Northgate Community Has a Voice for Change
Welcome to the Northgate High School Blog. The sole purpose of this blog is to gather information from parents, students, teachers, staff and administrators who would like to share ideas about improving Northgate. The blog will also provide information about MDUSD's, and Northgate's, failure to provide a quality education for our students. If you believe everything is wonderful at Northgate feel free to write that in a post but please understand that this blog is about change. No form of name calling or intimidation will be tolerated, your post will be removed. This is a serious blog for serious people who want to make a difference. Members of the school board view this site, this link can easily be sent to the Superintendent, this is your opportunity to tell them what you think needs to change at Northgate.
A Parcel Tax - Yes, No, Maybe?
Our recent poll showed the majority of respondents would support a parcel tax in order to provide a competitive and comprehensive compensation package to our district teachers. Do you support a parcel tax as a stop gap to the district's revenue shortfall? If the intent were to add it into the general fund without a specific allocation would you still support the parcel tax? If you do not currently support a parcel tax what do you require in order to support one in the future? Is the June 2009 time frame realistic? What needs to be done between now and June 2009 to insure passage of the parcel tax?
5 comments:
I think the leadership at MDUSD i.e. McHenry and his 4200 associate and assistant Sups need to instill confidence they'd spend wisely and not on fluffing their already ailing budget. There have been mistakes. Why isn't McHenry accountable? Do you really want the guy in charge at the district making million dollar mistakes, strike that, multi-million dollar mistakes, underbudgeting and just plain missing the boat? I dont'.. and I won't vote a parcel tax with current admin and without a clear plan for the success of this district. I plan to go to the meeitng on Saturday at ask these very questions.
Right. Poorly managed district and you want us to throw more money at it? The teachers maybe had the right idea...no confidence.
Bob A.
I think a parcel tax will not go through for the same reasons that Northgate H.S. and its feeder schools are the 'oddballs' in this humongous district. We care about our kids and have $ so we naturally would want a parcel tax -but the rest of this district has huge problems just getting parent support or getting parents to attend parent/teacher conferences. The rest of the district will not vote for a parcel tax. This is a huge waste of $.
lg, If you knew us parents at YV you would be surprised, we are in support of a parcel tax and we attend parent conferences and school functions and we care about all schools.
I believe only 25% of the population in Concord has a student in school, so we need to convince the retired. There is an age opt out clause that can be put in the parcel tax, Lafayette and Walnut Creek have it. My parents and in laws in WC and Laf. pay the tax because they value education. I think the age is 65, but I am not sure. Our last child is in high school and we would still support the tax after their graduation. I am already speaking to my neighbors and friends.
Having $ does not equal caring about your kids. $ does not equal happiness either. We are happy, middle income people with children in College and successful and we are very involved in our schools. I don't believe in segregation.
There was an overwhelming lack of support in all areas of MDUSD for a parcel tax. I know that Walnut Creek claims that they would have passed a parcel tax, but they're no different than South Walnut Creek. Acalanes and Walnut Creek school districts had to bust their humps to get those parcel taxes. It took a special election so older folks wouldn't have a large turnout. I have family who work for WCSD and Acalanes, and I have family who live in those districts.
Lets be honest here. It will take education and strategy to pass a parcel tax.
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