As we enter this election season, I am grateful for our community and the support it provides to our schools. As president of the Eagle County School District Board of Education, I see the generosity of the individuals and organizations within our valley. The time, resources and care they give to our schools and our youngest community members are remarkable. These contributions make a meaningful impact.

Even with this support, nothing can replace consistent, reliable, and adequate funding. For years, the state budget has not provided the level of funding our schools need.

I believe strong schools are essential to a strong community. Our schools educate our children, support families, employ local residents, prepare our future workforce and contribute to the vitality of our local economy. When we invest in our schools, we invest in the future of Eagle County.

Ballot Issue 5B gives us an opportunity to invest in the local schools while keeping our tax dollars within the community. Those funds would help provide our children with the tools and support they need to succeed by retaining and recruiting educators, strengthening academic instruction, maintaining access to mental-health professionals and restoring programs such as art, music, and physical education. These investments would benefit us all.

I encourage you to learn more about Ballot Issue 5B and consider what voting “Yes” in November could mean for our students, families, schools and the future of Eagle County.

Lelia Conlin, Eagle County School District President (Vail, CO)