SAN MARINO NEWS
By Mitch Lehman

Exhibiting more a sense of relief than spirit of exhilaration, supporters of the San Marino Unified School District’s Measure E released a collective deep breath when the news was announced that local voters had passed the $795 per parcel tax that will help offset a $5 million cut in state funding for the 2009 – 10 school year and a possibly even larger deficit in the years beyond.
A whopping 4,822 voters participated in the mail-in election with 3,432 casting a ‘yes’ vote. The result was announced shortly after 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening
The new tax will be added to an existing $295 per parcel burden for all property owners who reside within the boundaries of the San Marino Unified School District and will sunset in six years. It will raise approximately $4 million per year. Property owners who are over the age of 65 were able to file for an exemption and it was reported that “ten per day” were showing up at the district office to take advantage of the board’s provision.
“The course of history was changed with yesterday’s ‘yes’ vote for Measure E,” said School Board President Jeanie Caldwell. “Across the state, school districts are making significant cuts to the programs they offer to their students. As a result of the commitment this community has to education, the SMUSD has been spared from making these cuts. Our students will continue to have a world class education that prepares them for college and life. The board, students and staff of the school district are extremely grateful, and we remain committed to continuing our legacy of excellence in academics, the arts and athletics.”
“This community simply astounds me,” Superintendent Gary Woods told The Tribune yesterday. “At a time when state support for schools continues to wane, our citizens stand tall and sacrifice much to advance our district’s vision to deliver a world class education with recognized excellence in academics, arts, and athletics. Measure E will allow us to protect and preserve many programs that directly impact students on a daily basis.”
“I believe that this election is a testament to the power of this community and its recognition that our outstanding schools help define San Marino,” said Nam Jack, who chaired the 200-member citizen committee to pass Measure E. “In this time of need, in this time where the consequences are most dire, we asked the community to support our most precious commodities – our schools and our children. The community responded.”
Jack reported that there were now 9,831 registered voters in the district boundaries, 4,822 – or 48% – of which returned their ballot. Just shy of 44% of registered voters within city limits cast ballots in the March, 2009 city council election.
“In the past, we came together to create the best school district in all of California,” Jack said. “Now, we had to come together to keep it intact – to keep our teachers and our outstanding academic, athletic, and arts programs.”
Forty-eight teachers – almost a third of the district’s certificated workforce – received layoff notices on March 15.
The board held a special meeting last night to discuss which of the district’s at-risk programs will be saved.
“We still have many difficult decisions to make,” said Woods. “Our budget challenges are not over. These next few school board meetings will provide the input we need to make the best decisions possible for our students.”
Other public meetings at which the board will determine the future of the district will be a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12 in the district office at 7:30 p.m.; a special called meeting on Tuesday, May 19 in the district office at 7:00 p.m. and a regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 26 in the district office at 8:00 p.m.
In March, 2007, while faced with a looming deficit in state funding and wary of repeated ‘Save Our Schools’ fundraising campaigns routed through the San Marino Schools Foundation, the school board formed a financial advisory committee that was chaired by Tim Sloan. After exploring potential funding sources, Sloan reported late last year that a parcel tax was the best solution to the forecasted financial ills. At a specially called meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, the board unanimously approved Resolution 8, authorizing the ballot preparation for Measure E.
Proving the cost of free education isn’t free, residents within the district’s boundaries will now pay $1,107 per year between the two school parcel taxes, and an average of $465 per parcel per year for the district’s school renovation program.
San Marino residents also pay $473 per year for city police and fire services, bringing the total annual tax burden to just over $2,000.
Measure E had no organized opposition within the district. The Tribune endorsed passage of Measure E in an April 9 editorial.