AgdaPkt 2005-03-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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��4, � -/ REP�RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council � From the City Manager March 28, 2005 Subject Resolution supporting Measure V, the "Redwood City School District Funding for Classroom Education Excellence Act of 2005." Recommendation Adopt a resolution supporting Measure V, which will be placed before the voters as a mail- in only ballot, with the election to be held on May 3, 2005. Background Over the last four years, the Redwood City School District has been forced to cut approximately $8 million from its budget, to offset funding losses and take-aways from the State. Despite these cuts, the District has so far been able to preserve teaching and librarian positions. However, with a $3.5 million budget deficit projected for next fiscal year, layoffs of teachers and librarians are imminent. In order to forestall such layoffs and maintain the high standards of quality education provided by the Redwood City School District (illustrated by its Countywide fastest-rising test scores), the District has put on the ballot a special tax requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Without this $85-per-year, five-year parcel tax, the Redwood City School District has noted that it will be forced to impose these budget cuts: • Elimination of 57 teachers and the small class-size program (forcing an increase in class size from 20 to 29 students for all K-3 classes) • Elimination of 50% of all librarians and reducing library hours by one-half • Elimination of all District music programs and teachers • Reduction in reading and math program specialists, who focus on struggling students • Reduction in programs for gifted students • Reduction in middle school intervention programs If passed by the voters, funds from this measure will provide an estimated $3.3 million annually to the School District. This parcel tax cannot be spent on facilities, salary increases, or administrators. The language of the measure specifies that the funds will be used to maintain small class sizes, fund school library programs and music programs, retain reading and math intervention specialists, and fund programs for advanced teacher development, gifted and talented students, and middle school intervention.