Payson Roundup

Editor:

Upon my retirement as superintendent of Chandler Unified School District, my wife and I purchased a home in Whispering Pines, which is served by the Payson Unified School District. I know from my past experience that an override can become an emotional issue with voters residing within the district.

This year the district reduced its budget by $400,000 and if the override is not passed, the budget stands to be reduced by another $400,000.

With these cuts, the district efforts to maintain the current level of excellence will be sadly affected. That being said, I strongly support the upcoming Payson Unified Override Proposal.

The citizens/parents have high expectations from the PUSD, and from my perspective, the district has responded to the challenge. Graduates of Payson High School have been able to pursue the fields of their choice, be it at the university level or other options they have chosen.

PUSD has been able to provide excellence in education in past years because they have been good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and in spite of the failure of the last override. Looking forward, failure of the upcoming override election will have an adverse effect on the quality of education in Payson. Our teachers, parents and children deserve better.

The economy is affecting each of us, some worse than others, but an investment in our schools is an investment in our children’s future.

Let’s put our children’s future first!

I strongly urge you to support the proposed override. Vote yes on this important issue.

Howard K. Conley