August 05, 2009 04:51 AM UTC

What Colorado Can Learn from Greeley's Business Community

• 5 Comments
• by: Great Education Colorado

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Yesterday’s Greeley Tribune reported that a citizen’s panel – including prominent business owners, university professors, and residents – has decided to support a local effort to improve outcomes and invest in their local schools.  The Greeley-Evans School District 6 ranks 170 out of 178 Colorado school districts when it comes to total per pupil spending.  

Recognizing that new resources are necessary to meet even basic needs of schools, the Greeley proposal include funds for instructional resources such as textbooks and technology, academic programs such as all-day Kindergarten and Advanced Placement programs, as well as improved security and transportation.  

Greeley business leaders have much to say about the link between investment and outcomes:

Jesse Quimby, an owner of 17 properties within the Greeley district noted in the Tribune:

“It’s a very selfish sacrifice … It’s a real paradox, isn’t it? You have to make the sacrifice to pay more taxes, but you’re selfish about it because you’re doing that because it’ll increase your property values.  It will increase your overall net worth of the community.  So there’s a real paradox, but it’s a paradox that people need to understand.”

From car dealership owner Scott Ehrlich:

“If we want to compete for residents and businesses, we need schools that people are going to want to come to. We have got to talk about our community investing in our community … We’ve got to get away from (the perspective of) ‘Just another tax.'”

Like Greeley-Evans School District 6, Colorado finds itself near the bottom when compared to other states’ per pupil funding levels.   So the question is: how long can Colorado continue to compete with other states to attract businesses and homebuyers, and to develop top employees if we keep falling farther behind the national average?  

Greeley’s leaders understand that Great Futures start with a Great Education.   (If you do, too – sign the pledge).

The Greeley business folks had even more to say in the Tribune about the connection between school investment and economic development:

Greeley Realtor John DeWitt said

[N]eighborhood schools generally rank among the top two or three issues home buyers consider when choosing a house.

Likewise, Larry Burkhardt, of Upstate Colorado Economic Development, noted that

[C]ompanies carefully examine school quality when moving to the area. Schools provide the “pipeline of employees” they will hire … along with incentives for existing employees to relocate to the city.

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Crossposted at the Great Education Colorado Blog

http://www.greateducation.org