Layoff notices, raises

Dear Editor,

As a parent of two kids in the Pleasanton Unified School District school system, I spoke out against the Measure E parcel tax at the last PUSD board meeting. I stated that it does not make sense that layoff notices have been sent to some teachers while the remaining teachers who “survived” the cuts would still be
receiving raises. I also expressed my confusion as to why the district will be handing out $15 million in raises over the next four years while the parcel tax would only raise $8 million during the same time frame.

In my opinion, the district’s poor fiscal management has placed our schools onto an unsustainable path. The parcel tax revenues will only encourage continued poor behavior from PUSD and delay the necessary and critical structural reforms needed by PUSD (and our overall education system).

This parcel tax is a “feel good” attempt to address one symptom of the serious structural issues in our school system. The tax will only delay addressing the root causes of the problems. Moreover, these problems will be even greater once
they finally do get addressed. I will vote No on Measure E, because I
care for our kids and schools.

David Miller