Educational Propositions

By Ann B. Pierce

Vote NO on Proposition 38. Vote YES on Proposition 39.

Vote NO on Proposition 38 Proposition 38 is a dangerous experiment, which lacks accountability, leaving the door wide open to discrimination, while taking funds from essential public services including law enforcement and higher education.

Proposition 38 would move our state from the education for all model, which created public education, to the education for the privileged model, which we recognized as detrimental to society back in the 1800's!

Proposition 38 will create a system of voucher schools at the expense of our neighborhood schools. These voucher schools, not parents, will decide upon whom they will open their doors to. Students from low-income families, students with mental or physical disabilities, students with low-test scores have been denied admission in Milwaukee where a similar admissions 'lottery' was to have been in effect.

Even advocates of school vouchers are not supporting Proposition 38. Let's continue to explore options such as magnet and charter schools as vehicles of 'choice' for parents and students. Vote NO on Proposition 38!

Vote YES on Proposition 39 Currently it takes a 2/3 majority of local voters to pass a bond measure in the state of California. Proposition 39, The school Improvement and Accountability Act, would lower the current 2/3 criteria to 55%, or a simple majority.

As the coordinator for our district's bond measure in 1997, I know the tremendous amount of energy expended to pass a bond by the 2/3 criteria. If we had not had the dedication of parents, staff, administrators and board members, working diligently, day after day, month after month, we would not be witnessing the construction of our new middle school campus. Empowering local voters with the decision to invest in community schools makes sense. Thirty-eight states use this 55% criterion.

Proposition 39 generates funds for new construction and improvements to existing facilities. It would enable districts to rehabilitate facilities in terms of safety, class size reduction and technological needs. Annual fiscal and performance audits ensure accountability, while rate caps limit bonding capacity.

Passage of this proposition is extremely important as we look toward a high school for our community! It's time we make education our top priority, support good schools for California's kids...Vote YES on Prop 39.