Measure A raises critical issues about our schools and what kind of community we want to have. We want you to have the information you need to make the best decision on this important ballot measure.

1. Measure A is urgently needed. Without Measure A, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) will lose $5.5 million in funding when the current parcel tax expires next year. That would come on top of the loss of $4.4 million in annual state funding in recent years and enrollment growth of 6%, which has added $3 million in annual costs (but no offsetting revenue) during the same period. Enrollment is projected to grow in the years ahead, adding still more costs.

2. PAUSD clearly articulated how the funds will be spent. Specifically, $366 of the $493 will be spent to maintain current programs. The remaining $127 will be used to restore a portion of what has been cut in the last two years. No Measure A funds will go to central administration, salary increases, or new programs. All funds will stay in our community. An independent citizens’ oversight committee and an annual audit will ensure funds are spent as promised.

3. Education is the cornerstone of a quality community. Investing in public education for all children is a long held value in our community; providing top quality education is vitally important if we are to compete effectively on the world stage in the decades ahead. That’s why 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, the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto, Palo Alto branch of American Association of University Women, Stanford University, Hewlett-Packard Co., Roche Palo Alto, and 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 support Measure A. The San Jose Mercury News, Palo Alto Weekly and The Stanford Daily have all endorsed Measure A. In addition, over 2,300 Palo Alto residents have publicly endorsed this measure. We are fortunate that Palo Alto is not a town where the only students who attend public schools are those with no other choice; if Measure A passes, it will remain that way.

1) Property tax revenue: Opponents claim in their ballot rebuttal that PAUSD receives “$17 million in excess property tax revenue in response to growing enrollment.” This is simply false. PAUSD receives absolutely no increased revenue as enrollment increases. In fact, enrollment hikes in the past three years have added $3 million to district costs.

2) Revenue growth: Opponents claim Measure A is not needed because of PAUSD’s revenue growth in the past seven years. But the opponents fail to mention that PAUSD revenue has not grown fast enough to keep up with enrollment growth and increased costs. Palo Altans for Government Efficiency (PAGE) recently evaluated PAUSD finances and concluded that, without Measure A, substantial cuts will be required over the next five years.

3) Teacher pay: Opponents claim our teachers are overpaid because they earn more than the state average. But the relevant comparison is to high-achieving school districts in our area—and PAUSD salaries are mid-range on that scale.

4) Transfer students: Opponents are circulating a flyer that suggests PAUSD could save millions of dollars through actions like charging for children who live in Stanford student housing or excluding children in the Tinsley program. In fact, the Stanford campus is part of our school district and children living there are entitled to attend our schools like all other residents. Children in the Tinsley program are entitled to attend our schools under a court desegregation order. The opposition’s suggestion that the school district is misspending millions of taxpayer dollars is completely without merit. What’s more, the Palo Alto Weekly says the opposition comes “dangerously close to playing the race card” regarding the Tinsley students, and calls their allegations about students of Stanford families unfair.

5) Superintendent’s salary: Opponents urge a “no” vote on Measure A because we pay our school superintendent above the state average. In fact, the PAUSD superintendent’s salary is comparable to superintendent compensation in other high performing districts. More important, this issue is a red herring — Measure A has nothing to do with superintendent compensation. No funds from Measure A can be used for central administration or salary increases. Defeating Measure A will have no impact on the superintendent’s salary.

6) Senior citizens’ civic duty to vote as they wish: Contrary to what the opposition has suggested, all senior citizens have every right to vote “yes” on Measure A even if they elect to take the exemption or live in housing where they will not be subject to the parcel tax. We are all frequently asked to vote on matters that do not affect us directly. We are entitled to vote as we choose and can certainly choose to vote in a way that we know is best for our community as a whole and the youngest generation in particular.

7) Stewardship of funds: Opponents question PAUSD’s stewardship of funds, apparently because the district makes every effort to avoid cutbacks that will reduce the quality of education. In fact, the district is a good steward of taxpayer dollars and has won the Meritorious Budget Award from the Assoc. of School Business Officials for the past 7 years. Even more important, our school district produces students with top level test scores despite lower per pupil spending than many leading school districts across the country. Given how California funds its schools, few high-performing districts can function without a parcel tax. Voters who want to change how the school district is run can elect new school board members this November. But don’t harm 10,500 PAUSD students by voting no on Measure A.

Public education has always been a priority in Palo Alto. Today we face a crossroads. It is difficult to open the morning paper or watch the evening news without hearing about the decay of California’s public schools. Measure A is your opportunity to invest in PAUSD schools, our property values, and our community. Our kids need it; our community expects it.

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Last modified: 06/06/05