By John J. Pedicone

When I saw the results of Tuesday's school elections, I do not think I was alone in my surprise at the outcomes in a number of districts, especially those that traditionally have been successful in passing such budget initiatives.

Tucson has always been a community that has demonstrated its commitment to schools and the children they serve.

This time, however, the very district that has suffered from a reputation of mismanagement and a non-responsive administration has worked hard to turn that perception around by addressing the areas that have been the focus of criticism.

The Tucson Unified School District superintendent came on board a year-and-a-half ago with a different management style. She immediately began the task of balancing a staggering budget deficit by first significantly trimming administration.

She then empowered individual site councils with the authority to create schools that would be unique and offer parents choices for their children's education.

She supported oversight committees that hold people and processes accountable. A transformation is occurring in TUSD that addresses concerns that some feel have too long been ignored.

It would stand to reason that this change would be worth supporting.

It is not as easy to understand how the renewal of overrides in districts that have built reputations for excellence in education, and who help to define the quality of K-12 education in our community, were rejected as well.

These are school systems that have gained national reputations for innovation in technology, for having the courage to embrace pay for performance plans that serve as national models. Their teachers have been recognized as Arizona Teachers of the Year and Rodel Exemplary teachers and principals.

They are school districts known for doing the right things for children and for the community. Yet, voters exercised their right to make a significant difference in the operation of schools by saying "No." They said "No" to continuing to fund the programs that work and the salaries of educators who, by all accounts, have been doing a good job in spite of significant challenges, including declining state funding.

Also worth mentioning is that local business organizations, which have been some of the harshest critics of school performance and increased taxation, endorsed and even contributed to the override initiatives in all of the districts.

These business leaders see the connection between education and economic development, not just because their workforce depends on it. They realize that if Tucson is to become a vibrant and dynamic community that provides opportunities for all of its citizens, schools must be viewed as an asset, not a liability.

So, on Wednesday morning school superintendents justifiably asked the question, "What happened?"

Sadly, it is likely that the failures were the result of people easing their frustrations about the increasing costs of just about everything else by simply saying "No" because they could.

Schools became the outlet for a personal statement; the one place that their vote would matter. It seems there was little consideration of the impact their vote would have on future performance and quality, and no rational response to the positive efforts districts are making with children in a very difficult environment.

About a year ago local business and community leaders created Tucson Values Teachers, in response to a clear and direct mandate from the Tucson Regional Town Hall more than two years ago — "Invest in this community's future by investing in education."

There emerged a renewed sense of purpose and a belief that Tucson can define its "sense of place" as an education-first community by recognizing and valuing the people who represent the single most important factor in student success in the classroom — the teacher.

This is a chance to create a positive culture that will lift Tucson to the level of great cities known for their courage and vision. With all of that energy and the work that has been done to convince teachers that Tucson cares about them and the work they do, Tuesday's vote serves as a reminder that praise and accolades are disingenuous and discouraging when they are not accompanied by action that supports them.

The fact that we possess real power to make a difference by the votes we cast at the local level is all the more reason to make those decisions carefully and with a vision for how they will affect our community in the future.

There are many lessons to be learned from Tuesday's election and many possibilities for action. I am sure there are many opinions about what they are. For the sake of our community we'd better be right.