My two children have had the benefit of being in the Vail School District for the last ten years. In fact, when my wife and I were looking for a home to purchase in 2005, we specifically looked within the Vail School District due to the outstanding reputation. In an era when we are all being asked to do more with less, I am concerned about education. Passing Prop 449 would keep the Vail School District competitive with salaries compared to the rest of the region. Currently the Vail School District enjoys statistics other districts can only dream of. Graduation rates of 96% compared to the state average of only 76%. AzMERIT scores that are 61% higher than the state average. Last year alone Vail seniors were awarded close to $14.5 million in college scholarships! As a parent and member of the community I certainly want this type of return to increase each year. A 12.5% increase will cost us about $3.25 per month for each $100,000 of a home’s value. The question shouldn’t be “Can we afford this?” The answer IS “We cannot afford not to!”
Harold Janes, Vail Resident
