Candidate for
Board Member; Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District; 2 Year Short Term

The single most important thing to remember is that our district has been underfunded by the state for almost 30 years. Livermore is not funded at the state average per pupil amount, we are below it. Pleasanton and Dublin are funded above the state average dollar amounts per pupil. Pleasanton and Livermore both have about 14,000 students yet Pleasanton receives $10 million dollars more per year. A grassroots group called LLEG has been lobbying the state for the past 3 years to equalize this situation. This year we have been awarded $334,000 dollars more. It's very nice to have and will help us with our budget but you can see it's a long way off from equality.

This is why we must support Measure D in November. If the state is unwilling or unable to provide us the money our kids deserve, we will step up to the plate and help our own kids and our own community. The Livermore Valley Education Foundation, (LVEF), has helped suport arts, music and sports for about 20 years due to donations from the community. Last year they were able to raise enough money to keep class sizes smaller for our elementary students in grades K-3. But donations are not a consistent way to fund programs. The cost of this measure will be $10 per month per parcel of land. It's paid with your property taxes and is deductible when you file your taxes. The money does not go to Sacramento so they cannot control where it is spent. Senior citizens can apply for an exemption if they cannot pay this tax. Renters do not pay this tax. The advantages of this money, (almost $3 million per year), to our community include maintaining or increasing our property values, attracting business and professional services to our community, fewer truancy problems which also means lower vandalism and crime rates. Good schools with good programs enhance a community.

Our district has suffered greatly from a lack of trust amongst parents, district staff, the school board and the various bargaining units. We must work harder to communicate fully and honestly with each other. Rumors need to be replaced with facts. People need to feel they can approach others and ask questions. Information should be shared on a regular basis. Over the last few years we have become a very divided community and we need to change that. We need to share in each others successes and work together to correct our failures.

It seems that the state will be approving the Livermore Charter School petition. I would like to explore the level of funding that the Charter School students will receive versus the rest of Livermore public school students. This may be an opportunity for us to further our quest for equalization. Since the Charter School is still a public school, it is unthinkable that some students would be given more money to learn than others. The whole idea of public education is to provide equal opportunities for all.