Video: Measure S debate at MCC

I apologize for taking so long to publish the ‘Alternative Parcel Tax Measure’. It is on CUSD.Info now.

You can vote for Measure S OR the Alternative Parcel Tax Measure in November. But we can’t have both! Please Vote NO on Measure S.

Restore School Bussing, Accountability and really improve our schools.

On 6-6-6 Just Say No! To the School Board! No on S!

http://cusd.info/

Ken Johnson

Please vote YES on S!

I have no problem with demanding accountability. I DO have a problem with holding a struggling school district hostage.

Brian Ginna,

“Hostage” –an interesting word choice. Aren’t people free to choose to send a check of any amount to CUSD right at this moment or at any time?

My post offered an ‘Alternative Parcel Tax Measure’. The voter is free to ‘Vote No On Measure S” and mail a check to CUSD on the way back from the polling location, if they feel the 5 month delay is critical.

The question: is Measure S worthy of compelling your neighbour to send a check? That is what a parcel tax does!

We apparently agree that accountability is important. CUSD’s Measure S doesn’t express that same commitment to accountability. To CUSD, accountability is complying with State Law by send the State the required minimal report: “amount of funds collected and expended”– not even to the people who will be writing checks! I wonder if people might like something more informative than: ‘received $2,000,000 spent $2,000,000’ and to find out that much, the public will have to dig for it.

We apparently agree that CUSD is a “struggling school district”. But it is not money where they are struggling.

Billions have been added to funding by the State again this year! Please see: “SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNOR’S MAY BUDGET REVISION”
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr06/yr06rel53.asp Did you notice: “The May Revision to the budget delivers on Governor Schwarzenegger’s commitment to restore funding to schools.”

It is on academic performance effectiveness that CUSD is struggling. It is in the area of judgment that CUSD is struggling. It is in the area of accountability that CUSD is struggling. It is in the area of honesty regarding the academic status of the district that CUSD is struggling.

Mail that voluntary check for you AND your neighbour – you will have the same level of accountability as voting for Measure S from the School Board! You will have the same say where your money is spent as Measure S.

On 6-6-6 tell the School Board NO! That you really believe in accountability, by Voting No on Measure S – you want something better!

Ken Johnson

To the person who wrote the “No to Severytime” email spam, the name itself implies no matter HOW money would be spent to improve Coastside education — EVER — s/he will oppose it. Every time. Makes me think that person is more concerned with his/her change purse (and all of 50 cents a day) than ever helping local kids get a better education.

Please see through the smokescreen of the extremists who will ALWAYS claim to find reasons to oppose helping local children. That’s WAY out of touch with mainstream HMB, and San Mateo County.

FYI, here are recent San Mateo County parcel tax votes: La Honda-Pescadero 72% PASSED Woodside 78% PASSED San Carlos 70% PASSED Burlingame 79% PASSED San Mateo 69% PASSED Palo Alto 74% PASSED Redwood Shores 68% PASSED Portola Valley 73% PASSED HALF MOON BAY 65% FAILED

HMB takes pride in claiming it’s not like other cities. Those other cities all get much MORE state funds per student, and they ALL still PASSED parcel taxes. Our unwillingness to fund education isn’t quaint or charming, it’s harmful.

I don’t want the schools to solve our transportation issues; I want them to educate our kids. Where the money goes is not nebulous; it goes to math/science/literacy programs and reducing class sizes.

Even IF the money doesn’t guarantee a raise in our kids’ test scores, I STILL want to take that chance. My children’s education is worth the risk. It’s what, 4 bits a day? We can afford this parcel tax. We need to pass Measure S. -Joel Farbstein