On July 15, 2015, the Walnut Valley Unified School District board (the Board) placed a $208,000,000 bond measure on the ballot for November 3, 2015.
In the prelude to the decision, the Board produced and distributed a slick, glossy mailer that did in fact gloss over the details.
Following the decision, the Board produced and distributed another slick, glossy mailer to memorialize the gloss in the first mailer.
You paid for both of those mailers.
Now it's up to you, the voters. The same voters that have been fooled time and time again. Of course, it's for the children.
We'll compare the spin to the facts. We'll look at the district and the people who run it. (It's not the Board.) We'll look at how it's been run in the past. We may also look at Common Core State Standards (Common Core), to the extent that it may be driving this bond.
The Board has had the upper hand in framing the issue up until now.
From the July 2015 mailer (inside page 2):
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LOCAL CONTROL, LOCAL OVERSIGHT# All money raised by the measure will stay in our local schools to support our students, and cannot be taken away by the state or used for administrators' salaries or benefits.
# The average tax rate is estimated to be $48.50 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value annually. The new bond measure, in combination with all other voter-approved local school bond measures, will not increase current tax rates.
# This measure requires a clear system of accountability, including a project list detailing exactly how the money will be used, an independent Citizens's Bond Oversight Committee, and annual public audits to ensure money is spent properly.
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Sounds like you have nothing to worry about, right?
Well, maybe not so fast.
Each of those items are required by statute. The Board didn't do those things because it's looking out for you. It did those things because, if it didn't, it would be breaking the law.
Imagine a salesman coming to your door and telling you that if you buy today, you have three days to think about it and if you decide against buying it, you can cancel any time before the three days are up. That certainly sounds like a good deal. He didn't tell you anything that wasn't true. What he didn't tell you is that he's required by statute to give you three days to change your mind. If you didn't know the statute, it sounds like he's giving something. If you knew the statute, you'd understand that he's just doing what's required of him.
So, the Board is giving you just part of the story -- the part that makes it seem like it's looking out for your interests. That puts things in a little bit of a different light, doesn't it?
Naturally, once you discover one these revelations, you begin to wonder about other statements that are being made.
We currently are paying for two bond measures already. The last one was sold as the last one needed. It was to do earthquake retrofits so that ALL buildings would be safe, update safety equipment, add classrooms, etc. It was promised to be the last.
ReplyDeleteNow you are going to ask for more. You can ask, but we will fight it. I was successful in stopping the Diamond Bar Library Measure and thank God we did, the City ended up with a fantastic library without any new taxes.
It's never enough for the schools. Always crying the blues. Our family has suffered greatly during the economic downturn but you don't see us constantly begging for money.
We will spend a large sum of money to oppose any new Bond measure. Two already is two to much. These measures don't pass by a large margin and it will not be hard to prevent these types of measures from passing. I will go to City Council and School Board meetings and use a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the actual cost of the measure. I will also show the flyers sent out from the last measure which promised that it would be the last time.
KEEP YOUR PROMISES!!!
Kevin & Beth House
Advocates for Free Schools for All.
909-241-5755
Mr. Hodson,
ReplyDeleteI was hoping that WVUSD would have chosen to honor their written promise, when they sold the community on the last two bond measures, that they would not keep asking for more money. Now here they are, asking for more money to pay for the very things Measures S & Y promised to pay for. If the people of the District vote for it, I respect that, but I will work hard to educate them on the cost and that the District is going in the wrong direction. We can't keep stacking up bond measures.
Your opening comment in your email, "Clearly I’m not going to convince you...." was I feel a little ironic as the same can be said for you. I always meet with my opponent and offer a fair and equitable solution first. In the past the District has not taken me seriously. That was truly sad in the "School Fees" issue. The cost to the District was harsh when my remedy was cost free and fair. Unfortunately the State Department of Education found in favor of my argument and came down hard on the District. The District was the only closed minded party at the table.
Even if the Bond issue is to succeed, it will only work to help prove my argument in future litigation. If I wasn't seeking a resolution, I wouldn't have wasted my time contacting you. You should have invited me to attend one of the workshops.
I realize the District has a huge pocketbook to send out endless propaganda and that they will robo-call all our homes using the phone numbers we gave them for emergency purposes. But that's how you play. It's time the rules be changed to even the odds. I have some experience from many years ago in regards to this. The FPPC saw things my way back then.
I can explain this better in person. I'm a reasonable person, just one that has a different opinion. I will gladly meet with you first before speaking at public forums. This "David" has a lot of heart and tenacity.
Respectfully,
Kevin House
909-241-5755