In 2012 Arcadia voters approved locally-controlled education funding that cannot be taken away by Sacramento. This funding protects the teachers and instructional programs that make Arcadia Unified schools among the best in the State, but this funding is set to expire next year. Please review the attached Local Funding Fact Sheet or visit www.localfunding.ausd.net to learn more about AUSD’s efforts to ensure this critical funding continues and to prevent cuts to classroom instruction.
Questions and answers
HOW HAS LOCAL SCHOOL FUNDING IMPACTED
ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS? As a result of the Great Recession and state budget crisis, Arcadia Uni ed schools endured deep budget cuts that included teacher layoffs, increases to class sizes and cuts to academic programs. To help offset state funding reductions and protect teachers and essential instructional programs from budget cuts, in 2012, 67% of Arcadia voters approved Measure A to provide locally controlled funding for our schools that cannot be taken away by the state. Funds from Measure A have been used to retain quali ed and experienced teachers and protect core academic programs in math, science, reading and writing. Since the passage of Measure A, an independent oversight committee has reviewed the use of funds and con rmed they have been spent as promised.
HOW MUCH LONGER WILL THIS LOCALÂ FUNDING CONTINUE? Local school funding approved in 2012 automatically expires after ve years. Unless renewed by voters, this funding will expire next year and Arcadia Uni ed schools will lose over $3 million in annual funding. A funding loss of this magnitude would mean deep cuts including teacher layoffs, increases in class sizes and the elimination of many instructional programs for students.
In order to continue local school funding, the Arcadia Uni ed School District Board of Education is considering placing a measure on the ballot in 2017 to renew local school funding at $288 per parcel annually. This measure would continue to require strict accountability protections such as an independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits as well as requirements that all funds must stay local to bene t Arcadia Uni ed schools and cannot be taken by Sacramento.
COULD FUNDS FROM A RENEWAL MEASUREÂ BE TAKEN AWAY BY THE STATE? No. By law, all funds generated by a renewal measure must be used locally to bene t Arcadia Uni ed schools and, by law, no funds may be taken away by the state.
WILL SENIOR CITIZENS CONTINUE TO BE ELIGIBLEÂ FOR AN EXEMPTION? Yes. Senior citizen homeowners, aged 65 and older, may continue to opt to receive an exemption from the cost of the measure for their primary residence. To learn more about the exemption or to apply, please call (626) 821-8300 ext. 6728.
While state education funding has stabilized since the recession, funding per student in California is among the lowest in the nation and Arcadia ranks among the lowest funded school districts in LA County. Without local funding for Arcadia Uni ed schools, there would be deep cuts including teacher layoffs, increases in class sizes and the elimination of many instructional programs for students.
On November 29th, the Arcadia Uni ed School District Board of Education will consider calling a February 28, 2017 mail-in ballot election to allow local voters to vote on the renewal of Measure A school funding. If the Board does choose to call for this election, all registered voters would be mailed a ballot on January 30, 2017 and returned ballots must be postmarked by February 28th in order to be counted.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION OR SHARE MY OPINIONS? For more information, please visit www.localfunding.ausd.net, or contact the Superintendent’s Of ce at (626) 821-8300 ext. 6728.