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Area school districts are lining up against voucher initiative
San Jose Unified School District and Mayor Ron Gonzales oppose measure
By Michelle Alaimo
Local school districts are taking a "no" stance against Proposition 38, which would give parents a $4,000-per-child school voucher to help pay for private schooling.
The San Jose Unified School District adopted a formal resolution against Prop. 38 at their Sept. 7 board meeting, citing many of the same reasons as opposition groups, including the loss of critical funds for neighborhood schools; voucher schools' lack of accountability to taxpayers; the fact that voucher schools, not parents, choose which students attend; lack of regulation for voucher schools; and increased taxes and cuts in public services as a result of Prop. 38.
SJUSD superintendent Linda Murray said that the impact on school funding is just too much. A Field Poll survey conducted in August indicated that 49 percent of voters polled are against the Prop. 38 voucher program, 36 percent are in favor of the program and 15 percent are undecided.
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales recently joined several groups in opposing the measure, including the California Teachers Association.
Timothy Draper, a wealthy former state Board of Education member, is sponsoring Prop. 38, which will appear on the California ballot on Nov. 7. He has vowed to give up to $40 million to help support the campaign.
"Prop. 38 finally gives parents the chance to rescue their children who are in failing schools," Chris Bertelli, spokesperson for 38 Yes School Vouchers 2000 campaign, said. The group's supporters include parents, Draper and other organizations, including some minority groups.
Other groups have waged vocal campaigns against the initiative.
"Prop 38 is like rolling loaded dice," Jon Lenzner, No Vouchers 2000 committee spokesperson, said. "It's a risky experiment."
Lenzner explains that currently more than 700,000 students in California attend private schools, and under Prop. 38, taxpayers would instantly have to give nearly $3 billion to cover vouchers. Couple that with students who would leave public schools for private ones--taking their funding with them--the affect on school funding and taxpayers would be tremendous, Lenzner said.
Prop. 98, which was passed by voters in 1988, requires approximately 40 percent of the state budget be allocated toward public schools, including community colleges. If Prop. 38 passes, Prop. 98 would be repealed if the states per-pupil funding reaches or exceeds the national average, with only Kindergarten through 12th-grade schools receiving funding.
The California State Board of Education unanimously voted to oppose Prop. 38 in July. Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin described Prop. 38 "as the most irresponsible voucher initiative that has ever been presented to any group of citizens."
However, the 38 Yes School Vouchers campaign states on its website that Prop. 38 saves taxpayers billions of dollars over time, won't increase taxes and provides financial and educational accountability to parents and students. It also says voucher schools cannot discriminate and must certify that their course requirements meet those required by California colleges and universities.
Bertelli adds that students in vouchers schools are required to take standardized tests and the results would be available for parents to analyze. He adds that if voters pass Prop. 38, it would provide "new and stronger funding guarantees for public schools."
In 1993, California voters overwhelmingly voted against school vouchers.
If approved by voters and unchallenged in court, Prop. 38 could become effective as early as July 1, 2001.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
