FAILURE OF MEASURE M

While more than 60 percent of West Contra Costa voters favored a parcel tax to help fund classroom programs for our students, Measure M didn't garner the two-thirds support it needed to pass on Tuesday. The failure of Measure M means that class sizes will rise and programs we value will face cuts as the district faces a budget shortfall of millions of dollars.

It is now more important than ever for our school community to get involved in fighting for education in our district. The failure of this parcel tax will require more vigilance on the part of school community members to ensure that school district funds are being put to their best use. This means a community presence at school board meetings, particularly when budget items are on the agenda. It means frequent communication with policymakers. And it means parents, teachers, and friends working together to insist that public education is one of our core values.

Don't give up! Join together with Kensington Hilltop's PTA Legislative Committee to forge the education all kids deserve. We meet the first Monday of every month and all are welcome.

LINKS TO ELECTION INFORMATION

The following links are recommended for news and analysis of the 11/2/2010 election in Contra Costa County:
http://hercules.patch.com/articles/west-contra-costa-school-parcel-tax-fails
http://www.contracostatimes.com/education/ci_16507112?source=rss

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES' FORUM

On Wednesday, October 13, six candidates for the WCCUSD school board participated in a candidates' forum at Kensington Hilltop School. The evening was sponsored by the Kensington Hilltop PTA. Questions were answered on topics including the district budget, class size, family flight from the district, K-8 schools, and the movie "Race to Nowhere". The candidates' forum was recorded and candidates responses posted here.

CONTACTS

For information, please contact Ellen Hartigan-O'Connor at mailt:ellen@hilltop-pta-legislative.org

You may also follow us on Twitter at @hilltop_pta_leg!

CHARTER

To communicate to parents and community members accurate and current information about legislative and budget issues. To inform them about actions they can take to influence legislators on the issues that impact our schools.

We will:

  • Explain how state school financing and current legislative proposals affect OUR school district.
  • Participate in letter-writing campaigns to legislators.
  • Meet with legislators to discuss these legislative issues.
  • Supporting parcel tax and bond measure campaigns.
  • Support candidate forums.
  • Hold presentations on advocacy issues.
  • Liaise with California PTA Advocacy groups.

Together the PTAs in California and throughout the nation form a powerful force for securing adequate laws, public policy and funding that are the best for our children.

PRIORITIES for 2010/2011

The burden of paying for education has shifted from state funding. Increasingly, local funding such as parcel taxes and parent contributions cover funding gaps and now make up more than 50% of costs.

We believe the State should give our districts more local control.

We support a change to the threshold for approving parcel taxes to 55%.

Race to the Top. States have to show they are putting resources toward special programs - class size reduction is one of those programs.

We also support student achievement data systems that provides feedback to improve instructional practices in schools, to guide more effective resource allocation and to make student performance data more available and understandable to parents.