Do Your Homework, Santa Clara Co. Voters: 9 School District Funding Measures On Ballot

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – Nine measures from Santa Clara County school districts in the Nov. 8 election are asking voter approval on funds that would benefit academic programs and assist in making structural improvements.

Five of the measures are for San Jose school districts that in all serve nearly 90,000 students.

Measure X for the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District seeks to issue $748 million in bonds to make repairs or upgrades to classrooms; construct classrooms for nursing, engineering and other trades; provide access points for the disabled and other improvements. The measure needs 55 percent of the vote to pass.

The San Jose Unified School District is proposing Measure Y, which requires a two-thirds majority for a $72 parcel tax for eight years that would result in $5 million per year to help support core programs such as writing and math, attract and retain teachers and staff, and prepare students for college and their future jobs.

Measure Z would issue $150 million in bonds to help the East Side Union High School District improve and build classrooms for science, technology and engineering courses -- upgrade its fire and security systems
and replace deteriorating roofs at 13 campuses if it gains 55 percent of yes votes.

The Oak Grove School District placed Measure EE on the ballot for a $132 per parcel annual tax for nine years that is expected to raise $3.1 million annually to keep small classes; recruit, retain and train teachers; expand math, language and other curriculum; and offer before- and after-school programs that need the green light with a two-thirds majority of votes.

Franklin-McKinley School District's Measure HH would benefit its elementary schools with a $72 parcel tax for nine years earmarked to expand its counseling and tutoring programs to serve at-risk students and keep small class sizes for kindergarten through third grade students, among other services.

Two school districts that oversee campuses in Campbell, Los Gatos, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Monte Sereno have measures that need 55 percent voter approval of bonds to address a variety of needs, including upgrading and adding more classrooms.

Measure AA for the Campbell Union High School District is asking voters if it should distribute $275 million in bonds to repair facilities, make seismic upgrades, and add classrooms.

Campbell Unified School District's Measure CC makes a similar request for $72 million in bonds that would also be used to improve its fire alarms and security systems and repair leaky roofs.

Two other school districts are looking to extend parcel taxes under measures that both need a two-thirds majority from voters to support its math, science, engineering, technology and other academic programs --
attract and retain teachers and retain small class sizes.

Measure BB for the Sunnyvale School District is seeking to renew its $59 parcel tax for seven years starting July 1, 2018.

Los Altos School District's Measure GG is also looking to renew its $223 parcel tax for eight years beginning July 1, 2017.

• Also see: What To Do With 'Ghost Town' Vallco Mall: 2 Ballot Measures Offer Different Approaches In Cupertino

In other election news:

• Efforts In Place To Protect Bay Area Voters' Rights, Prevent Election Fraud
• Tax Measures For Essential Services On Ballots In Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, San Jose
• Measure A's $950 Million Housing Bond Aimed At Affordable Housing; But Will It Really Aid Homeless Crisis?
• Measure B: Santa Clara Co. Voters To Decide Half-Cent Sales Tax For Transportation Projects
• Nov. 8 Election: Corrected Argument Against Campbell Union H.S. District Measure AA Coming In Mail
• Santa Clara Co. Leaders Respond To Election Rigging, Voter Fraud Allegations
• Prop 59 Supporters Hold County Rally To Eliminate 'Corporate Personhood'
• Rep. Honda Files Suit Accusing Ro Khanna's Campaign Of Espionage, Computer Fraud

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