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School district property tax goes to voters on March 6
New measure would decrease class sizes, fund school programs
By Erin Mayes
The Cambrian School District is holding a special election on March 6, on a benefit assessment measure that would help reduce class sizes and enhance programs in all five of its schools.
The approximately 9,000 property owners in the Cambrian district would be assessed a parcel tax of $63 a year, or about $5.25 a month, for four years under Measure A, said Randy Scofield, president of the Cambrian School District Board of Trustees. The measure would generate about $500,000 a year. After the four years, the measure would be subject to renewal by voters.
Reductions in class sizes in grades four through eight are expected if the measure passes, as well as expansions in the music, science, technology, art and physical education programs, Scofield said. Teacher training would also be improved.
Property owners 65 years and older are exempt.
Each school would receive funds that are proportional to the number of students it has. There are currently about 2,800 students in the K-8 district.
Scofield said the elementary schools would be able to expand their physical education programs.
"They haven't had enough resources over the last 10 years to develop the programs that we want to benefit the kids," he said.
Scofield said the district has conducted several studies over the last six years to get comments from the community.
"Increasingly, the support has been overwhelmingly positive," he said.
More than 70 percent of the community supported the measure at last count, he said. The district also held conversations with community members at different school sites and with various local organizations, such as the Kiwanis Club and the Cambrian Community Council.
"So we've tried to look at all those areas and listen and have conversations and dialogue with as many people as possible," Scofield said.
This is the first time the district has requested a benefit assessment measure. Scofield said he is very optimistic about its approval.
"I'm really positive on the impact this can have on the local schools," he said. "It's really designed to benefit our kids."
Scofield said the district has been trying to get residents to vote by absentee ballot.
"As in most special elections, it's very hard to turn out the voters," he said.
The five schools that make up the Cambrian School District are Bagby, Fammatre, Farnham and Sartorette elementary schools and Price Middle School. The schools serve children in Campbell, San Jose and Los Gatos.
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Campbell, California
