Tuesday, Nov. 3, is an important day for current and future high school students attending Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35.

A “yes” vote will allow our students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of career and technical education programs offered by 11 other districts that now belong to a Joint Technological Education District (JTED).

A JTED is a group of school districts that join together to offer specialized training in specific career education fields. This means that our students could enroll in programs offered in the 11 participating districts, while still attending high school at SCVUSD.

So how do JTEDs work? Career and technical education programs are costly, requiring expensive equipment, materials and training. Before JTEDs, students were only able to enroll in the few programs a district could afford to provide. But with the creation of JTEDs, districts join together to open the doors to their specialized programs with each other, exponentially expanding the roster of potential programs to students in all participating districts.

For example, not every district can provide a culinary arts program, but one district can, and can do it well. As a member of a JTED, that district opens its doors to students in all of the participating districts. Another way of looking at it �“ if each of 11 districts offers 5 programs, then students in all of these districts will have up to 55 program options from which to choose.

So, in this case, when SCVUSD joins the JTED, then students in the 11 other districts will be able to participate in SCVUSD’s current programs that include Certified Nursing Assistant, Culinary Arts, Agriculture, Business and Law.

This is the most cost-effective way to provide career and technical education programs today. In this way, our students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and training. Students will receive certification in specialized areas, and will be ready to walk into a job interview with experience as part of their resume. And, many of these courses will have dual credit. At no extra cost, students earn both high school and college credit, saving money and time before beginning a specialized career or continuing on to college.

How much will this cost you? The cost, always a factor, is five cents per $100 of assessed value. If your house is worth $100,000 you would pay $5 per year. This rate is fixed. It can only change if the state Legislature mandates it. The state formula for a JTED is to return the taxes collected and kick in at least a 125% match. These funds would go to developing additional specialty courses in SCVUSD. These are minimum returns on the investment; as the economy improves so will the return back to the community.

Ask the students who are in technical education classes now. Every one of them will tell you that they enjoy the opportunity given to them.

It is the time to provide for the future of our students. Open more career doors for our students. Help create the future work force of Santa Cruz County with the training and skills they desire, and that our communities deserve.

Why not give our students the opportunity to get a head-start with their higher education goals and to be successful in life?

We request that you vote a resounding “yes” on Nov. 3 to provide our high school students, and future high school students with this wonderful opportunity.

(Editor’s Note: Bustamante and Clapeck of Rio Rico, and Cullen, a resident of Tuba,c are members of a political action committee promoting JTED. Their opinion may not reflect the positions of any organizations.)