Glendale school officials expected to back pair of ballot measures
Two propositions affecting California schools on the Nov. 8 ballot have nearly gained full support from Glendale school officials, who are expected to pass a resolution backing them during a meeting later this month.
Earlier this summer, Glendale school board members questioned whether they would support one or both measures. But last week each board member ultimately said that both measures are key to students’ success locally and in cities across California.
“I think they’re extremely important to the health and well-being of our district and education across the state,” said board member Christine Walters.
Proposition 55 would extend Proposition 30’s temporary income-tax increase on wealthy residents for a dozen more years, and collect from California’s wealthiest individual taxpayers who earn more than $250,000 per year or from couples who bring in more than $500,000 annually, between 2019 and 2030.
The revenue would give K-12 schools and community colleges access to anywhere from $5 to $11 billion per year.
Meanwhile, voters’ approval of a separate measure, Proposition 51, would authorize the state to issue $9 billion in bond funds that would be allotted for new construction or modernization upgrades at school facilities for K-12 schools and community colleges.
Each of the five Glendale school board members said they would support both.
“I think they’re both vital to us for survival,” said school board member Greg Krikorian. “We still know the fact of the matter is, we’re highly underfunded in public schools. This gives us at least some tools to survive.”
Armina Gharpetian, school board president, said she’s hopeful that the board’s backing of both measures will send “a strong message” to local residents.
“I hope that our community will support us on this,” Gharpetian said.
The board is expected to officially vote to adopt a resolution favoring both propositions during a meeting on an Aug. 16.
After that point, school board member Nayiri Nahabedian said she wondered if board members should consider a campaign to spread the word about the measures in Glendale through local community groups, and fellow members supported that idea.
“They’re funding different parts of our education system,” said school board member Jennifer Freemon. “One or the other doesn’t work. I think we need to support both.”
--
Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
