Citizens of Pampa,
My wife and I moved back to Pampa in 1976 because Pampa had been a great place for us to grow up, and we were sure Pampa would be a wonderful place to practice and start a family. Pampa had many strong leaders who were members of that Greatest Generation, and those same leaders laid a strong foundation that Pampa has built on for some time. Now it is time for their children and grandchildren to do the same thing for our town and our schools’ future.
Those old buildings have served us well. Many of those buildings can’t be renovated any further and do not have what it takes to deliver education in the 21st century. Our teachers are doing a heroic job with facilities that just are not up to the task. Demand for CTE [Career and Technical Education] classes has increased as students realize they do not all need to go to a four year college for a lot of reasons. Many of our CTE classes are currently unable to give Pampa students the experience they need because of inadequate space.
Please be a positive force for the future of Pampa. If Pampa is to grow and be a place that attracts businesses and employers bringing good jobs to our area, we must have educational opportunities for families and trained workers for those jobs.
I have had the opportunity to visit many school districts across Texas the last few years. Our neighboring districts are jumping into Career and Technical education in a big way. Pampa should be going the same direction. This is not to say we don’t want to prepare our students for whatever direction they might choose, but we must make as many opportunities available as possible.
If you are over 65, like me, and have your Texas Homestead Exemption, passing this bond election will not increase the taxes on your home. However, it could make it easier for your grandchildren to get the education they need to build a career right here in Pampa.
Please be a voice for quality education as we face a crossroads in our city. I have served in elected offices of local and state education and I believe this is a critical time for Pampa Independent School District to take a huge step into the future. These improvements will never be cheaper and the time lost will only be a setback for our students. I ask for your support and I encourage you to speak up for this opportunity to your friends and neighbors.
Jay Johnson DDS
