My youngest granddaughter attends first grade at an Orange County school that received a distinguished designation. Her teacher is great at her profession. I admire anyone that can keep a classroom of first graders involved and learning. The other teachers that I have met at this school also strike me as engaged with their students. The principal, too, shows great concern for the well-being and education of the students.
From a real estate perspective, this "Distinguished" school is a powerful marketing tool. I have clients looking to buy a home in this area because of the quality of the schools. So what's wrong?
It's wrong when a school can't purchase ink cartridges for their printer and so it sits, collecting desk in the school's Office, forcing teachers to pay for copies at the local copy shop out of their pockets. It's wrong when the supply of text books can't meet the demand of increasing student populations in the classrooms. It's wrong when talented and motivated teachers are given pink slips because of a state budget crisis.
So what can be done? In terms of big picture, we need to be writing our elected leaders at the local, State and Federal levels and demand that education be of primary importance. As a Real Estate Broker, why should I care? Well, besides the obvious...five grandchildren in public schools here in southern California...it makes good business sense.
A well educated population of buyers and sellers makes for an informed population of buyers and sellers and that is good business. Home Buyers and Home Sellers who can understand a "market trend" from a "fashion trend" make for good business. A Seller who understands their Listing Agreement or a Buyer who understands their Residential Purchase Agreement decreases the chances of legal issues arising and that is good for business.
In terms of small picture, we need to help our schools and teachers get through this budget crisis. What can be done? Adopt a teacher or a classroom. If you have children or grand-children in school, select their school or their teacher. Then what? Make a pledge to yourself that from each Escrow you close, you will donate $50, $100 or more in school supplies to that classroom or teacher. Purchase a gift card at one of the many office supply stores and donate it to that teacher or classroom, that way they can get exactly what they need.
Adopting a classroom or teacher won't solve all the problems facing our schools and children. It will, however, provide some breathing room for the wonderful people preparing our children for the future.
