Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to Well-educated workforce

1	48% of Tucson's Hispanic students do not graduate from high school. There can be no economic development with uneducated and/or untrained workers.
2	A good education is key to getting a good job which impacts the life style and opportunities that you can provide for your family.
3	A town must be able to educate its masses in order to sustain and develop a competing level of growth and keep its workforce; and this town has this draw.
4	All public schools are poorly funded, and as an employer I can tell you first-hand we are graduating a generation of idiots who are ill-prepared for the 21st century.
5	Although at times, it may seem that Tucson is a low wage town... in fact it is gaining in it's ability to attract and hold high wage employees
6	Although my children are grown so I don't have to worry about the quality they are getting, the education in Arizona, and therefore Tucson, is embarrassing. To be ranked 49 out of 50 states is appalling. Education, of course, is critical to individuals, to local industry, and to the city's (and state's) future.
7	As a former public school teacher, I feel that the schools in this area are not funded adequately to keep pace with making sure the children are prepared for the future.
8	Attract and recruit retired science professionals as a local problem solving resource
9	Been burgarized 4 times. Burglars are the unemployed, the addicts and lack skills so they prey on the rest of us. If we had jobs, education and more to offer, these marginal persons may choose an alternate way to survive.
10	Bring industrial businesses/jobs to Tucson. There are 419 acres zoned industrial in the Flowing Wells area along I-10. Work is continuing to get this property shovel ready. After they arrive, get JTED involved to train future employees of these businesses.
11	Broadly speaking, I don't think metro Tucson schools are doing an adequate job preparing young people to compete in the global economy. Compound that with our brutally high drop-out rate, and we're headed for trouble. Cheap labor won't cut it for southern AZ.
12	Businesses encouraging fitness for workers
13	Can't attract quality business or workforce if low education for kids. Example: Foothills is thriving and Rincon high school is failing
14	Career and job opportunities
15	Creativity and innovation results in kids who take education to the next level - good careers, think outside the box
16	Current shelters are to limited and limiting and don't address the needs of the homeless during daytime hours. Opportunities for basic work and responsibilities would help restore self-worth and improve viable skills
17	Decent job market for skilled/educated workers alike though some job sectors are difficult at this time.
18	Develop a qualified workforce
19	Do some kind of poll or public education regarding available jobs that one is willing to take- then figure how to import labor without giving citizen rights to non-citizens and their families. First provide and make availabe those rights to U.S. citizens without all of the hassle
20	ESL, GED, and vocational programs will enable Tucson to offer a better-educated workforce, and that, in turn will attract more business to locate and hire here.
21	Educate everyone to be able to compete in today's market
22	Educated workforce
23	Education develops the labor force
24	Education is an economic development issue. Employers can't recruit employees because there is a lack of an educated workforce
25	Education is essential for workforce and skill development
26	Education is important for workforce
27	Education is the driving tool for survival. One needs to develop life-long skills that allow for an individual to be productive in the work force. Irregardless of the field an individual choses to follow, these resources must be available to allow each member of society to be successful. This is not a priority in Tucson. This must change in order to obtain a smooth running economy. Unemployment breeds crime, violence and proverty--Tucson is heading in that direction in a very rapid speed.
28	Education should be our top priority but not just via the same old, tired model. Break the unions, try every good idea, go online, sell old schools, build internet campuses etc. Nothing will do more for economic developmetn than a highly educated work force.
29	Educational curriculum needs to match skills for 21st century
30	Educational institutions, particlulary public systems, are not supported or funded in a way that yields quality student achievement. This impacts economic opportunties and local businesses ability to attract and retain a highly skilled work force. Local students who are the most talented and skilled leave the community for better careers elsewhere.
31	Every year we lose bright, talented individuals, who may love our town, but are forced to move to seek employment elsewhere....as a result we lose potential entrepanears, art scene, music scene, etc Tucson was a cool town once
32	Exciting, competent school teachers
33	For employment opportunities
34	Give undocumented folks a path toward green cards
35	I am blown away by how little Tucsonans seem to value education and investment in our children. They are our future workforce. Who will come here if we just have a bunch of un or under educated, ignorant, xenophobes? Really? How will our society function if we do not have an educated populace? We will all pay for these short sighted decisions.
36	I am surprised by how low people set the bar for education. I am used to people viewing college as a minimum expectation, not a possibility. I wish more people would aspire to leave Tucson for higher learning and come back for brighter career options
37	I can't work here because the jobs in my field are not available to me, if I wanted to work I would need to return to California
38	I don't have children but realize our local scholls are not preparing them adequetely for the future. Thos who are prepared don't stay here to work. Although I can see the tech park helping, we want local people to qualify to work there.
39	I have a child in elementary school. My wish is that we would better prepare children for: - completing globally for jobs and innovation - practical life skills (decision-making, managing a household, etc.)
40	I have two children and I would like them to get the best education possible. Also, kids are the future. We need to improve our school systems so that the children are prepared to handle their responsibilities in the future. One day they will be running this town, and country, and if we don’t provide them with the right foundation to do so, they will not be at a disadvantage.
41	I think that culture that makes it acceptable not to learn math and science is starting to trickle to all levels of society. companies find that they cannot find qualified workers, and there is no point of moving to Arizona if the business needs highly skilled people. Our elected officials do not see the long term effect of dumbing down our educational system.
42	If our students can't read or write, we will never attract employers.
43	If the drop-out rate is high, there is no workforce
44	If there is not a sufficient well educated work force, then the mix of businesses operating here will lessen, and the types of people relocating here will become predominently hourly workers.
45	Improve college/career readiness of high school grads
46	Improve education and workforce development
47	In the global economy our failure to compete in mathematics, science and reading and writing skills are forcing us into a McDonald's society. I've lived in the Boston and North Carolina Triangle where good schools and Universities provided employment opportunities other than building houses and tending lawns.
48	Increase the trade labor pool by providing education
49	It is hard to hire employees that grew up here and have them be effective
50	It is such a blessing to wake up every morning with this incredible weather. Because of our weather we are able to have a city that is vibrant with opportunity for health and well being. The weather factor really helps make my first two choices of what I like best about Tucson go full circle...we are able to attract Docs, professors, and leaders due to our weather...I think it is a major factor in their decision to live here and enjoy our lifestyle.
51	It seems the state legislature is intent on dismantling education, but without smart investment in education and workforce development, Tucson will stagnate. Community development needs to be coupled with economic development goals so all boats are raised.
52	It's our future workforce
53	JPEG - training is already in the community
54	Job pools are very selective - it's difficult for older laid-off or unemployed people to find a job unless they "know someone," or are well-connected
55	Jobs and education are linked closely to the quantity and quality of business and industry available to a region. More knowledge workers and cutting edge industries in Tucson could help to protect the region from construction slumps and poor tax revenues. A diverse local economy also means less people out of work as the national economy cycles. I know that the quality of our schools can be an obstacle to attracting knowledge workers, which leads me to my next point.
56	Kids are getting out of school barely qualifying for service jobs. These are the workers who will be supporting my Social Security checks and the Tucson Tax base. In addition, the price to attend the U of A is way beyond the salaries of the average non-privilege Tucsonan. Higher education is becoming an elitist dream. Working class kids who have the grades to be accepted, cannot meet the tuition requi9rements even with the scanty Financial aid that is being made available primarily as loans.
57	Lack of a well educated job pool, poor schools make it difficult to recruit high level employees and new industry.
58	Lack of an educated labor pool results in no business coming to Tucson
59	Lack of focus on development of technology based economy
60	Lack of opportunities for professionals in middle to upper middle professions
61	Low-skilled people have fewer job opportunities and quality of life - need to improve skill training in the schools
62	Many of the women we work with are challenged to go back to work, because DES won't pay for daycare once a women obtains a job.
63	Many of us see and even interact with the homeless population in Tucson on a regular basis. Many of these men and women are veterans, have substance abuse problems, or struggle with mental illness. If we invested more funding and resources in supporting this population, we could decrease the number of people in the emergency rooms and in prison. This would benefit us all in the long-run as we would see a decrease in crime, and an increase in the number of people contributing positively to the community by working and paying taxes.
64	My husband is a realtor and business is so bad, people are not encouraged to come here for business and we need to keep our students as well as others to do business in our community
65	My own career has suffered in living here and I think my son's will, also.
66	Need broader spectrum of job training and skill trades
67	Need to recruit talent to the area
68	Need to support education to achieve workforce development
69	Our sub par commitment to public education at all levels leaves us with a work force that is not up to standard to attract new business
70	Our young people are ill-equiped for the high tech jobs
71	Outreach to new business and employers
72	Poor economy - low wages, uneducated workforce
73	Poor quality employees and increase in crime (poverty correlates with crime) - inadequate funding and poor parenting contribute to these problems
74	Quality education keeps and attracts talent to the region
75	Quality educational system including elementry - University. Quality education enhances the community's ability to recruit good companies to want to live and work here.
76	Raising the job opportunities through expanded educational training in order to expand the income opportunities of our residents and provide skilled labor to incoming higher wage employers is an important long term strategy that is generally agreed upon for our future growth. As many benefit we all benefit.
77	Recruit a younger work force.
78	Related to the above, I think Tucson can't attract employers because it doesn't have a ready, educated, literate workforce. Tucson can't attract all the businesses that it could because without the workforce, businesses know they don't have a market for their products/services as they would elsewhere. We need to get people ready to work!
79	Research and development, positive effect on workforce, provides an economic boost and University of Arizona Athletic program unites are community and provides great entertainment.
80	Research brings great minds
81	Retirement
82	Same as #1- pay does not encourage professors
83	Schools need to be first class so the employees of companies that want to move here will have quality education for their children.
84	So students have more career choices
85	Support for education is a key to having a vibrant economic future. Having an educated worforce is an economic driver and should be a high priority
86	TUSD doesn't know how to be good bureaucrats - not understanding the population they are serving - they don't understand how to use the data they have (they take teachers away from the primary needs area)
87	TUSD is too large and not well managed. Excellent education attracts people and supplies good young adults into our community.
88	Teachers are not paid well in poor areas
89	Technology based economy = jobs and opportunities
90	The Tucson education system is a failure, and it makes people with children think twice before moving to Tucson. Companies have a hard time recruiting.
91	The University of Arizona is the center of intellectual and technological prowess in Tucson. The university excels in so many areas and is a real asset when recruiting talented and diverse professionals to Tucson. As a UA alum, I'm proud of the role that the UA plays in this community from academics to arts and culture.
92	The best and brightest young people will leave if the percieve they cannot have a fulfilling career. That results in a downward spiral.
93	The border is causing a huge problem for this area through the importation of criminal activity both in people transfers and drug activity. It is giving the region a bad reputation and will be a problem when the economy recovers due to lack of needed labor. We need a guest worker program and a way to separate the legal residents/guest workers from the illegal entrants so that we remove the incentive for illegal entry because it will not be possible to get a job without proper documention only obtainable through legal entry.
94	The children of today are the workforce of tomorrow. With high drop out rates and low attainment levels, we are shooting ourselves in the foot when it comes to improving our economy in the future.
95	The defunding of education by the State threatens to put higher education out of reach to those who need it most. K-12 education needs to innovate away from high-cost infrastructure and put more focus on applied learning that results in employment and the ability to support a family.
96	The financial drain on our tax resources and taking of jobs from Americans. There was a time when a job in construction was highly sought after. Employers must be made to stop hiring illegal labor and increase their wages appropriately to encourage citizens to once again go into the construction trades.
97	The schools don't produce graduates who can compete in the global work force
98	The teachers only have so much time, and they can't commit as much to the students as is needed
99	The tide has shifted and we now have a younger population staying in our community trying to make a living. Our state was intended to be a retirment destination and that worked 50 years ago and now, it is no longer meeting the needs of the next generation.
100	The university needs to be careful with admissions. Only allow the best and brightest. Money and business follow a highly educated population.
101	There are not enough teachers and class sizes are too large. Teachers are under paid and their salaries need to be competative to attract new people to the profession.
102	There is 7 support staff for every student
103	There is a lack of emergency personnel
104	This is not an easy town to find and maintain gainful employment in. It seems like there are either minimum wage jobs or jobs that require a great deal of education and experience.
105	This likely is a comment seen in many towns across the state and nation. Education seems to have fallen out of favor, and its importance lost on parents and politicians. It will provide this city a solid workforce that could influence companies coming here.
106	Too many people don't earn enough to have the best quality of life. This should be one of the solar capitals of the world. It would employ more people in jobs that are worthwhile
107	Train local residents for local jobs
108	Tucson community truly could be the hands and heart of people who care. Meet the needs of people. CARE. Friendships, job training, food, clothes shelter, medical needs meant.
109	Tucson doesn't manufacture anything; import or export anything; ...Tucson has no business identity. Tucson needs to court businesses; train the unemployed for new jobs; offer training for those interested in career transitions or are on the verge of being down-sized or laid off; and create an identity for jobs and careers.
110	Tucson has a lot of very qualified, intelligent, talented population to fill any need for any clean industry that wants to relocated in the Tucson area.
111	Tucson has a reputation for low pay and a lot of low-class employment opportunities. Raising the standard of this community is a multifaceted project that requires education, opportunity and investment in work that means something to the individual as well as the nation. More partnerships with the University Of Arizona and clean businesses should be formed and long-range plans for creating fertile start-up incubator parks must be laid down.
112	Tucson needs more job opportunities and this will require that the city be known for its educatd workforce.
113	Tucson's economy is not sufficiently diverse to grow long-term. We need more industries here of all kinds. We have very few large, diverse companies and then a whole lot of small businesses. A community that has the doctors and lawyers to help the small businesses serve each other is fine, but for long-term expansion and growth we need more.
114	Tucson's vision should be to become the biotechnology capital of the southwest. Without a platform like this, higher paying jobs and therefore better educated citizens will continue to bypass Tucson.
115	U of A very practical, not so theoretical - gives hands-on experience
116	Unemployment
117	University of Arizona (skilled community)
118	University town- sports, economic development, and workforce development
119	Unless you are linked to Raytheon, it seems that every other job is about a $10 an hour job. There is not much in between for people that are qualified to earn more, but not as much as software engineers.
120	We are doing our children and our community a disservice by not educationing all children to their full potential, resulting in an untapped pool of skills, talents and, dare I say, genius.
121	We are losing out on economic development because we have drop-outs who don't finish school. There has to be an educated workforce to attract employers. There is a need for greater emphasis on all levels of education
122	We can only make rapid progress by employing our workforce in remaking Tucson in a more sustainable form
123	We could attract clean industries, highly skilled workers and healthy families if we vastly improved our K-12 and post high school educational systems. It can't be done with our present legislative thoughts in this State.
124	We must do a better job of educating our children and a better job of preparing teachers to teach to the highest standards. I understand the economic situation and the situation in the state legislature. That does not excuse Tucson from moving ahead to make our schools the kind that make new business want to come here because the families can count on the best for their children from K-12.
125	We must invest in our children's education to ensure a strong future for the region. poor educational opportunities and an undereducated workforce does nothing to attract/keep businesses and investment in the region.
126	We need BETTER education. Teach our kids work ethics. As a business owner, employees are the biggest nightmare.
127	We need a guest worker program - Yuma has it- why can't we?
128	We need better prepared employees.
129	We need more teachers and counselors at school. I can't believe that we keep losing educators.
130	We need to be a center of educational excellence with more Basis, San Miguel, Imago Dei schools. Our P-20 education needs to be a beacon & mecca which will then attract high knowledge, high value employers
131	We need to educate our future workforce and political leaders
132	We need to look at some type of facility for cooridinated health care, treatmentr, job training, feeding and housing that will address individual needs and transition people back into the workforce.
133	We need to work on our public education in order to make this a place attractive to companies with high-paying wages. We should not be going after call-centers and other unskilled, low paying companies. We should be going after optics, high-tech companies. They require a skilled work force, however. If that means slashing administrator jobs in order to pay teachers better, closing some schools in order to focus energy, money on a more select set of schools: do it! Focus on teachers, the kids, and BASICS that are now counted as frivolous extras to be cut: art, music, languages, P.E. I had a first class public education here from 1st through 12th grade, one that sent me to Stanford, Oxford and Harvard Universities. I worry that our public schools will not serve my children nearly as well. Also, we need to partner better with the U of A. It has been--and should remain a driving force here. Let's work on keeping more of its graduates as the loyal and proud business, entrepreneurial, and artistic engines that drive and shape this town. At the moment, I fear that the UA is more interested in its proposed medical campus in Phx than it is in its home base campus here in Tucson.
134	We want to keep Tucson a place that offers good jobs so we don't lose talent. If we offer good jobs, good school a vibrant downtown and acces to teh art, Tucson can be a great place to stay.
135	We're seriously lacking in quality education and in our abilty to generate a qualified labor force for the future.
136	When I work with young people they too often say, 'I'm finishing school and then I'm outta here!' A lot of companies have left or reduced numbers in Tucson - IBM, National Semiconductor, 3M to name a few. Opportunities are very limited for young people to start good careers for the long haul. Something needs to happen to induce businesses to come and stay here.
137	When the best and the brightest start to leave the community, you have a brain drain
138	When we have transportation problems, the limitations of the public transportation reduces our options. Also, employment is limited when available workers cannot reach all areas. That restricts people from working for us in our area.
139	When we speak of educators and politicians, we shouldn't generalize. Remember that they are people too.
140	With a culture of being business friendly, our community will be able to attract, maintain and grow jobs for our citizens and their progeny.
141	Without quality education at all levels (and I am not just talking about passing measurement tests) there is no future here, and without great teachers, there can be no quality education. More respect, and better pay, for teachers would attract enthusiastic, creative and dynamic people to the field.
142	Work force - ability to seize opportunities
143	Youth don't how to communicate professionally (limits their opportunities)
144	Youth need internship possibilities/opportunities for public high schools