Korte: School, government ties amount to strong community foundation

I’ve always been thankful and impressed by the incredible teachers and education administrators that dedicate their lives to the children and teens of Scottsdale. There are few things more noble than investing in a kid’s future.

For teacher appreciation week, I want to take the time to recognize just how amazing our teachers are, particularly during the current crisis. Scottsdale teachers have adapted and led the Valley in response time to switching to distance learning, providing meals for students, and procuring laptops and tablets for students who need them.

This is why it’s so important for Scottsdale to continue to invest in education. Apart from the immediate effects of education for children, good schools is one of the leading factors in attracting high wage jobs and companies to an area, and directly contributes to property values.

As I’ve stated before, it’s time we took the need for economic diversity seriously. Our over-reliance on the tourism industry put us in an incredibly vulnerable position during this pandemic. We don’t need to diminish the tourism industry in Scottsdale, but we do need to add to our portfolio with other high-paying industries choosing to set up shop in Scottsdale.

Those companies know that if they want to attract the employees they need, those employees are looking for good schools. All of it is connected. If we want Scottsdale to continue to be a great place to live and work, we need to attract high paying jobs from multiple industries. And in order to do that, we need good schools.

If we want to diversify our economic portfolio, having a top-notch school system is essential.

Not only do good schools build our economy through attracting good jobs, it also improves property values for everyone. When young families move into neighborhoods for the sake of good schools, that drives up demand for certain neighborhoods, which improves property value for everyone who lives there.

Within the past 12 years I have been able to help lead the “Yes To Children” PAC four times! And all four bond overrides were successfully supported by our citizens and increased the needed funds for our kids in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

“Yes To Children” campaigns are highlights of my volunteer career and something I look forward to continue supporting as mayor.

If we really want to show our teachers we appreciate them this week, let’s make sure they have the support, funding, and resources they need to succeed.

We can’t just give them lip service and pretend that they will feel appreciated. Leadership means recognizing the true needs of a community and advocating for their needs.

When it comes to our schools and caring for our teachers, Leadership Matters.

Editor’s Note: Virginia Korte is a member of Scottsdale City Council seeking election to the mayor’s seat in the Aug. 4 primary.