As Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Westerville, I know for certain that our local education system is of extreme importance to the companies we attract to the City of Westerville. The quality of our local workforce is critical to their success and decision to locate or expand here.

Over the last few years, many companies moving and growing here have indicated that the high quality of Westerville City Schools was a positive factor in their decision to bring jobs to the City. How well our community continues to prepare its students will impact our future ability to attract additional quality jobs.

Although this cause and effect between education and quality jobs is important, I have a more personal reason for supporting the school issue on November 4. I have a debt of thanks to repay to all of my neighbors.

When my wife and I were looking to buy a home 14 years ago, we wanted to relocate to a community where our small children could excel. Our children are no longer small, but we are convinced that raising them in Westerville is one of our better decisions.

            My wife and I examined many communities in the late 1980s, because we wanted to find that perfect place. Since she and I are both from the same little village in northern Ohio, we wanted a place that had a small-town feel that we understood.

But, unlike the hometown of our own childhoods, we wanted our new hometown to have many other amenities that were not available to us as we grew up. These other things included quality health care, good city services, great parks, active community groups, a multitude of churches from which to choose, and a positive resident outlook. I am happy to say that Westerville has provided us with all of these things, and much more.

Of course, as young parents with young children, there was one more overriding factor that led us to Westerville. This factor, probably more important than all the other items listed, was the opportunity for our children to receive a quality education.

When we were choosing our new home, we found the residents of Westerville to be good stewards of the local educational system. The residents who had chosen to live in Westerville before us had routinely demonstrated that they placed a high priority on educating the community's youngest citizens.

During our research for a new home, we also found that the Westerville School District Board of Education and administrators consistently managed their financial affairs and decision-making in a professional and conscientious manner. We felt Westerville had the school district that offered our children the best overall environment to succeed as students and later as adults.

Without a doubt, our family has been fortunate to benefit from living in Westerville and being served by the school board members, administrators, teachers, coaches, aides, bus drivers, and many other quality people employed by the school district. We owe our thanks to all these people and the thousands of Westerville residents who worked hard to build our district into one of the best in Ohio.

Now, as our children near the end of their educations in Westerville schools, it is the turn of my wife and I to ensure that the young families who follow us have the same educational opportunities as my children. It is our obligation to pay forward to our adopted hometown of Westerville and vote "YES" for schools on November 4.

As my children finish their educations and move on in their lives, it will still be my obligation to this community to support our public school district. Of course, it is my hope that after college, my children will return to Westerville and be significant contributors to the life of this community. Regardless, I will have a responsibility to support the district that educated them.

Having said all that, I will admit to a selfish reason for supporting the school issue. As a homeowner, I know that there is no better way to have my home value (investment) continue to increase than through support of the school system.

School quality is one of the most important factors when it comes to how much a person will pay for a home. If you don't believe me, pay a visit to my former hometown in northern Ohio. You can buy a lot of house there for little money. Why? Home values are low there because of low support for schools few people want to move to or stay there to raise their own children. So, if you own a home, be selfish and vote for the school issue and protect your investment.

There are various reasons people give for not supporting the schools. But in the final analysis, I truly believe that support of the school district is one of the most important investments we make as residents to ensure the health of our community for generations to come.

Shannon Hamons has been the Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Westerville since 1999 and a Westerville resident since 1989.