For 20 years, I have had the pleasure of teaching music to elementary students in Sarasota County and the last six have been at Laurel Nokomis School. It is a privilege to work alongside our bright students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators whose efforts have been recognized by the state—Sarasota County has received an A rating for the last 10 years. Our teachers work as a family to make sure every child has a chance to excel and find his/her passion in and out of the classroom.

We could not deliver high quality arts programming to our students without the extra funding district schools receive from the passage of the $1-million school referendum. Nationally, Florida ranks at the bottom in per-pupil funding, so every dollar makes a big difference in the classroom. Caroline Zucker has worked tirelessly to ensure this referendum passes every four years. Her opponent, to the dismay of many of my colleagues, did not vote in or actively campaign for the passage of the most recent referendum in March of 2014. Mrs. Zucker understands the importance of the referendum. On Tuesday, August 30, I will cast my vote for Caroline Zucker.

Charles Allen, Sarasota