CUSD to discuss parcel tax at special meeting March 2

CUSD to discuss parcel tax at special meeting March 2

The board of the Cabrillo Unified School Board (CUSD) has called a special meeting to discuss placing a parcel tax on the June primary ballot.  The meeting will be Thursday, March 2 at 7:00pm at the district office on Kelly Street.

This would be the fifth time in seven years the district has tried to pass a parcel tax.  The special meeting was called in response to a presentation from Montara resident Cindy Epps, communications & community relations coordinator with Back to Basics.  Epps encouraged the board to take another look at the issue, now that the divisive issue of the middle school’s location has been resolved.

The board had to call a special meeting so that the community could be properly notified of the discussion, while meeting the March 10 deadline for filing ballot measures. There was no discussion of the details of the proposed tax, such as amount, duration, any exemptions, and the list of uses to which the proceeds would be put.

It is still not clear that the measure would receive the necessary two-thirds vote to pass. In a survey in October 2005 about 60% of likely voters said they would vote for a $250 per year per parcel tax. [Coastsider’s analysis of the survey results and link to original PDF].  About a third of respondents said that resolving the location of the middle school was a precondition for a "yes" vote. Voters are still concerned about whether the district would be a good steward of parcel tax funds: 41% of respondents disagreed strongly or somewhat with the statement “I trust the Cabrillo Unified School District to properly manage tax dollars” and 51% of respondents said the District’s management of bond funds was either fair or poor.

Neither the state nor the district budget will be set in time for the June election. The governor’s May revision will come out in the middle of the campaign. It is widely believed that there will be a significant increase in school spending from last year, but the exact amount is unknown. This will create uncertainty about the amount the district needs and how urgent the need will be.

Superintendent Dr. John Bayless forecast that the combination of state increases and federal decreases will lead to a net revenue increase for the district of about three percent.

Half Moon Bay High School principal Susan Million and CUSD assistant superintendent Madeline Shearer reported that 86% of the district’s 275 high school seniors have already passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).  Of the 37 students who have not yet passed, 31 are English language learners, 18 of whom have been in this country for less than three years.

To support these students, the district is offering individual tutoring after school, a support class and review in the core classes of math and English.  Alternatives for seniors after June include a summer school review course and an additional summer CAHSEE offered only to seniors.

Superintendent Bayless presented a proposed schedule for new construction and renovation of the Cunha Middle School. The board formed an ad hoc committee to oversee the design and construction process and present their recommendations to the board.  Board members Charlie Gardner and Roy Salume will serve on the committee, which will include a teacher, a member of the district’s classified staff, and community volunteers.

The ad hoc committee will work with the architect, Dr. Bayless, and Cunha principal Mike Andrews on design development. It will present its recommendations to the school board on March 16. 

Community members who are interested in serving on the Ad-Hoc Committee can contact Roy Salume or Charlie Gardner