On November 3, the voters of the Acalanes Union High School District will make a decision regarding the funding of the programs serving 5,600 students. Measure G will provide a continued stable source of district revenue using the current parcel tax rate of $189. With the loss of over $6 million in funding over the last two school years, the AUHSD parcel tax and community contributions have allowed the district to provide services at a reduced level, rather than eliminate them. Just in the 2009-2010 school year, 19 full-time teaching positions were eliminated. This equates to a loss of 95 classes for students desiring a vibrant education. During the last five years, student academic progress in the district has steadily increased based on all measures of achievement. Post secondary schools throughout the nation recognize the scholarship accomplishments of AUHSD students.
The parcel tax represents approximately 14% of the district's budget. Without this funding, it is not realistic to expect the same quality programs from which students currently benefit. The parcel tax has allowed AUHSD students to be competitive with students from districts receiving much greater state and local revenue. |