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Linking Public Education to Economic Development is Sound Strategy

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walked out of their classrooms and won a substantial pay you can use business principles. Pay more for better quality.
increase, was a revolution. “It got people talking about this Yes, wages matter.”
topic,” he said. He called adequate funding for education
“an investment,” noting that businesses will see improved But Thomas said paying better wages and buying better
production as a result of a better education system. “You equipment doesn’t necessarily have an immediate impact.
have to pay for quality,” he said. “If you give someone $5,000 more, is that going to make
them a better employee? Maybe not, but longer term you
Thomas said many legislators still don’t accept the premise will attract better employees.”
that education fosters economic development. “We’ve got to
get different people down there,” he said. Thomas said Arizona lacks a long-term vision for public
education. “I doubt that the current politicians will do that
Two issues have dominated education in recent years – – here’s where we are and here’s where we want to go,” he
quality and choice, Thomas said, adding, “If you give said. “The opportunity exists for what we see for education
somebody three bad choices, they’re not going to be happy. – being ready for kindergarten, success after high school,

Create district schools so good that offer so much, nobody being ready for higher education. Here’s our road map that
would think about sending their kids somewhere else.” will build an economy over 10 to 20 years. We need to make
politicians run on that.”
Yanez said lawmakers need to understand the nexus between
education and the economy and how important it is. “We Kotterman asked what would be the best way to raise $1.5
have made that case very well,” he said. billion for education without undue stress on the economy.
Yanez suggested: “You can’t get there in a responsible way
Kotterman asked about the notion of running government without multiple sources – sales and income and property
like a business. taxes.”

Thomas said, “You can’t run government like a business, but

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16 THE EDGE WINTER 2020