More Myth Busting: Opinions versus Facts on Measure A
As they say, all are entitled to their own opinion, but they are not entitled to their own set of facts.
As they say, all are entitled to their own opinion, but they are not entitled to their own set of facts.
We will know in two weeks how many of those layoffs will have to go out.
It has been nearly a week since Bob Dunning’s piece ran on the school district’s letter regarding senior exemptions. In terms of my view of the situation, it has remained fairly static.
As the Vanguard reported on Monday, the key issue with the letter was that the district office was flooded with a significant number of requests during the past few weeks for information and help in filing for the senior exemption for Measure A.
Mr. Dunning accused Superintendent Winfred Roberson of “Politicking on the public’s dime.” Wrote the columnist, “Our superintendent of schools has decided to take matters into his own hands by sending out a letter on official district letterhead to this town’s senior citizens, urging a “Yes” vote on this critical school funding measure.”
Writes Mr. Dunning, “Our superintendent of schools has decided to take matters into his own hands by sending out a letter on official district letterhead to this town’s senior citizens, urging a “Yes” vote on this critical school funding measure.”
“The Davis schools are facing an emergency. And if we value education — like we all say we do — we must respond in appropriate fashion,” the editorial begins.
As I wrote on Sunday, Bob Dunning claims that “an important election is an odd time for an experiment. While I agree that Measure A is an important election, one of the more important that we have faced in this community, it is baffling that he calls an all-mail ballot an experiment.
I think this town gets it. We have a lower crime rate. When a recession hits, our homes retain more of their value than some surrounding communities. We have neighborhoods where people look out for each other. Much of this value added is because we have the best schools in a 10 county region.
The experiment he talks about is the all-mail ballot.
Voters will decide in May via a mail-in ballot whether to increase the parcel tax by $200 per year.
The November 2nd, 2010, election results for Yolo County are still not in. However, the most recent update does strongly suggest that the incumbents reclaimed their seats on the Davis Joint Unified School Board.
The Yolo County website’s last update on November 3, 2010 at 3:13 am, showed that only 63.6% (or rather, 35 out of 55) of the precincts had been reported.
“I’ve been talking to the school district about their declining enrollment. We’re at 180 this year, 200 next year, and it’s not looking any better,” Councilmember Swanson said on Tuesday night. “I said, as a Councilperson, what is the one thing that I can do that can help make a difference and it’s resounding. ‘We know you’re not a fan of growth but we’ve got to have some market-rate affordable housing, we have to have something for the families to come here. Otherwise we are going to continue to see declining enrollment.’”
Mr. Taylor is both proud and honored to be a member of the board, and has stated that if he is re-elected, this will be his last term. He sat down with the Vanguard to answer a few questions concerning his candidacy and experience as a board member, as well as the achievement gap, the parcel tax, and other issues that are crucial and need to be addressed for the educational system.
The League posed two main questions: one regarding declining enrollments, and another about the state budget; both followed by questions from the public.
This year has fewer students enrolled. In fact, when compared with last year’s enrollment numbers: K-6th has 72 fewer; 7th-9th is short 39 from last year; 10th-12th is 30 fewer.
Gina Daleiden and Sheila Allen were representing themselves at the event, while Tim Taylor was unable to attend. All in all, approximately twelve people stopped by the event, which fell on the same night as the debate held on UC Davis’s campus.
“I do feel there is some logic to continuity, and continuing what I have learned instead of just moving aside,” said Tim Taylor.
“I’m running for re-election,” she said, “because it’s a critical time in our school district and this is the school district that I love and I don’t mean that lightly. When I say my heart is with this district and with these students I truly mean it from a very long time ago.”
So why is Sheila Allen, having been through all of that, running for re-election? “I have learned so much over the last five years,” she said. “I want to be able to apply that knowledge and be able to continue to help the students of Davis.”