Get the facts
Early Ballots have arrived, and voters have an important decision to make. The differences could not be clearer between the Thrive 4 CFSD slate of Amy Bhola, Amy Krauss, and Gina Mehmert and the opposing slate. We urge all voters to take time to educate themselves on the differences and to consider carefully what your vote means for the future of our thriving Catalina Foothills School District.
We also urge all out-of-district parents to educate themselves on our opponents' plans to divert funds away from open enrollment students. What can you do about this? While only District 16 residents can vote, everyone has a voice. If this election this concerns you, then we urge you to contact your friends and explain why their vote matters so much.
Our opponents claim... CFSD is not rated #1 Source: campaign flyer | The truth is... CFSD is the #1 non-selective school district in Arizona and has been for many years Source: Niche 2022 |
Our opponents claim... 48% of students not proficient in math, 46% not proficient in reading Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... 20% of students are not proficient in math, 15% not proficient in reading (and this is why we have recovery programs in place) Source: Arizona Department of Education, 2022 |
Our opponents claim... "Open enrollment students are welcome at CFSD with open arms" Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... They plan to "refocus capital (to) students who reside within the Catalina Foothills school district" Source: their original campaign website (view at Internet Archive) |
Our opponents claim... They "support ALL students" Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... They plan to "abandon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" and "mak(e) sure that students do not have access to resources" proven to save children's lives Source: their original campaign website (view at Internet Archive) |
Our opponents claim... They "support teachers and help them to be their best" Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... They plan to "encourage parents to attend classrooms with their children" Source: their original campaign website (view at Internet Archive) |
Our opponents claim... They "promote education not politics" Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... They are endorsed by and agree with Purple for Parents, a spinoff of Patriot Movement AZ, a group the Southern Poverty Law Center designates a hate group Source: Purple for Parents Official FaceBook page, Desert Leaf Oct. 2022 |
Our opponents claim... Our schools' performance "has declined substantially" Source: their campaign newsletter dated 9/26/22 | The truth is... Our District is #1 in English and #3 in Math in Arizona, continues to be ranked the #1 school district, has more National Merit Semifinalists than the national average, and the list goes on Source: Arizona Department of Education, 2022 |
Our opponents claim... They support public education Source: their current campaign website | The truth is... They favor expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (voucher expansion), which will siphon millions of dollars from public education and goes against the will of Arizona voters Source: Vote 411 |
To reiterate, the differences could not be clearer
In stark contrast to our opponents, we here at Thrive 4 CFSD - Amy Bhola, Amy Krauss, and Gina Mehmert - promise to continue to work hard with our fellow Board members, the administration, teachers and students to ensure every student has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Specifically, we will:
Provide an innovative, robust K-12 curriculum
Recruit and retain highly qualified educators
Prioritize the safety of students and staff
Encourage the involvement of parents, teachers, and the broader CFSD community
Foster a diverse and inclusive environment for all students