Dear MTUESD Community,
A very Happy Thanksgiving break to you all! Safe travels and warm wishes for a pleasant week ahead!
I want to say thank you to the parents/guardians and staff that responded to the question about the parcel tax survey. One of the reasons I do those types of exercises is to find out where we need to support information gaps.
Many of you may know that I was the principal of Michelson Elementary School and Assistant Superintendent in the Vallecito Union School District for three years. That is a relatively wealthy school district that is what we call Basic Aid that generally only admits students that are within their attendance area. People don't understand the different types of funding in school districts. In this area, Basic Aid districts draw their revenue primarily from property taxes in corridors where there are a high percentage of vacation residents. This is highly favorable to the districts because they get the property tax revenue from the homes, but only the attendance of the students that are full-time. For example, for many years my son and I lived at our home in Arnold and enjoyed the recreational aspects of the summer months, but we did not put any demand on the school district because he didn’t attend there. They got my money, but not my demand. I paid the full tax property assessment to support that district.
In addition, the VUSD voters also passed two bond measures in the amount of $12 million for construction in the three years I was there to upgrade facilities including the all-weather track and field further, creating a facility divide between our facilities.
At Mark Twain we are what is called an LCFF district. What that means is that I receive the daily attendance rate for the students attending. I do not draw the majority of my income from property taxes. We are at a huge disadvantage to the basic districts of Vallecito and Bret Harte, which outspend us between $5,000 and $10,000 annually per student. Bret Harte receives the benefit of the uphill homes as described above, but Mark Twain does not. So how can we make it right?
One of the options we are exploring is a parcel tax. A parcel tax would provide a modest assessment of approximately $65 a year on tax bills for four or five years to pay for our school programs. This is not allowed to be used for building construction, it's only to be allowed to be used for programs. I don't know the answer folks, but I grew up poor and I know that what is happening at Mark Twain is not right. Our assessed property tax valuations in this district are way too low comparatively, because one of the best things about our district is that people stay here. But, when people stay here, it means that their property taxes are not reassessed every time a home is sold and the school district doesn't get the benefit of those increased revenues. If you want your school district to be on the level of a Vallecito, it's time to start thinking about how we fund the school system locally.
I love you and I care about these kids but what is happening is wrong. My dad was a plasterer and my mother was a teacher's aide, and I went to schools that were appropriately funded. Mark Twain Union Elementary School District is at a disadvantage to neighboring districts. We have the largest enrollment and the smallest budget… My mom could only stretch her food budget to feed her family of six so far, and that's where we are at.
People suggest we unify with the other districts, and while that would be amazing for MT, it would dilute their resources, so that is not going to happen. I am not playing one district against another. They are both wonderful districts with vast resource differences. What I am asking you is do you want to think out of the box for another solution with local funding?
People often ask me what about grants? I am a heck of a grant writer and have received many of them. The problem is, they fund specific things and are heavily restricted and not necessarily for the things you need like math and reading intervention.
It's time for a change. I would hope more funding would come from the state or feds, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. I might not be popular in this estimation, but the education and monetary resource divide in this country is not okay and it can only be corrected at the local level, not at the state level.
Our kids deserve a level playing field. Please help me create it.
I don’t know if this is the answer, but we need to start thinking out of the box and beyond “the usual”.
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson
Superintendent