Palo Alto, California -- The Campaign for Excellence, volunteers in support of
Measure A in the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) June 7th special
election, announced a Yes on A Kids & Teachers Parade and campaign literature
distribution rally to take place Saturday, May 21, 2005, at noon, at Mitchell
Park, near the children’s play structure near the corner of East Meadow Drive
and Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, California.
Teachers, parents, and community leaders are scheduled to join the school
children in a festive parade and afterwards as they branch out into their
neighborhoods going door-to-door to distribute Yes on Measure A campaign
literature.
“This community continues to care so much about educating all our children,”
said Steve Sabbag, president of the Palo Alto Educators’ Association. “I can't
think of a nicer way to show our united support for Measure A than by joining in
a parade alongside family and friends. Hearing directly from our kids how much
they appreciate their teachers makes it all the more wonderful. We thank you all
and hope to see you there!”
“With less than three weeks to go until the election, we're inviting children,
parents, grandparents, teachers and supporters to march together for Measure A,”
said Carrie Manley, campaign coordinator of the event. “Kids don't have a vote,
but they do have a voice in this important cause. It's the children, more than
anyone, who will be impacted by the critical choice we make, as a community, on
June 7th. This parade is for them, and for everyone who cares about quality
education in the Palo Alto Unified School District.”
Why PAUSD Schools Need Measure A
The parcel tax now in place, which provides $5.5 million in critical funding for
PAUSD schools, expires next year. In addition, PAUSD has lost $4.4 million in
annual state funding over the last three years, while enrollment growth has
added $3 million in annual costs. To balance the budget, PAUSD has been forced
to make program cuts of $6.5 million and tap $3.4 million in limited emergency
reserves.
PAUSD program cuts have reduced course offerings in middle and high schools,
reduced elementary reading, art and math programs, reduced library hours, and
reduced funding for instructional materials, athletics, technology support, and
school maintenance.
Without Measure A’s $9.3 million annually over six years, PAUSD would be forced
to cut an additional $5.5 million in expenditures for the 2006-2007 school
year. Serious cuts at the classroom level would result, including consideration
of closing an elementary school, laying off as many as 107 teachers (16% of the
teaching force), increasing class sizes by as much as 18-40%, and eliminating
one elective class each semester for all middle and high school students.
Extensive
Support for Measure A
Support for Measure A
comes from a broad range of local organizations including the Palo Alto Chamber
of Commerce, the Palo Alto District of the Silicon Valley Association of
Realtors, Hewlett Packard, the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto, the PTAs at
each of our schools, among many others. All of our congressional, state,
county, and community college elected representatives and every member of the
Palo Alto City Council and PAUSD Board of Education supports Measure A. The San
Jose Mercury News, the Palo Alto Weekly, and the Stanford Daily News editorially
recommend a Yes vote on Measure A. In addition, over 2,300 Palo Alto residents
have publicly endorsed this measure, and over 500 volunteers actively campaign
for passage of Measure A.
Join the Campaign in Support of Measure A
Anyone interested in supporting Measure A or obtaining further information about
the Campaign for Excellence is invited to visit
www.campaignforexcellence.org or email
info@campaignforexcellence.org.
Campaign for Excellence Committee * ID # 1274982*
Sylvie Way, Treasurer, 320 Kellogg Ave., Palo
Alto, CA 94301
