In a letter to the editor published by InMaricopa, Brian Petersheim Jr. said he supports Proposition 416 after looking closely at the district’s finances and the way the funds are used.
Petersheim wrote that he approaches school funding as both a father and a “numbers guy,” saying he wants strong opportunities for his daughter and for Maricopa students overall. He said the override helps MUSD manage class sizes and keep classroom technology up to date.
He also pointed to RAM Academy, which he said serves about 60 students a year through credit recovery and helps them earn diplomas after struggling in general education classes. According to Petersheim, that support can make a major difference in giving students more opportunities after high school.
Petersheim said Proposition 416 is not a new tax, but rather a continuation of locally controlled funding Maricopa voters approved in 2016 and renewed in 2021. He added that the district has used the dollars responsibly and that students are seeing results.
