Just asour parents would have found it hard to envision the global, high-tech, onlineworld we live in today, we can only guess what world our children will inherit.But we do know that we want our kids to be successful and to participate intomorrow's world as wage earners, citizens and caring adults.

Theirsuccess hinges on a well-rounded, comprehensive education that emphasizesacademic rigor such as math, science and language arts as well as 21 stcentury skills - problem solving, imagination and collaboration. The arts arejust as important, too. In today's fast-paced world, we must educate the wholechild. That's a huge job.

Thankfully,educational excellence and Jeffco Public Schools go hand in hand. It's beenthat way for some time and we don't want to lose momentum now.

Theeconomy may be slowing down, but our kids aren't.

Good schoolsmatter - not just to those of us who have kids in Jeffco Public Schools, but toall of us. Good schools:

• Keep property values high
• Support jobs in Jefferson County
• Attract home buyers and new business

Ballotshave now arrived in mailboxes across Jefferson County. At the end of yourballot, you'll find an issue that will decide whether our public schools willcontinue to ensure our kids learn, thrive and excel at the level we have cometo expect. The measures' success will also help determine whether our propertyvalues continue to stay strong.

3A is amill levy override that would provide $32 million to help maintain class sizes;fund increased high school graduation requirements; expand math, science andworld language courses in high school; and better prepare our kids for jobs ofthe future. The mill levy override would cost $2.92 a month for every $100,000of home market value.

3B is a$350 million bond issue that can be passed with notax rate increase. The bond money is earmarked for improvements injust about every school in the district. The investment will help make schoolssafer and more energy efficient. Older schools will receive more moderntechnology.

Visit www.jeffcopublicschools.org to find out how schools in yourneighborhood would benefit from the bond program. (Go to the home page and thenclick on "more publications" in the lower left-hand corner.)

Thebonds could be issued with no additional cost to taxpayers because the schooldistrict has paid off bonded indebtedness. Our school district has one of thebest bond ratings in the nation and maintains a strong reputation in thecapital markets. Even today, investors are willing to pay for a qualityinvestment.

Thereturn on your investment as a taxpayer is high. And that's important to knowin this tough economy. Our neighborhood school graduation rate is 83 percent.Our students continue to receive high scores on achievement tests. Among thenine largest school districts, Jeffco is ranked in the top five for percentageof schools rated "excellent" or "high" by the state. Nearly 100 percent of ourteachers are ranked "highly qualified" by the state.

But youcan only stretch a dollar so far as costs continue to increase. Expect deepbudget cuts if 3A and 3B don't pass - some $35 million worth over three yearsstarting in 2009. You will see larger elementary class sizes; a loss of 500teachers; and a decrease in arts, music and physical education.

We can'tafford that.

Astaxpayers, we want to make sure that our dollars are invested wisely. JeffcoPublic Schools is a lean, transparent organization:

• Only 4 percent of the district's budget is spent on administration - far less than similar-sized companies in the corporate world.
• 87 percent of the district's general fund is spent for and at schools.
• 9 percent is spent on school support.

We havea history of great schools in great neighborhoods in Jefferson County.Graduates from Jeffco Public Schools include a Nobel Prize winner, anastronaut, an Academy Award nominee, a world-renowned doctor, a U.S.congressman and a Cy Young Award winner.

Helpkeep public schools in Jeffco excellent, property values high and our localeconomy strong. Vote yes on 3A/3B.

LesleyDahlkemper is the mom of a Rooney Ranch Elementary School kindergartner andKathy Frank's son is a junior at Golden High School. They co-chair the Citizensfor Jeffco Schools Steering Committee.