Board Votes to Place Funding Measure on March 2020 Ballot
“We are committed to protecting the quality of education for our elementary and middle school students,” said Board President Michael Snyder.
Citing the need to attract and retain quality teachers in the wake of multi-year budget cuts and gloomy funding forecasts, the Campbell Union School District Governing Board voted unanimously to place a $98 parcel tax measure on the March 3, 2020 all-mail ballot.
“We are committed to protecting the quality of education for our elementary and middle school students,” said Board President Michael Snyder. “A local education parcel tax would provide stable funding for our district that will not be at the whims of state funding fluctuations. It will also help us stay competitive with teacher salaries and benefits."
In recent years, dozens of highly-qualified teachers have left the district as they have needed to find more affordable areas, according to Superintendent Shelly Viramontez.
“Great teachers are at the center of student achievement and engagement, especially in core academic and advanced programs in reading, writing, math, arts and science. Without additional funding, we may continue to lose many of our great teachers,” she said.
If approved by voters, a measure could support:
- Attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers by keeping salaries competitive and providing new teachers with adequate training and support.
- Sustaining strong academic and advanced programs in reading, writing, math, arts and sciences.
- Ensuring that every student is reading at their grade level.
- Providing support for struggling students.
- Retaining school employees that keep our schools safe, clean and well-maintained.
- Providing advanced courses for high-performing students.
All funds would be locally controlled and would benefit CUSD elementary and middle schools. No funding could be taken away by the State or used for other purposes.
A potential parcel tax measure requires mandatory fiscal accountability, including:
- A citizen’s oversight committee to ensure the monies are spent as promised.
- All of the revenue from the measure would be spent here in our local schools, it cannot be taken away by the State and funds will go directly toward improving education for our children.
- Senior citizens would be eligible for an exemption from this tax measure.
This measure would need to be supported by at least 66.7% of those who vote on the measure in order for it to pass. All registered voters within the boundaries of Campbell Union (Elementary) School District are eligible to vote on the potential measure.
To register to vote visit www.registertovote.ca.gov.
To find out more about voting in this election, please contact the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters at (408) 299-8683.