Montebello : Trustees Take Stand Against Initiative on School Choice

Trustees of the Montebello Unified School District gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a resolution opposing a proposed school-choice initiative.

The initiative would give California parents the right to choose what public schools their children attend as long as they provide transportation. It would also pay up to $2,400 a year for private-school tuition.

Although the measure has not yet gained enough signatures to qualify for next year’s ballot, board members said they want government officials and residents to know they are dead-set against the idea. “We all love choice, but this is not a true choice,” board member Frank Serrano said. “Choices should be viable to all segments, not just those who have the financial base to do it.”

Board President Willard Yamaguchi said the initiative would deplete badly needed public school funding. “What you have is a subsidizing of private education through public tax dollars,” he said. “We need to nip it in the bud now.”

Only board member Eleanor Chow disagreed, saying that the initiative might enhance public school education.