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Quick Links |
Legislation Team Web Page
Polls are Open
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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Legislation Team
Co-chairs |
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Kathy Ranstrom
Sarah Butler
sarahgbutler@hotmail.com |
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Next Leg Team Meeting |
November 19
9:00-11:00 a.m.
Orinda Union School District Office | |
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November 3rd is Election Day |
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Please support Measures G & H! |
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Your Vote Makes the Difference!
If you ever felt like your vote didn't really make a difference in the outcome of an election, consider the following:
- In 1997, the San Ramon Valley School District lost a bond election by only two votes.
- In 2001, the Walnut Creek School District passed a parcel tax by only 112 votes.
- In 2002, the Orinda Union School District lost a parcel tax election by only 101 votes.
- In 2004, the Moraga School District passed a parcel tax by only 28 votes.
Both Measures require a 2/3 majority. Your vote could be the difference. Remember to vote YES on November 3. |
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The Postmark Does Not Count!
Absentee ballots are valid to be counted only if they are physically received by the Elections Office in Martinez on or before November 3rd. A postmark DOES NOT make any difference. Any ballot mailed today or later may not arrive in time to be counted.
If you have not yet mailed your absentee ballot, we recommend you do one of two things:
§ You may walk your completed absentee ballot to any polling location on Tuesday, November 3rd, and hand it over to election officials anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
§ You may vote in person at your polling location on November 3rd (though you will need to vote on a provisional ballot if an absentee ballot was mailed to you.) The election officials can help you do this.
To make sure your vote counts, you can take it to any polling place in the county. You can check on the location of the polling place nearest your home right here. | |
| Measure G - Acalanes Union High School District |
| Just 52¢ a day is all it takes to pay for the teaching staff at one Acalanes School District high school. Measure G is on the November 3 ballot and if it passes, the $189 per parcel tax currently in place will not expire. If it is not renewed by June 30, 2011, the school district will be forced to cut an additional $6.7 million from its budget, the equivalent of 70 teachers, the entire teaching staff at one high school.
The news is filled with stories of school districts in our area forced by the State budget crisis to make difficult decisions like whether to close schools, dramatically increase class size, or eliminate sports, art, music, libraries, or counselors. At the same time, the Acalanes District boasts the number one API ranking among all California high school districts, a 99% graduation rate, 76% of students completing the University of California "A to G" requirements, a seven period day which includes Advanced Placement, performing arts, fine arts and career/technical education classes, a 90% Advanced Placement Test pass rate, and numerous sports, clubs and extracurricular activities. Although the Acalanes District ranks very near the bottom in per student state funding, it is able to maintain such excellent programs because of local funding.
Like every other public school in California, recent State budget cuts have had a major impact on AUHSD schools. In the last two years, more than $6 million has been cut from our budget. This has resulted in, among other reductions, the elimination of 19 teaching positions, only two of which are attributable to declining enrollment. The projected cut for next year is another $3.7 million, and another 15 teaching positions. This is what we are facing without the loss of our current parcel tax. The loss of our current parcel tax revenue will require additional cuts equal to 70 more teaching positions. Renewal of the existing parcel tax will cost property owners only $189 per year, or 52¢ per day.
Vote YES on Measure G on November 3. |
| Measure H - Walnut Creek School District |
Measure H, Walnut Creek School District's parcel tax renewal on the November 3rd ballot, is desperately needed. Without the $82 per parcel tax, sixteen teaching positions will be eliminated. This is equivalent to losing the teaching staff at one elementary school.
In the past three years, Walnut Creek School District has lost 18 teaching positions and 25 classified positions due to the State's dwindling resources. From 2008-10, the State has withheld a total of 2.8 million dollars from the Walnut Creek School District. Presently, the district's budget is just over 23 million dollars, down by almost three million dollars since 2007-08. The district has raised class size in K-3 from 20:1 to 25:1, reduced classroom programs, and reduced custodians and paraprofessionals. Without the parcel tax, 16 more positions will be cut, in addition to the previous 18, making a total of 34 teachers that could be eliminated in three years. Class sizes will continue to rise.
Measure H will:
- Support smaller class sizes in grades K-8.
- Keep classroom computers and technology up-to-date and well maintained.
- Maintain challenging classroom programs by attracting and retaining high quality teachers.
- Provide funds to support school libraries.
We need every Walnut Creek citizen's support for children and for the future. Please support Walnut Creek School District's exemplary elementary schools and middle school by voting YES on Measure H on November 3. | |
