Peoria teacher urges yes vote on Prop. 428

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OPINION — For 17 years, I’ve worked in education because I wanted to do work that mattered. I found my purpose in helping children discover curiosity, potential and a love of lifelong learning.

This year, for the first time in my career, I took a pay cut. The day before school began, I was in my classroom preparing for my students — and I wasn’t being paid for that time. But my paycheck isn’t what concerns me most. The children are.

This year, something as basic as copy paper became a concern. My administrator actually had to decide between buying more copy paper or buying toilet paper.

Copy paper or toilet paper. These aren’t luxuries. They are basic necessities in a school. When resources become tighter, those choices eventually reach classrooms and students.

In November 2025, Peoria voters rejected a proposal to increase the district’s M&O override from 13% to 15%. The district subsequently began planning for an approximately $11 million budget reduction for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.

Now voters face Proposition 428, which asks whether to continue Peoria Unified’s 13% M&O override. The district says the override currently provides approximately $33 million annually to support positions and programs.

This isn’t new. Peoria Unified has had an override since 1996. The 13% override was approved in 2015 and continued by voters in 2020.

For those without children in public schools, the question may be: Why should I care?

Because these are our schools. Today’s students may become your doctor, your nurse, your police officer, your firefighter — or the teacher who teaches your grandchildren. The children in our classrooms today will help shape all of our tomorrows.

Behind every budget number is a child. Behind every classroom door is a future.

These children belong to all of us. Yes on Prop. 428.

This writer is using a pen name. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.