League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	San Mateo County, CA May 7, 2013 Election
	Measure O School Parcel Tax Portola Valley School District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 1507 / 69.1% Yes votes ...... 675 / 30.9% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure O

Arguments Against Measure O

Vote YES on O to protect our outstanding Ormondale and Corte Madera schools. We are proud to have award winning schools in Portola Valley with test scores among the top in the state. Our outstanding teachers and strong academic programs prepare students to succeed in college and the global economy. Measure O will protect strong student achievement and help teachers maintain the high level of reading, writing, math, and science instruction in our schools. Measure O will protect academic programs so our excellent performance standards can be maintained. Every penny from Measure O will be controlled locally and will go directly to Ormondale and Corte Madera schools. None of the funds can be taken away by the State. Your YES vote is critical. with ongoing state budget cuts, we simply can't rely on the State to fund the quality of education our students deserve. For almost 10 years, our community has generously supported our local elementary and middle schools by voting in favor of a local funding measure. this funding is about to expire unless local voters support Measure O. Vote YES to protect strong student achievement. advanced academic programs in math, science, and technology quality reading and writing programs in our elementary school art and music programs manageable class sixes retaining qualified, experienced teachers Fiscal accountability ensures funds are spent as promised: by law, all funds must stay local and cannot be taken by the State no money can be used for administrators' salaries or benefits independent audits and annual reports are required seniors are eligible for an exemption By keeping our schools among the top in the state, we protect property values for all of us, even those without children in school. Please join community members, parents, and local leaders in voting YES on Measure O for our students. /s/ Albert R. Schreck, longtime resident of Portola Valley /s/ Nancy Lund, Portola Valley School teacher /s/ Heather Asborno, Corte Madera School PTO President /s/ John Richards, Portola Valley Mayor /s/ Jamie Kerr, co-owner, Alice's Restaurant and Woodside resident Rebuttal to Arguments For https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/2013/may_portola/documents/MeasureO_RebuttaltoArgumentinFavor.pdf

The proponents of Measure O think we don't pay enough taxes. Despite these harsh economic times, they think they can squeeze even more money out of us. They presume they can spend the money you earn, better than you can. Is this true? This past November, Proposition 30 was passed by the voters to "fund the schools." Proposition 30 taxes have just started being collected yet school officials couldn't wait to seek even more money from us. Shouldn't we first see what state funds are restored before seeking additional funding from property owners, business owners, and tenants? In 2004 and again in 2010, the district voters passed "temporary" taxes of $290 and $168 respectively that are still in effect today. why is the district incurring the extra expense of a special election now? The two district schools have a population of 711 (the latest figures available: 2010-11), according to Education Data Partnership (www.Ed-Data.K12.ca.us). Ed-Data reports Average Daily Attendance (ADA) expenses of $11,386,981 for 666 students. That's $17,086 per student when the elementary school statewide average is $7,789. The district is spending over twice the statewide average - yet that still isn't enough money for them. California teachers are the highest paid in the nation. This district's average teacher salary is $96,673 compared to the statewide average of $67,531. Again that still isn't enough money for them. Even the lowest paid teacher gets $53,701 annually; 34% more than the statewide average of $39,983! the highest paid teacher gets $109,970 per year; 43.9% more than the statewide elementary teacher average of $76,391. The economy is tough for most of us but apparently not for district teachers. Let's insist they set a better example of monetary prudence for our children by voting No on Measure O. For more information: http://www.SVTaxpayers.org/portola-valley /s/ Mark Hinkle, President, Silicon Valley Taxpayers Assoc. /s/ Harland Harrison, President, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County Rebuttal to Arguments Against https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/2013/may_portola/documents/MeasureO_REbuttaltoArgumentAgaisnt.pdf

Full Text of Measure O

https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/2013/may_portola/documents/Resolution5-2013.pdf