spent over six months determining if a bond was needed and to what amount. Our collective voices determined that a $61.3 million bond is needed to build a new comprehensive high school, an additional K-8 school, expanded special needs services for preschoolers, and to provide district-wide maintenance and technology upgrades, Matt said. As we have benefitted from proper planning and budgeting in the past, it is our responsibility to continue to prepare and provide a high quality education for our community’s children long after ours have graduated from high school. We are proud to live and work in this community and volunteering to see this bond passed is what we desire to do for “Our Kids, Our Community, and Our Future,” said Matt.
