Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent (LAUSD) John Deasy made his call for a $298 parcel tax official yesterday. If approved, the tax would raise a total of $225 million a year for five years and fund some of the programs that the district may otherwise have to eliminate, including adult education programs that would affect the North and West Valley Occupational Centers. The Board of Education will vote on Tuesday whether to place the measure on the November 2012 ballot. “Due to continued and massive budget reductions from the state of California, LAUSD has been forced to reduce staff and programs by $2.3 billion since 2008-09,” Deasy said in a statement. “These cuts have had a devastating impact on the capacity of this District to provide a quality education to its more than 919,930 pre-kindergarten to adult students.” “Nothing is more important,” the Superintendent added, “than getting our students to read at grade-level, having them graduate college-prepared and career-ready, and assuring their safety on campus.” Deasy noted that the District has steadily reduced or eliminated many programs during the current crisis. LAUSD has reduced its central office expense to only 5 percent of the budget, with the remaining 95 percent directly supporting schools. For 2012-13, the District is facing a $390.2 million deficit, which will necessitate the possible elimination or drastic reduction of adult education, early childhood education and arts education for students in kindergarten through fifth-grade. Deasy said approval of the tax will help to restore some or all of these programs; it would also help to support transportation to and from schools including magnets. He also noted that the funds would go directly to schools, and could not be cut or reallocated by Sacramento. This local revenue initiative of less than $25 per month per property owners does for the children of Los Angeles what Sacramento refuses to do.” The parcel tax requires approval by two-thirds of the voters within the boundaries of LAUSD. Judy Temes
