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Blue and yellow signs are popping up in yards across both Sunnyvale and Cupertino. At first glance, the identical images of frolicking children make them all look the same, but there is a distinct difference.
All the signs promote Measure L, the $98-per-parcel tax initiative on the ballot in the Fremont Union High School District. But depending on the geography, the signs advertise two different ballot measures—Measure O, in the Cupertino Union School District, and Measure P, the $120 million bond in the Sunnyvale School District.
Fremont Union is teaming up with each district separately to pass all the ballot measures in tandem. Both sides of the campaign are jointly using a sign designed by Tramutola Public Motivation Strategies, the group that has been consulting with all three districts on their measures.
"We feel that these same kids are going to be students together in Fremont Union high schools, so all the measures should pass," says Holly Lofgren, who's serving as co-chairwoman of Support Sunnyvale Schools. Lofgren is representing Fremont Union, while Sunnyvale school board member Linda Kilian, her co-chairwoman, represents the Sunnyvale School District.
The two are jointly overseeing their campaign headquarters, located in the De Anza Square Shopping Center at the corner of Fremont and Mary avenues in Sunnyvale. The campaign kicked off with a get-together on Sept. 1. "It was packed wall to wall in here," Lofgren says.
The storefront, which used to house Country Creek Mercantile, is being provided to the campaign rent-free thanks to John Vidovich, the owner of De Anza Properties, which operates the shopping center. The furniture and supplies inside have largely been donated by volunteers and local businesses, including some of the campaign's neighbors at De Anza Square.
A phone bank will get going on Sept. 20 to drum up support for both measures. Right now, activities include soliciting area groups and businesses to raise the $134,000 needed to run the campaign, as well as staple and deliver yard signs.
At least it's easy to tell the signs apart. "Ours say 'Yes on Measures L and P,' and theirs say 'Yes on Measures O and L,'" Kilian says.
Support Sunnyvale Schools is located at 1340 S. Mary Avenue. For more information or to volunteer, call 408.245.9422.
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Photograph by Allison Rost