On March 15th, Alameda Unified School District's Board of Education voted to place a replacement parcel tax on the ballot. Without this new tax, the school district will face devastating cuts, including large increases in class size, closure of elementary, middle, and high schools, and deep cuts to education, sports, music, arts, and counseling programs.
APLUS has formed to pass the replacement parcel tax. We need your help, in the form of:
Alameda, Calif. – Thursday, June 3, 2010 – Judge Kenneth Mark Burr of the Alameda County Superior Court has ruled decisively and definitively for AUSD in the lawsuit over Measure H. In his Statement of Decision resolving the case, Judge Burr rejected all of the plaintiffs’ claims and found that the structure of Measure H is uniformly applied and legal under state law.
Plaintiffs in the Beery et al v. Alameda Unified School District and Borikas et al v. Alameda Unified School District cases had sought to overturn Measure H, the parcel tax supporting Alameda schools that was passed by 66.9% of Alameda voters in June 2008.
In his ruling Judge Burr concluded the parcel tax imposed by Measure H is uniform and legal. “The Court rules that Measure H comports with the requirements of Government Code section 50079 and the California Constitution. Accordingly, judgment for the District shall be entered.”
“I am thrilled with Judge Burr’s decision”, stated Superintendent Kirsten Vital. “His ruling is a victory for the students and the entire Alameda community who support and are proud of our quality schools.”
“This ruling is so important in light of the devastating state budget cuts that AUSD is facing,” continued Superintendent Vital. “Local funding through Measure H has protected the programs, teachers, and small class sizes we depend on.”
This ruling is also significant in that Judge Burr’s analysis confirms that the structure of Measure E is also legal. Measure E is the replacement parcel tax that is being considered by voters in an all-mail election running from late May through June 22nd. Measure E has the same structure as Measure H. If passed by voters this month, Measure E will immediately replace Measures A and H and provide a secure local funding source for eight years.
Seniors and those who receive supplemental security income for a disability are eligible for an exemption from the parcel tax for a parcel comprised of residential real property that is their primary residence in Alameda. If a person currently claims an exemption under Measures A and H, and Measure E passes, that person will be automatically exempted from Measure E.
No, this is not a new television channel. It is time to Get Out The Vote or GOTV. We have done the hard work of calling, walking and talking with our friends and neighbors to determine their support for Measure E. Now we need to make sure they get their ballot of support in the mail.
The ballot needs to be received by the Registrar of Voters by June 22nd, so we encourage everyone to mail their ballots now but no later than Friday, June 18th.
Measure E will provide the bridge while the constitutional challenge works its way through the courts.
APLUS, the committee in support of Measure E, announced its support of the AUSD announcement today, that along with eight other school districts and three major education groups, it is suing the state of California for failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide a good education to all California children.
This announcement, which came nearly three years after AUSD employees began voluntarily working on legal strategies to correct inequities in the the state’s public education financing system, is an exciting next step in challenging the way California governs and finances public education.
Like the pivotal Serrano v. Priest case, however, which addressed fundamental inequities in the state’s financing of school districts, this legal battle is likely to last for close to a decade, making the passage of Measure E even more pressing. “Alamedans have been asking AUSD to tackle state issues, and today they announced a big step forward,” said APLUS Chair, Carla Greathouse, “But with such a long timeline for success, it’s incredibly important for Alameda to support Measure E and our schools.”
Greathouse stressed that it would be a tragedy to sacrifice a generation of kids’ education waiting for this litigation to wend its way through the courts. “Children entering kindergarten this year will be close to graduating from high school before this is over.” Others were ebullient about the district’s ability to tackle such a complex strategy while their budgets continue to shrink. “
The district’s legal representation is being donated pro bono,” says John Knox White, a volunteer with APLUS, “The fact that AUSD is a part of a historic lawsuit that will be tackling long-term funding issues this way is yet another example of the fiscally responsible way that this district is managing its tight resources.”
On Saturday, May 22nd at 2pm, there will be a rally for Measure E at 2200 Central Ave. Join us as we kickoff the Get Out The Vote (GOTV) phase of the campaign.
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