Vote yes on Measure A for Tam District high schools

Public schools are community endeavors. Schools depend on the community to successfully educate our students and raise civic-minded community members.

The Measure A bond proposal on the March 5 ballot is necessary for our students in the Tamalpais Union High School District. It will enable teachers (like me) to provide students with a quality education, preparing them for life beyond high school.

The group opposed to Measure A would like people to believe that the projects are unnecessary and extravagant. It has mischaracterized the plans for the future. It is important to clarify some of the arguments made by the opponents of Measure A.

The project at Redwood being called a “gold-plated cafeteria” by the opposition would actually include not only an updated cafeteria, but also two new academic buildings to replace dilapidated portables, allowing students to learn in modern, safe classrooms. The cost to build the up-to-date kitchen and dining space only accounts for a tiny percentage of the funding.

Second, by law, revenue from bonds can only be spent on facilities. The opposition claims that doing so means funding won't go to students or teachers. It's outrageous to assert that safe, modern facilities aren't necessary qualities for teaching and learning.

Third, this bond will cost homeowners the same amount as bonds in some other Marin districts: $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. It generates $517 million of revenue because of the large size of the district, not because of an outsized tax rate. Just as property tax assessments are based on the purchase price of a home and not the amount of money spent to pay off a mortgage, it is not standard practice to describe a bond by its interest over time in any industry.

Please vote yes on Measure A for a strong community.