Voters approve more money for education
11/19/02 - Across the nation, several ballot measures were approved Nov. 5 to provide more funding for public schools.
Here's a review of some of the initiatives enacted affecting K-12 education:
• California voters passed a record $13 billion school construction bond - the largest statewide bond in U.S. history. Proposition 47 was backed by a broad coalition of education groups, including the California School Boards Association (CSBA).
Most of the funds - $11.4 billion - would be used to alleviate overcrowding and renovate aging public school classrooms; the rest would be used for colleges and universities.
The measure designated most of the bond revenue money as matching funds, with the state paying half of the costs for school construction and 60 percent for modernization. It has been estimated the state needs 46,000 new classrooms in the next five years to relieve overcrowding.
School districts that have already passed local bond issues would be first in line for receiving the new money. A statewide initiative approved in 2000 made it easier to pass bond issues by allowing them to gain approval with 55 percent of the vote instead of two-thirds.
• Also in California, an initiative to allocate $550 million for before and after-school programs was passed. The money could be used for tutoring, homework assistance, and enrichment activities.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger contributed $1 million and campaigned extensively for the measure, which many regard as a warm-up for a possible run for governor in four years.
CSBA took a neutral position on that initiative, says Rick Pratt, assistant executive director for governmental relations. CSBA likes the idea of expanding opportunities for after-school programs, Pratt says, but "we're not comfortable with ballot box budgeting." CSBA also is concerned that the measure might lead to budget cuts in other programs.
• Florida voters passed an amendment to offer free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds by the 2005 school year. The program would be strictly voluntary. State economists estimated this measure would cost between $425 million and $650 million.
• Arizona voters approved a measure to direct additional revenue from Indian casinos to fund class-size reduction, teacher salary increases, reading programs, and dropout prevention. Another measure approved in Arizona directs state school trust land revenues to be used for various school aid programs, including class size reduction, teacher raises, and school facilities.
• A constitutional amendment was passed in Tennessee authorizing a state lottery, with the proceeds to be used for financial assistance to help state residents attend college, K-12 capital facilities projects, early learning programs, and after-school programs.
• A record $808.6 million bond issue for school construction and renovation was approved in Houston.
Supporters of the measure, including elected Hispanic leaders, elected black leaders, Parents for Public Schools of Houston, and the Greater Houston Partnerships, which represents the city's business community, urged voters to support the measure.
Opponents included the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Citizens for Public Accountability.
LULAC argued that the district should focus instead on lowering the dropout rate, which is especially high among Hispanics.
To pay for the bond program, the district would raise the tax rate - now $1.58 per $100 assessed valuation - by about 6 cents over a four-year period. The funds raised by the bond would be used to tear down or vacate 19 schools and replace them with 16 new facilities. Ten schools would be renovated and expanded, and repairs would be made at 29 schools.
• Voters in Cleveland approved a measure to retain mayoral control over the local school board, a system that has been in effect since 1998. If the measure had failed to pass, the city would have returned to an elected school board.
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| Reproduced with permission from the Nov. 19, 2002, issue of School Board News. Copyright © 2002, National School Boards Association. Opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect positions of NSBA. This article may be printed out and photocopied for individual or educational use, provided this copyright notice appears on each copy. This article may not be otherwise transmitted or reproduced in print or electronic form without the consent of the Publisher. For more information, call (703) 838-6789. |