We who are in the Cortez-Montezuma Re-1 school district community have the opportunity to support Ballot Issue 3B. If passed, funds will be used to:

Retain and recruit quality teachers and staff by increasing salaries. Provide our children with 21st century technology to help them better function in an increasingly complex world. And provide for continued reliable and safe student transportation, as nine of our busses have over 300,000 miles. Our teachers start at $29,250, which is $4,000 less on average than our neighboring districts. Because of low salaries and the competitive nature of teaching, 50 percent of our teachers have been here five years or less. Our annual turnover is about 20 percent.

Also, our district loses high-quality staff at all levels because of our low salary scale.

The cost to a residential homeowner is $35.64 per year per $100,000 of assessed evaluation. Our district has dedicated, hardworking teachers, bus drivers, food service workers and all who make our educational system work. They need to be paid a decent, competitive salary.

Together we can ensure a quality education for our kids’ future.

Jack Schuenemeyer

Cortez

Editor’s note: Jack Schuenemeyer is president of Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1