Why would you not vote "Yes". It helps maintain our excellent educational standard, It helps us prepare students to enter the working world, it helps keep our property values up and it is not that much money. I guess if you did not believe that the improvements are necessary or if you did not trust the school district you may vote no. Or your just cheap.

Considerations

Invest the $250 million in a local competitive district (charter) unencumbered by The unions and ossified management.   These schools would provide an alternative to second rate SRVSD (globally), and ultimately force the SRVSD to change itself.

Add 1 or 2 hours to the middle and high school days.  Every hour added increases school capacity by 15% with no school bond required.  Remember early and late birds from kindergarten days.

Consider year around schools.  Schools are vacant 50 week days through the summer.  Year around schools add 30% to capacity without burdening the community with more debt.

I would have to vote no because I am already spending $200 a month in tutors because my kids aren't learning from their teachers. I also contribute to the academic fundraisers and pay for after school sport programs. I can't afford more taxes. Homework each night takes us 3+ hours and I'm tired of being an unpaid teacher at home. I didn't sign up for home schooling. I agree with Sam, the school day should be longer so the kids can learn at school, not home. I also support year around school. A remodeled school environment isn't going to help students learn, except for the improved technology which is a necessity. I can't believe we already have to improve Doughtery Valley High School! There is no room in the other high schools to divert kids. We also need to get rid of underperforming, tenured teachers. Yesterday's San Ramon Valley Times newspaper had an article on how other states are weakening tenure rights for teachers. Very interesting.

Next time u hear that thecteacher's union wants what's best for kids; remember they stand staunchly opposed to pay for performance, termination of lower quality teachers, and the implementation of technology that cut's labor costs and improves the learning experience

Terry's article re Michigan schools is great.

Interesting that citizens of a formerly UAW union state can see what that union and the crappy car co management did to an industry that was world class in the 60's. (I'm former Michigan resident, was educated in Michigan and was a car company engineer.

I hope Michigan will improve the law to elminate Union work rules, and allow pay for performance.

I would not vote for another parcel tax. The one currently in place does not expire until my daughter is a junior in high school, and she is currently in the 7th grade. I do not think it is fair for every home owner to have to pay another parcel tax as some are on a fixed income and some are seniors trying to make ends meet. Plus, regardless of what the advisory committee has told us, the funds are not distributed equally. I would be much more inclined to pay my share at the school level. Meaning each student pays an amount depending on the grade and cost of supplies in that grade at the school level. That way I know that those funds are being spent at my school, and not on solar panels or anything else. Tell me what to pay for an 8th grader at Pine Valley and if I can make one time or multiple payments and I will do it, as I know it is going toward my child and my school. Face it, there will no longer be a free public education in this state anymore, just like it is no longer affordable to go to college in this state. So, give other options rather than milking our property taxes. For those who have trouble with paying at the school level, look at financial aid options.

DV was built using city, builder and the homeowners also pay mella roos. The district gets funding per every student they serve. They should have oodles of money. Why don't they?

Time to restructure, get more productive, cut out the deadwood. Take on the Union, run the district to maximize student outcomes not the union membership.

Terry, Did they break down the loss in revenue? The schools received a 1 time aid bail out from the state and the fed government. This was not to be considered part of budget losses.What money did they lose? Where did it come from? Was it always part of the budget? At the same time, what money was gained? Revenue from from the bonds & the parcel taxes? Fed. dollars, matching funds, stimulus from state, fundraising? We hear that the sky is falling every year and guess what, It doesn't. It is a way in which the budgets are projected before the budget is actually approved in CA. This allows politicians to drive fear into the citizens to support throwing more money at the government. SRVUSD has learned to capitalize on the fears of the public. They lobby for the funds and then turn and say "good news, we have more money than we projected." They have been doing this for years. Google the Measure C ballot pamphlet that we just passed. Brown is going to put the tax increase on the ballots, SRVUSD is going to put the bond on the ballots and the taxpayers are stuck with a CA Government that increasingly grows bigger. No cuts are made, budgets increase, raises given and we turn and wonder why CA carries more debit than all of the other 49 states combined. Schools are being taken over by the state, cities are declaring bankruptcy. No real change takes place. Many of us in the private sector, can't afford it anymore. We just can't.

We not only can't afford the absolute dollars, we shouldn't have to put up with the low quality and excessive union driven costs in schools, and public services.

I became so frustrated with teachers/school district that I have one of my children in private school, my other child will go to private school for high school but my junior will finish here. I gave money and volunteered for years. I pay for tutors and sports and music for my 3 kids on top of all the school donations. I relate to D Mom, spending hours reteaching my kids at home. At least at the private school we are at now, the kids start study hall at the end of the day and can ask the teachers questions about homework before they go home. It makes after school an absolutely different experience. I will vote no.

Math math and math. That is what I am paying tutors for, and so are many other families I know in this school district. Each level has different issues. In elementary school the kids have so many projects tossed at them with out showing how to really do it and many parents end up helping too much. It also felt like by 4th grade there was this checklist of projects at a rapid pace with no feedback for the kids. Product not process was emphasized. I would like my kids to be able to learn skills they can apply to their learning again. In middle school the math is the worst. The are not teaching math well and the kids start to think they are not math students and limit their future choices. HIgh school, lack of feedback. How can a student prepare for a math final when there has been not returned work since November? How does a student (or parent looking at school loop) know where they are at, what they know well and what needs more work?

The complaints we read here would soon be rectified if the SRVSD had a competitor. Students switching to a better alternative would force SRVSD change 100 times faster than parents complaints.

It's only creative destruction that will create change. Parents are wasting their breath with complaints.

Think charter spin off. Think bond $$ for charter.

According to my most recent property tax bill, we are paying already for a SRVUSD parcel tax in addition to our base property tax. We are also paying for the SRVUSD 2002 bond issue and two community college bond issues. I say enough. Cal High was just remodeled, and so was Pine Valley. Schools out in Dougherty Valley are practically brand new. Let's pay off these bonds before we approve any new ones.