Leadership in Education

By Larry Agran

City support for Irvine schools has helped to make Irvine the Smartest City in America!

I understand the financial connection between our education system and our local economy. That's one of the reasons I've authored a ballot measure and led the successful campaign to gather more than 18,000 signatures from Irvine citizens to qualify the "Support Our Schools Initiative -- YES on Measure BB" for the November 6th ballot. Your YES VOTE on MEASURE BB will maintain Irvine's tradition of excellence in education by helping to offset the deep education budget cuts we've had to face in recent years. Since 2009, the Irvine and Tustin Unified School Districts have seen more than $50 million in budget reductions and, according to Irvine school officials, language in the state budget code could further reduce the educational budget by $370 per student next year, a cut of more than $10 million for Irvine schools.

For years, the City of Irvine has directed funds to our schools, but faced with the current budget cuts, we must do more. And because prudent fiscal leadership has left Irvine with surplus funds, we can do more. Measure BB will contribute an additional $2.5 million per year to all of Irvine's schools -- about $100 per year for each and every school child -- without raising taxes. These funds will be used to reduce class sizes, hire additional teaching assistants and public school nurses, and provide essential classroom supplies.

For more information about Measure BB, please visit http://www.sosirvine.com.