Neighbors must stop whining

The Desert Advocate article (First request for de‑annexation from DVUSD ignored, May, 10, 2006) and our neighbors to the west make the incorrect assumption that SB1040 is limited to Whispering Hills. If the bill becomes a statute, the Cave Creek area can be re‑defined to petition CCUSD again for annexation. It will have to fit into the provisions of the statute which are still under construction. The work that has been done by Senator Waring is not limited to Whispering Hills. It can be used by any area that sits on a boundary between two school districts. Jenn Schwimmer’s work is paving the way for everyone. Arizona has had so much growth that current school boundaries just don’t make sense anymore. Of course we are concerned about our own kids, but this work is for everyone’s benefit.

Our neighbors need to get on board, roll up their sleeves and start working with us instead of whining about wanting someone else to do all the work and ride on their coat tails.

They have been asked several times to join in. They cite how difficult collecting signatures would be because they don’t have an HOA and their homes are spread out quite a bit. It is not easy work. I planted myself in front of our mailboxes between 4:30 and 6 p.m. for many evenings when neighbors usually get their mail after work. I talked about the petition and upcoming meetings, asked for support and collected signatures. They don’t think they need to update their petition from 3 years ago. How will anyone take them seriously in this effort without accurate data? They don’t attend governing board meetings and house and senate meetings. They don’t write and phone the legislators. They don’t get involved. There is power in numbers and we need them. It’s time‑consuming and exhausting to fit this into our lives. And I’m angry that we even have to fight for this. Money and politics are getting in the way of educating Arizona children in their own communities. We have to work together. I don’t know how their ill feelings began, but I hope they can put them aside and join us so that all of our kids benefit from our efforts.

By the way, if Christy Agosta was “concerned about the whole of Cave Creek” she would have let us go before houses even existed in Whispering Hills.

Tanya Kleindienst
Cave Creek