San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board Votes to Renew Local Education Funding Measure on May Ballot

Information submitted by San Ramon Valley Unified School District:

With the support of local parents and community members, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board voted Tuesday night to place a measure on the May 5, 2015, all-mail ballot to renew its expiring education parcel tax without increasing the current tax rate.

Considered a “destination district” due to its strong reputation for academic excellence, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) serves students in San Ramon, Danville, Alamo and the Dougherty Valley. The SRVUSD community has a history of supporting its local schools by passing and renewinglocal education parcel tax funding since 2004.

“We believe that our schools do an excellent job of providing a top quality education for our children and community support for our students is one major reason we are so successful,” said Denise Jennison, SRVUSD Board of EducationPresident. “This existing, voter-approved local education funding is a reliable source of revenue that the District can count on every year, and is crucial to stabilizing our district’s budget. It generates about $7 million annually, allowing us to maintain strong academic programs and retain our great teachers.”

If renewed by voters with a 67 percent yes vote, the measure would continue to protect top educational priorities in the district by maintaining core academic programs, providing quality college preparatory and career technical classes and maintaining ongoing teacher training to support academic excellence. The tax rate would remain the same as it is today, costing property owners $144 per year and would expire in nine years. The measure could not be renewed without voter approval. The measure continues its exemption for senior citizens and prohibits funds from being used to pay administrators’ salaries.

Several community members and parents attended Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting and expressed support for the measure.

“I’m very pleased to see so many community representatives here tonight to encourage the Board to move forward with placing this measure on the ballot,” said Superintendent Mary Shelton. “Our community has really come together to support our schools.”

All registered voters in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District will receive a ballot in the mail in early April. Ballots must be received by the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters by May 5, 2015, to be counted.

Photo via Shutterstock

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