Arguments in Support of Irvine's School Support Initiaitive: Measure R

By Gavin Huntley-Fenner, Ph.D.

The "Irvine School Support Initiative," is a ballot measure, which if adopted by the voters, would direct the City of Irvine to continue current financial support to educational and enrichment programs in Irvine's public schools, 2012-2014.

Consider the following:

• Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) schools are a primary reason people move to the city. The schools are a major draw/recruiting tool for local businesses that are trying to attract new hires or to relocate to Irvine.
• Irvine is one of the top performing school districts in the state of California.
• As recognized several years ago by School Data Direct, a Standard & Poors organization, the Irvine Unified School District is one of the most fiscally responsible and financially prudent school districts in the country. Irvine Unified School District continues to improve efficiency without sacrificing student performance. For example, recently we cut waste hauling and slashed electricity costs through enhanced recycling and solar power initiatives.
• Irvine Unified would be better off if it were less dependent on Sacramento's volatile budgeting process.
• California's state budget is in crisis again and school funding is vulnerable. Having cut $38Mn out of the district budget over two years (~$200Mn per year annual operating budget), Irvine's strong schools are at risk.

Measure R is clearly not a long term solution for education support in Irvine. It balances fiscal prudence with the immediate necessity due to the worst economy our state has experienced in decades. Three years is a prudent duration in that it supports common sense budgeting: Irvine Unified must prepare a 3-year balanced budget each spring. The time frame gives the school board some breathing room to build consensus around longer term fiscal reforms.

Finally, we know exactly where School Support Initiative dollars will go: directly to our neighborhood schools and we know exactly what the dollars will be used for: smaller class sizes and more health and guidance counselors. We also know that those purposes have been and continue to be highly effective in improving children's success in Irvine schools.

There may be good points pro and con but all things considered the argument weighs in favor of "The Irvine Schools Support Initiative" (Measure R).

Dr. Gavin Huntley-Fenner is member of the Irvine Unified Board of Education. He is a business owner and parent in the City of Irvine and he has two children currently in the public schools.