Argument Against Alum Rock Union Elementary School District Parcel Tax - Measure O

 

In 2008, voters approved Alum Rock Union Elementary School District’s $179,000,000 bond measure.

 

Two years later, in 2010, Alum Rock Union Elementary School District got a $160.16 per parcel tax, which has since risen to $176.42, to “preserve quality education” and “maintaining small class sizes.”

 

Then just 2 short years ago, voters approved another $125,000,000 loan to fund school improvements. 

 

Now they’re back, once again, asking for our approval to extend that 2010 parcel tax for another 7 years. The District always makes the same pleas to try to scare us into voting for more debt and higher taxes. 

 

This time we should tell them NO.

 

Alum Rock Union Elementary School District has steadily declining enrollment. Since the 2011-12 school year, they have dropped by 371 students. 

 

With enrollment declining, presumably they need fewer teachers and fewer classrooms. Why would they need a tax extension?

 

Have they put to good use the parcel taxes and loans they’ve already received?  Let’s look at their students’ academic proficiency (2012-13):

 

 

District average

Statewide STAR average

Comparison

English

49.6%

55%

- 5%

Math

57.3%

50%

+ 7%

Science

53%

59%

- 6%

History

41%

49%

- 8%

(Source: Education Data Partnership, www.Ed-Data.k12.ca.us.)

 

Alum Rock Union Elementary School District’s students are below the state average in 3/4 of the subjects!  The only bright spotundefinedif you can call it thatundefinedis Math, in which, still, only 58% of students meet or exceed proficiency standards. 

 

Please don’t reward failure with your hard-earned money.  Demand better academic results, and only then reward the District for their efforts.

 

Please vote NO on Measure O.

 

Like us, you can be for schools, for students, for teachers, and against Measure O.


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