I have said it on several occasions, several times from this podium, that providing a quality education for our children is high on my priority list. I will not stop now.

Economic prosperity and quality education for our children are inexorably linked.

In essence, the education department argues that the quality of the education children receive is irrelevant, as long as someone stands in front of the class.

Investing in high-quality early childhood education has extraordinary returns, not only for Virginia's children, but also for our workforce and economy. The best investments are made in community-grown programs that truly meet local needs.

You can't have a quality education without a sound financial background. They are getting quality education there. We need to make sure that quality education continues. We don't know what the state Legislature is going to do with the finances, and that will have a huge impact on what we do locally to support those finances.

The board has to make sure that the education in Collin County is affordable, available and of high quality.