Patch Letter: Vote Yes on 30, No on 32

Prop 30 will provide some much needed relief in the way education is funded in our state.  By passing Prop 30, we avoid an immediate state-wide cut of 6 billion dollars to K-12, community college, Cal-State and U.C. public education.  Cuts this deep will result in a shorter school year, larger class sizes, loss of teachers, counselors, librarians and support staff.

If Prop 30 does not pass, the South Pasadena Unified School District’s (SPUSD) budget will be cut 2 million dollars.  A budget cut that drastic will result in two fewer days of instruction, a loss of much needed Professional Development for our teachers as we transition to Common Core Standards and a possible loss of counseling and teaching positions—all which will occur immediately and would dramatically effect education in South Pasadena.

When discussing Prop 30 with the public, one important question continues to come up, “Does the money actually go to the schools or does it just get tied up in bureaucracy?”  The truth, despite the negative ads and what some in the media are saying, is that the money raised by Prop 30 will go directly to school districts’ general funds, which is where the money needs to be so districts can properly spend it.

Lastly, Prop 30 is the only education initiative on the ballot this fall that not only stops cuts at the K-12 level, but also to the community college, Cal-State and U.C. system.  Sadly, these institutions have been hit extremely hard with cuts that get passed onto the students by way of outrageous tuition hikes and fewer classes each semester.

Cuts to education have affected students from kindergarten to college in California since 2007; given that California is currently ranked 47th in per pupil spending, we cannot afford more cuts.

[Another] proposition on the ballot that affects education is Prop 32.  Currently, one to two dollars of our monthly dues go towards political activities (and to clarify the confusion, union members can opt out of giving this contribution.)  The money then goes into a fund and local chapters can access it to support local parcel taxes, local school bonds, and school board elections.

On a state level, California Teachers Association (CTA) teacher representatives vote on how the money should be spent. They decide which bills, candidates or propositions to support or oppose, etc. CTA and the Teachers Association of South Pasadena (TASP) have used political monies to support Proposition 30 and TASP used political funds to support the last SPUSD Parcel Tax and hopefully, if Prop 32 is defeated, the upcoming Parcel Tax. If Prop 32 passes, it will be very difficult for teachers to support what is best for students and education.  This is why I will be voting NO on Prop 32.

Dave Miller

President, Teachers Association of South Pasadena