League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Measure I School Parcel Tax Alum Rock Union Elementary School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 8,173 / 74.40% Yes votes ...... 2,812 / 25.60% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure I

The State budget crisis threatens the quality of instruction in EVERY Alum Rock classroom. Protecting our local schools and quality of education now depends on the passage of Measure I. In 2004, nearly 70% of local voters approved a school parcel tax measure that today provides much needed local funding for quality teachers, maintaining small class sizes, and supporting important educational programs. This stable source of funding has helped our neighborhood schools significantly improve student achievement and test scores over the past 5 years despite unpredictable and inadequate state funding. Without approval of Measure I, this funding will expire in 2010-2011 and more than $3 million in additional cuts will be necessary to our neighborhood schools. Measure I extends the current parcel tax for 5 years only, and increases it by $4 a month ($48.00 per year). Measure I MAINTAINS current programs; it does not establish new ones. Specifically, Measure I will authorize funding to continue to: Maintain reading math and science programs Attract and retain quality teachers and school counselors Keep school libraries open Maintain small class sizes in Kindergarten through 3rd grade Every penny will stay in Alum Rock schools to prevent classroom and instructional support cuts. By law, Measure I funds cannot be taken away by the State or spent on administrator salaries. As with the current (expiring) parcel tax, if Measure I passes, an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee will monitor expenditures to ensure all funds are spent properly. Preparing our children to succeed in the new global economy requires a sound education, including quality reading, math and science instruction. Measure I will help. Measure I is supported by parents, teachers, businesses and civic leaders throughout our Alum Rock community. Good schools help protect property values in a tough economy. Please VOTE YES on I. /s/ J. Hernandez-Harrison Language Arts Teacher, Sheppard Middle School /s/ Leland Lowe Parent, Realtor /s/ Blanca Alvarado 57-Year Resident, Grandmother, Civic Leader /s/ Brian E. Schmaedick Principal, Goss Elementary School /s/ Betty A. Howard Alum Rock Business Owner (No arguments against Measure I were submitted)

Full Text of Measure I

MAINTAINING READING, MATH AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS AND MAINTAINING SMALL CLASS SIZES; RETAINING QUALIFIED TEACHERS; KEEPING SCHOOL LIBRARIES OPEN For the following purposes: to protect local schools from budget cuts; to provide stable funding for the District that cannot be taken away by the State: to preserve quality education by maintaining reading, math and science programs; retain qualified teachers and school counselors; keeping school libraries open; and maintaining small K-3 class sizes. To protect local schools from budget cuts, provide stable funding that cannot be taken away by the State, and preserve quality education by maintaining reading, math and science programs; attracting and retaining qualified teachers and school counselors; keeping school libraries open; and maintaining small K-3 class sizes; shall Alum Rock Union Elementary School District increase its expiring parcel tax by $48.00 per parcel for 5 years, with annual adjustments for inflation, independent citizen oversight and no money for administrators' salaries?