Public education is in peril. Arizona ranks in the bottom three states in the nation for funding of public school students. Starting salaries for teachers is 49th in the nation. Congratulations; we beat Mississippi.

Funding for our public schools is down 11.6 percent since 2010. We are also last in public school funding, and the beat goes on. For many of you this is the first time you have had access to this information. Why is that? The cause for our peril is the state’s congress. They are not close to maintaining the status quo, let alone increasing school spending.

Where is this going to end? Your guess is as good as mine. Every election I vote to get the culprits out of office, to no avail.

Despite the lack of funding, Fountain Hills education is among the best in the state, but we need additional funds to maintain our pace. Come this November, I strongly suggest you vote yes on the education override. This will cost us next to nothing and it will help us tremendously in our ability to maintain our standard of excellence.