LASD Board Highlights

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If you missed the meeting, you can watch the video of the meeting here.

Los Altos School District held a Special Board Meeting on July 18th to review results of a survey of local voters regarding the renewal of LASD's existing parcel tax measure, which is due to expire soon.

For over 30 years, LASD voters have supported our neighborhood schools with locally controlled parcel tax funding, currently accounting for 13% of the District budget. A portion of this funding is set to expire, meaning that LASD could face nearly $3 million in annual cuts to teachers and academic programs.

LASD remains committed to attracting and retaining the skilled, experienced, and dedicated teachers needed to maintain high-quality education in our schools. However, the fact remains that due to unstable and inadequate state funding, LASD teachers are among the lowest paid in Santa Clara County. Reliable, local funding in the form of a parcel tax helps ensure that LASD teachers don’t leave for higher paying districts.

To understand community feedback and the feasibility of renewing the expiring parcel tax, the school district fielded a survey of local voters. It appears the parcel tax has the support of at least 67% of local voters (the threshold required to pass the measure in an election).

In response to the survey results, the Board directed staff to craft a resolution for the Board to consider at its August 7th board meeting. If adopted by the Board, the resolution would place a parcel tax measure on the November 7, 2023 ballot. The Board directed staff to include a provision in the resolution for the parcel tax to expire after 8 years.

If approved by two-thirds of local voters, a potential parcel tax renewal measure could continue to be used to:

● Attract and retain highly qualified teachers

● Protect programs in reading, writing, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math

● Maintain high-quality neighborhood schools

The potential measure could continue to require fiscal accountability measures, including:

● Proceeds could be controlled locally and could not be taken away by the State

● None of the money raised could be used for administrators’ salaries or pensions

● Independent citizens’ oversight and mandatory annual audits could help ensure funds are spent as promised

● Senior citizen homeowners could continue to be eligible for an exemption from the tax

LASD has carefully listened to the community’s response while exploring a potential ballot measure to renew expiring school funding. With these conversations in mind, at its next meeting on August 7 at 7pm, the LASD Board of Trustees will consider placing a parcel tax measure on the November 7, 2023 ballot. We invite you to join us for this important conversation.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is on Monday, August 7 at 7:00pm. Los Altos School District Board of Trustees meetings are open to the public at 201 Covington Road, Los Altos in our Board Room. To attend meetings remotely, please visit our Board web page and use the provided zoom link. Please note: public comment can only be provided in person at the Board meeting or via email at trustees@lasdschoos.org, but cannot be made online.

If you would like to stay updated regarding upcoming Board meetings, please email mbirnie@lasdschools.org, providing your name, email address and a request to be added to the email list for Brown Act updates, including upcoming meetings and agendas.

Website: www.lasdschools.org
Location: 201 Covington Road
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LASDK8/