Piedmont LWV to Host Forum on School Funding

From a League of Women Voters of Piedmont press release:

In state by state comparisons, California ranks among the lowest, at 47th place, in per-student funding and has the largest class sizes.  In the last four years, California’s schools have suffered $20 billion in budget cuts. 

Damon Smith of the Alameda County Office of Education will be the featured speaker at a forum titled "School Funding—Why Proposition 30 Matters to You," sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont.

Proposition 30 and a competing revenue measure will be decided by California voters in the fall election.

The forum will be held Wednesday, Sept. 19, 7:30 to 9 p.m., at the Ellen Driscoll Theater, 325 Highland Ave., Piedmont.  The program is free and open to the public.

Damon Smith, associate superintendent, business services, Alameda County Office of Education, brings a wealth of experience in state-wide school finance. Piedmont Unified School District Superintendent Constance Hubbard will join Smith to address impacts of the state tax measures on the Piedmont schools. There will be a question and answer period following the presentations and information on how citizens can be involved to support funding for schools.

Proposition 30 will raise $6 billion a year in new revenue primarily for California public schools. The state budget assumes that voters will approve this measure, which increases the sales tax rate by one-quarter cent for four years and the personal income tax rates for upper-income taxpayers for seven years.

If Proposition 30 does not pass, California schools and colleges face $6 billion in cuts.  The Piedmont schools stand to lose $1.1 million, approximately $441 per student by mid-year, January, 2013. 

The California League of Women Voters has endorsed Proposition 30. Smith will also present information on Proposition 38. The California League of Women Voters has taken a neutral position on this measure.

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