the_grip on 28/1/2011 at 19:48
But this tax also operates under the assumption that these teachers and the money is necessary for the school system. What's the alternative if it doesn't pass? Does it mean, say, three more kids per classroom? Is that worth $200? $200 is really not much money, so it would seem to make sense if this is a one time shot, but I'd make sure the school system didn't get used to this kind of thing. If they are operating on a budget deficit then it could be that this is to make up for their mismangement... so you are patching the problem and not solving it.
Gingerbread Man on 28/1/2011 at 21:02
Remember: it is an additional $200 on top of the current $320
Be aware: this town has one high school
Know that: failure to pass results in the continued $3.3 million deficit acquired after the last round of state education cuts and the elimination of 42 teachers' positions (as well as 5 other jobs)
This is a rather affluent and highly-educated town overall. We have money, we like education, and we REALLY like being 10 square miles surrounded by reality. It's kinda weird here, Davis is pretty fierce about the self-determinism in the face of an ever-growing horde of idiots. :D
the_grip on 28/1/2011 at 21:45
Ah... so the deficit still exists even with the elimination of the positions and the additional $200 plugs the gap. WOW that school system needs some management help!!!!
Starrfall on 28/1/2011 at 23:52
No no, if it fails, the deficit stays, which causes the teachers and others to get fired, which takes care of the deficit. If it passes, the deficit goes away and we'll be able to keep the 47 jobs.
Quote Posted by Queue
But only if it is meant to preserve jobs and the school, not adding to a salary or a benefits package--which can be addressed later when the economy and funding stabilizes.
Well it's ostensibly to preserve jobs, but maybe those jobs could also be preserved if the benefits/salary weren't as good as they are now (but then, that raises a whole new batch of questions)
Quote Posted by SD
I take it this is a $200 tax on homes, irrespective of household income or property value? On that basis I would have to say no to what is a deeply unprogressive tax.
I do, however, think it completely ridiculous that decisions on funding for essential services come down to a plebiscite in the first instance. It's fair to say that without direct democracy, California wouldn't be in this fucking mess in the first place.
Yep, it's a flat parcel tax, although there's some progressiveness in that apartment dwellers pay considerably less.
And be careful - I'd bet at least one of your politicians is kicking themselves for not following the California model for the college fee increases that caused so much uproar a little while ago. (The California model being "Raise fees 20-30% every year so that people notice and grumble but don't really get organized enough to really make an impact, while giving top level administrators raises, then sue the state for only providing benefits at up to the first $245,000 of our salaries.")
CCCToad on 29/1/2011 at 04:22
Grip brings up a point I hadn't considered in my hasty reply. Is the money actually necessary to keep the school running? It may not be, especially since spending doesn't necessarily result in better performance. Even in the US, increased spending often doesn't correlate to higher performance. Increase the scale to an international level, and its an inverse relationship
Inline Image:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-EMpadQx4hM/TSJVshirNzI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/F_3wgTxEZlE/s1600/coutnries1.pngFafhrd on 29/1/2011 at 04:52
If 42 teachers would lose their jobs without it, then yes, I'd say the money is necessary to keep the schools running. Keep in mind that this is going to a district, not an individual school (there may only be one High School, but I'm fairly sure there's more than one elementary and middle school in Davis, and those need funding too), and that there have been MASSIVE cuts in education funding in California under Schwarzenegger. There was a rash of school closures in the district I live in a couple of years ago, and my mother and a bunch of other teachers at her school had to put together a big case to present to the district to keep their school off the chopping block.
I vote yes. An additional $200 a year isn't that much in the scheme of things, and school funding isn't going to come from anywhere else with California's current budget problems. But I'm also the pinko that voted for the additional fee on vehicle registrations that would've gone to funding the State Parks.
[edit]WTF, GBM. DJUSD site says there're two high schools in Davis. You've got DHS and Da Vinci (DV may be a charter school, but it still gets district funds).
fett on 29/1/2011 at 05:50
What, no Sarah Pailin option? This poll is boring.
Gingerbread Man on 31/1/2011 at 18:03
Quote Posted by Fafhrd
[edit]WTF, GBM. DJUSD site says there're two high schools in Davis. You've got DHS and Da Vinci (DV may be a charter school, but it still gets district funds).
daVinci is a weird-ass New Technology magnet school, essentially a one student / one PC computerized Montessori. They got their cash from Bill & Melinda Gates, as well as a Federal "Smaller Learning Community" grant.
Also how the hell can you be a proper high school in this country if the only school sport is Ultimate Frisbee?
Quote:
The main goal of DVHS's philosophy is to engender responsibility and competence in students, and to prepare them for the workplace. They use many unorthodox methods to achieve this goal. For example, there is no punishment system at DVHS; students are expected to do what is right. If there are problems, consequences such as a loss of privileges are instated on a case by case basis. There is no "detention room"; instead, the student must do odd jobs around the school to make up for their bad behavior, for example fixing a vending machine or scraping gum off the bottom of tables.
This is Davis. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck you can still assume that it's a very talented cat dressed up in a duck costume.
