- Trustees need to really think about the priority list
The Morgan Hill Unified School District is considering asking taxpayers to increase funding for the district that serves 8,700 students in 14 schools across 296 square miles.
One proposal under consideration is to place a bond measure on the general election ballot in November. If approved by 55 percent of voters, the bond would raise $195 million and cost homeowners $60 per year per $100,000 of assessed value. Those funds would be used to purchase classroom technology, fix crumbling buildings, and construct new schools and classrooms.
There’s no doubt that MHUSD has facilities needs, but we’re not sure those needs should be atop the district’s list.
2. More than facilities, a look at classroom offerings is in order
At the high school and middle school levels, elective courses have been slashed over the last several years. Like sports, elective courses are important for widening students’ horizons and for keeping students who are iffy about attending school interested and off the truancy rolls.
In the lower grades, we’d like to see the district find ways to prevent the achievement gap from developing, and ways to help kids keep their enthusiasm for science and math after age 9, when studies show that many students begin to turn off to these important subjects.
Preparing all of our students to do their best in science and math is critical for their future success and for the success of the larger economy.
Can the district try new ways to help students of all ages who are struggling while also nurturing the skills and maintaining the interest of gifted and talented students?
We’re thrilled that Jackson Elementary is becoming a math and music magnet school. Can the district expand arts offerings and bring innovative math programs to all of the schools in the district?
3. So many taxes are proposed that all will be a hard sell
Whether the district pursues a bond or another kind of tax measure – perhaps a sales tax as the city of Gilroy pondered for the Gilroy Unified School District — getting voter approval is going to be a difficult task. One way to ease that task is to ensure that the money will be spent on the district’s most pressing needs, and in ways that will ensure the biggest payoff for taxpayers’ investment.
High-quality public education is one the most important reasons behind the economic success of this nation. Convincing voters to support that success for future generations is a critical task facing the leadership of the Morgan Hill Unified School District.
We encourage MHUSD trustees to make sure that the proposal that they ask voters to approve focuses on the district’s core mission of educating students.
