[27 July 2006 Draft]
Summary:
We have a failing school district and must act to preserve schools and property values:
Restore School Bussing
Strengthen Academic Basics – English, Reading and Math
Real Accountability to Tax Payer - A citizens’ oversight committee
Offer parent chosen Enhancement Programs
Offer teachers performance based bonus
Forbid moving New Intermediate School site again
Forbid withdrawing from Federal Funding
Fund only new personnel and new programs – no funny budget games!
Restore Trust, Accountability and academic performance.
Section 1. Title.
Citizens’ Alternative Parcel Tax Measure
Section 2. Findings.
CUSD was identified on September 20, 2005 by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell as the only newly identified failing school district in San Mateo County and one of only 10 in the State of California. Although an appeal was granted for that year, for making some progress to minimum goals, there is no assurance that status will not again become final.
Hatch Elementary was identified as the only new failing school in San Mateo County last year and joined Cunha as identified failing PI schools. Cunha Intermediate will probably go to the ‘Corrective Action’ Status this fall.
Roughly half of the students in the district perform at less than the minimum state standards on required material.
CUSD had the least productive ELL (English Language Learning) program in San Mateo County.
The ‘flight’ of higher income families from district schools has exacerbated the problem.
All property owners will loose value if the school district is identified as a failed district.
Hence, monies need to be devoted to avoid this consequence while enhancing additional opportunities.
A decade ago the Bond Measure was approved with 75% of the voters approving. Since then, 5 consecutive Parcel Tax Measures drafted by the School Board were rejected.
A Survey conducted in September 2005, at the behest of two school board members, found great distrust of the CUSD School Board by the electorate.
The public has voiced the concern that the school board has not been a good steward for funds entrusted to them in the survey.
There has been an erosion of confidence in the School Board.
The importance of school bussing was made clear by the closure of Devil’s Slide and after four years since the School Board cancelled school bussing; the School Board has failed to act. There is no alternative proposal evident that could be implemented within the time of this parcel tax. This is a rural school district, the largest geographically in the county, with islands of urban development. For some families this represents an inconvenience; but for many this represents a barrier to regularly attending school.
Providing for a safe, regular and dependable mode to and from school provides for an enhanced learning environment. Lack of safe transportation represents a barrier to education. It is not rational to expect students to learn if they cannot get to school.
Citizens cannot by court action or ballot measure command the school board on how to spend state or Federal monies; but the public can define how their parcel tax monies are spent!
Section 3. Purpose and Intent.
Citizens cannot by court action or ballot measure command the school board on how to spend state or Federal monies; but the public can define how their parcel tax monies are spent:
Restore School Bussing to 1995-96 level of service.
Prohibit changing new intermediate school location.
Prohibit pulling out of Federal Funding.
Roughly half of the district’s students perform at less than proficient on required state material; therefore fund expenditures proportional between the students above and below proficient.
Limit expenditures from parcel tax to new personnel slots and new programs not in the base year budget.
Provide additional tutors to expedite ‘mainstreaming’ of students reducing need of a ‘dual’ class system.
Provide English Immersion classes.
Provide Tutoring in English, Math and Reading.
Any expenditure is in addition to base year expenditures and mandated expenditures.
The district shall distributed to parents of all students a list of programs designated, as enhancements - at least one of the options presented must include Tutoring in English, Math and Reading – and offerings shall be determined by popularity expressed through a form signed by parent.
If teachers or their union concur, provide teacher bonus based on increased student scores over those same student prior year scores on the CST (California Standards Test, not a Norm Referenced Test), limited to a maximum of 10% of total annual parcel tax proceeds.
This measure shall create a citizens’
oversight committee to monitor expenditures.
Section 4. Accountability.
Affected property owners deserve to know with assurance where the money is spent. In addition to the required state fillings, the budgets for 05-06, 06-07 and all future budgets shall be made continuously available on the web.
Precisely where funds raised by this measure are allocated shall be clearly enumerated in an addendum report and an expenditure report made continuously available on the web.
A citizens’ oversight committee shall be formed to revue the school budget and expenditures made from this parcel tax. It shall be composed of elected or appointed residents determined by the respective jurisdictions of: HMB City Council (2 members), MCC (2 members) and South Coast (1 member).
They shall issue a report regarding compliance and if not unanimous, issue one or more minority reports to be published and made continuously available on the web.
All reports shall remain continuously available on the web until this measure expires.
The committee shall have the authority to withhold funds should the terms of this measure be violated or request a Writ of Mandamus on behalf of the electorate to be served on the School Board.
No portion of this section shall be interpreted to restrict individual rights already provided by law or statute.
Section 5. Use of funds.
The funds uses are distinct and separable from all other ‘income’ to CUSD and limited to:
(a)Restore School Bussing to 1995-96 level of service.
(b)Half of the funds to:
Provide Tutoring in English, Math and Reading,
Provide English Immersion classes.
©If teachers or their union concur, provide teacher bonus based on increased student scores over those same students prior year scores on the CST (California Standards Test, not a Norm Referenced Test), limited to a maximum of 10% of total annual parcel tax proceeds.
(d)Remainder of funds:
The district shall distributed to parents of all students a list of programs designated, as enhancements - at least one of the options presented must include Tutoring in English, Math and Reading – and offerings shall be determined by popularity expressed through a form signed by parent.
Section 6. Sunset.
This measure shall expire:
If new middle school site changes or
If CUSD stops receiving Federal Funds or
Nov 2009;
Which ever shall occurs first.
Section 7. Exemptions.
It is the expressed desire of the voter that no person be seriously financially harmed by the levy of this tax nor presented with serious or unreasonable obstacles to obtain an exemption. To that end, mobile home parks, affordable housing developments and senior housing developments shall be exempt. In addition, organizations that have the express purpose of providing services to the disabled, individuals on public-assistance programs, or seniors on limited income may submit an exemption request on behalf of their clients.
Section 8.
30 days prior to submitting to the county a list of APN #s and amounts to be charged, this list shall be published on the web and approved at a noticed regularly scheduled CUSD meeting that allows protest of the individual amount proposed.
Section 8a. Developed Residential Parcel.
A $120 rate shall be applied to all developed residential parcels each year this measure is in effect.
Section 8b. Undeveloped Residential Parcel.
A $30 rate shall be applied to all undeveloped residential parcels each year this measure is in effect.
PUDs and unsubdivided land shall be charged at a rate of $30 per housing unit indicated in the then current relevant valid LCP as if it was subdivided.
Section 9. Severability.
The voters do find that: Section 3 Purpose and Intent; Section 4 Accountability;
Section 5. Use of funds; and Section 6 Sunset; are not severable and should any portion of those sections be found invalid by a court of final jurisdiction, the entire Measure shall be found as invalid and null and void.
The remainder of this Measure is severable, and any invalidity so found shall not affect other provisions or application of this Measure, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
Section 10. Definitions.
CUSD - Cabrillo Unified School District
Base Year – CUSD budget 2005-2006
Parcel
Section 11. Effective Date.
This measure shall become effective 30 days after the election at which it is approved.
Section 12. Legal Challenge.
Any challenge to the validity of this measure must be filed within six months of the effective date of this measure.
Section 13. Amendment.
Amendment of this measure requires a 2/3 vote of those casting ballots at a regularly scheduled election.
Section 14. Conflicting Initiatives.
In the event that this Measure and another initiative measure or measures appear on the same ballot which solely affect CUSD, the other measure or measures shall be deemed to be in conflict with this Measure. In the event that this measure receives a greater number of affirmative votes, the provisions of this measure shall prevail in their entirety, and the provisions of the other measure shall be null and void.
Your
comments, suggestions or offer to volunteer is encouraged: EMAIL
To
send an email to the CUSD Board Requesting moving measure to the 7 November
2006 Ballot:
[27 July 2006 Draft] -- [this an evolving document]
Boilerplate