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San Mateo County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Smart Voter

State of our School District

By Robert J "Bob" Dettmer

Candidate for Board Member; Brisbane Elementary School District

This information is provided by the candidate
Important long-range decisions will be made soon, as the State of California continues to restrict funding to our local schools.
Thirty years of diminishing State funds to schools have weakened a once premiere educational system. Local districts have no choice but to continue cutting programs and services. Many, unfortunately, will face bankruptcy and loss of local control. The question is not if we will continue cuts, but how they will be made.

I have personally led efforts to pass local parcel taxes for our schools, and, as a board member, to limit spending while maintaining a financial reserve. That reserve will buy us time as we explore options like consolidation with another district and re-configuring our schools. There are no alternatives that will leave us with just what we are used to. This is a sad thing to consider. Still, the decisions will have to be made in order to keep alive the core educational system that our communities cherish and utilize.

I present myself to you, the voter, as a person who knows our schools intimately from years of association and service. I will use that experience, as well as my long membership in our community, to help make decisions that are sensitive to all aspects of a school district: the community, parents, teachers and support staff, and, of course, the students.

I am a strong advocate for passing Prop 30, the Governor's plan to prevent further restriction of funds to schools. Passing Prop 30 will save us from a quarter million dollars in additional cuts to the Brisbane Elementary School District.

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ca/sm Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 8, 2012 15:01
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