Can we afford to support Ashland’s schools? We can’t afford not to. Quality education isn’t just an investment in our children: it’s a cornerstone of our entire community. It affects everyone’s quality of life. It supports real estate values, the quality of the workforce, the arts, and more. Here are just a few examples:

The quality of education impacts the number of families wanting to move into the area.
One of the most important factors families consider before moving to a new area is the quality of the schools in that area. Ashland schools are already faced with the serious problem of declining enrollment. The budget crisis is likely to add to the problem unless we receive your support. Ashland has a positive reputation for family involvement and strong community support. Many people move here because they know that education is highly valued in Ashland.

The quality of education impacts the quality of life in the community.
Most crimes in the daytime are committed by students who should be in school but are not because they either dropped out of school or because they were suspended or expelled from school. Some states, such as Indiana, predict the number of prison beds needed based on elementary standardized reading test scores. The quality education provided in Ashland keeps students in school and helps them to be successful in school. When students are in school and successful everyone in the community benefits.

The quality of education impacts the economic factors in the area.
When families move to Ashland because of the quality of life and the quality of schools the value of housing increases and businesses thrive. Our community relies on the strength of the educational system. We are fortunate to live in a small town with so much to offer.

Believe it or not, Ashlanders are actually paying less real dollars for education today than we did thirteen years ago. Basic tax support per student has gone down from over $6,000 per year to less than $5,000–without adjustment for inflation.

We are fortunate to have such dedicated teachers in Ashland who put Ashland Students First. Ashland’s teachers have done their part. In the past few years they have given up a percentage of their salaries and have given up many days of pay to help the school district make ends meet. If everyone in Ashland did that, we’d have no crisis. Now it’s up to us.

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