League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Cruz County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Measure I Protection of Quality Education Act Santa Cruz City High School District Parcel Tax - 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 21,333 / 79.02% Yes votes ...... 5,665 / 20.98% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure I

Vote YES on Measure I to renew local funding that protects outstanding programs at Harbor, Santa Cruz and Soquel high schools, as well as Costanoa, Ark and AFE alternative school programs. Excellent teachers, abundant choices and strong educational programs provide our students with 21st-century skills and enriched academics including exceptional English, writing, math, vocational, arts and science courses. Our high school graduates are accepted at the nation's best colleges and universities. Since 2002 our high schools have relied on local funding to keep great teachers and maintain high quality programs, even with deep annual state budget cuts. This local funding is set to expire next year, so your YES vote is essential. Measure I will help shield our high schools from state budget cuts. Voting YES will protect our high schools by: Retaining high-quality teachers Providing academic counseling that prepares students for college Helping at-risk students stay on the right track Keeping school libraries open, served by certificated teacher librarians Every penny will be spent locally to support our high schools: No funds will be spent on administrators' salaries or benefits An independent citizens' oversight committee ensures funds are spent as promised Seniors will continue to be eligible for an exemption These funds cannot be taken away by the state Without Measure I, our schools will be forced to cut millions, resulting in devastating cuts to academics, electives, libraries, counseling and teachers. Measure I strengthens our local economy by ensuring our schools provide a high quality, skilled workforce. Great local schools enhance property values and make our community a great place to live for us all. Join parents, teachers, business owners, seniors and community leaders in voting YES on Measure I. s/ Bill Monning Assemblymember s/ Bruce McPherson Former Secretary of State s/ Susan True Cabrillo College Trustee s/ Phil Wowak Sheriff-Coroner s/ Cynthia Mathews Former Mayor, City of Santa Cruz (No arguments against Measure I were submitted)

Full Text of Measure I

To continue expiring funding to retain highly qualified teachers and librarians, prepare students for college/careers, provide academic counseling for at-risk youth, and continue improving classroom academics, shall the Santa Cruz City High School District renew its expiring parcel tax at $38 per parcel annually for eight years, with exemptions available for seniors, independent oversight and accountability, no funds for administrator salaries, and guaranteed local control, so funds stay in local high schools to preserve quality education? In order to retain qualified and experienced teachers, librarians and counselors, the following educational programs and services for students in grades 9 through 12 shall be supported by this assessment: School libraries: Credentialed librarians and other resources to support the development of independent research skills and the study of literature by all students. Counseling Services: Credentialed counselors and other resources to support academic and career counseling for all students as well as counseling for at-risk youth. The High School District's expiring parcel tax for high school education began in 2006 and has been collected at the flat rate of $28 per parcel per year since then. This Measure will extend the expiring parcel tax for eight years, beginning July 1, 2013, at the flat rate of $38 per year, for each assessor's parcel within the High School District (grades 9-12). A parcel is defined as any unit of land in the High School District that now receives a separate real property tax bill from Santa Cruz County. All property that would otherwise be exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the imposition of said qualified special tax. An exemption from the assessment will be made available to each individual in the High School District who will attain 65 years of age prior to July 1 of the assessment year, and who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the Schools on or before July 1, 2013, or July 1 of any succeeding assessment year. Any one application from a qualified applicant will provide an exemption for the parcel for the remaining term of the assessment so long as such applicant continues to own and use the parcel as his or her principal residence. In addition to the accountability measures required by law, an independent community oversight committee shall be appointed by the Governing Board to oversee all expenditures funded by the measure in order to ensure that said funds are spent wisely and used only for the purposes approved by the voters. The oversight committee shall monitor the expenditures of these funds by the High School District and shall report on an annual basis to the community on how these funds have been spent. None of the funds raised by the parcel tax will be used for administrator salaries or benefits.