Educators want say in how tax is spent
Morgan Hill – Taking a stand, the local teachers union remained neutral concerning Measure E until last Tuesday when new school chief Alan Nishino heard the educators’ concerns over how the money generated by the parcel tax would be spent.
The Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers’ endorsement came just a week before the election, after a meeting with Nishino during which questions and concerns union members had about the measure were answered.
Some of the union’s concerns included how the parcel tax oversight committee would be selected and how it would function.
The union has approximately 450 members and is run by an executive board composed of three vice presidents, the president, secretary, treasurer and an elected representative from each school site. The number of representatives on the board – between 25 and 30 – is based on schools’ student population.
With a two-thirds majority of voter support necessary for Measure E to pass, the union’s endorsement now plays an important role in the campaign.
Measure E, which would institute a parcel tax for residents within the boundaries of the Morgan Hill Unified School District of approximately $8 per month or $96 per year, would raise $1.5 million each year for five years to fund district programs including technology, music, athletics and agriculture.
The tax will come to voters on the June 6 ballot.
“I am really pleased that the teachers are supporting Measure E,” Nishino said. “That will really benefit our students. And not only the students, but also the community. We all know that strong schools make strong communities. I believe Morgan Hill is stepping up to the challenge to create strong schools.”
Foster said the group had not endorsed the measure sooner because teachers wanted the funding priorities clarified.
“In conversation with Dr. Nishino, Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini and previously with Board President Mike Hickey, we were able to satisfy some of the questions we had,” Foster said.
The union’s executive board met Tuesday evening with Nishino, Tognazzini. They had a separate meeting with Hickey and Tognazzini earlier. After the Tuesday meeting, the board voted to endorse Measure E, Foster said.
Union vice presidents are David Craig, Teresa Sage and Margaret Rodrigues; Steve Spencer is the treasurer, and Harry Craig is secretary.
Foster said they wanted to ensure that teachers were involved in some way with the oversight committee, either in the selection of its members or as a part of the committee. The union also wanted to understand how the committee would function.
Teachers also felt left out of the parcel tax revenue planning process.
“The people most affected by the decisions and planning need to be involved,” Foster said. “Teachers need to be a part of the planning process.”
Foster said the union believes it’s important for the district and its employee groups – MHFT, Service Employees International Union and Morgan Hill Educational Leaders Association – to work together.
“I think that teacher input in curriculum-based decisions is critical,” Foster said. “This is such an important concern of ours. We needed to hear that message about inclusion.”
Because of the negotiated contract between MHUSD and MHFT, Foster said, it is important that curriculum decisions arising from spending parcel tax revenue be carefully considered.
“There are some contractual obligations around music and athletics, and we want to be sure that decision makers understand those ramifications,” Foster said. “You can’t create things that negate the contract. We wanted some clarification around that.”
Foster said teachers want to feel they are a part of the process. The classroom teacher is the one “in the field everyday” with the curriculum and the students, she said, and a teacher’s professional experience is a valuable asset the district should utilize.
“What I understand, in the initial polling for the parcel tax, teachers were the single most important factor in quality education,” Foster said. “Teachers held the greatest sway with community at large. That backs up most research in public polls. People have confidence in the classroom teacher, in their home schools. We are very fortunate to enjoy the support of the community. I think that has to do with what they see as the commitment of classroom teachers.”
Many in the Morgan Hill community have embraced Measure E. Those campaigning for its passage include members of the Community for Better Education, a group composed of parents, interested community members and district employees.
Measure E proponent Elaine Reimer, who has been active with MHUSD schools for many years, hopes the community will recognize the impact of the teachers’ endorsement.
“I’m so pleased to hear that they’ve decided to support Measure E,” she said. “I hope this community will now give a push for our teachers and our students. I hope anyone who is undecided about Measure E will now decide to support it.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at [email protected].
