As a teacher and then a principal working in our Culver City schools for over 30 years, and as the proud parent of two CCHS graduates, I encourage voters to support Measure EE on Election Day, Nov. 3. It is a parcel tax that will help our schools maintain their excellence, even during this time of state budget cuts.
In recent years, the School District has responded to funding cuts by streamlining, reducing support staff and reassigning responsibilities; any further cuts will hurt the students in the classroom. The money raised by Measure EE will be of great value in maintaining our excellent educational programs.
I’ve heard some complaints that this measure asks people who don’t currently have children in the schools to pay, and that it would help “permit kids” whose families live outside Culver City and wouldn’t pay the tax.
As for the first objection, we all benefit from our good schools. High quality schools make our community attractive and keep property values high. Educating the young people in our community prevents crime, provides well-educated employees for our businesses and makes our entire community healthier and more productive.
As citizens, we support many institutions we may not need at the moment, but which are vital to our lives and the health of our community — fire department, police department, schools, libraries. Non-drivers pay taxes to maintain the roads. This is part of being a citizen in our community.
As for the second objection, our district has accepted students on permit for financial reasons. The additional monies our district receives by having these students enrolled keep our classrooms and schools open and enable our school district to offer special programs it couldn’t otherwise afford. If we defeat the parcel tax because of “permit kids,” our own Culver City children suffer, too.
Even as a senior on a limited income, I am more than willing to pay an additional $96 a year – eight dollars a month – to lessen the impact of state budget cuts and maintain excellence in our educational programs. I urge everyone in our community to do the same.
Ms. Fields, who retired as principal from El Marino Language Immersion School, may be contacted at sarafields@sbcglobal.net
