Proud of Our Schools — Yes on Measure B
By the Measure B steering committee and Friends of WSCUHSD
We are so proud of our students and the education they get at our west county high schools. We’re asking the public’s help in holding onto the quality we now enjoy.
Since 1993 we have financed key programs at Analy, El Molino and Laguna high schools with a parcel tax that our voters have steadfastly approved every time they’ve been asked. It expires next year.
Please help us renew it by voting Yes on Measure B on the March 3 ballot. “State funding continues to fall short in providing the resources needed to support our schools. Measure B funds are vital to maintaining the quality programs and services our students need and deserve,” said district superintendent Toni Beal.
Measure B will renew the parcel tax for eight years and increase it from $48 to $79 a year, to adjust for the rising cost of living and a decline in state funding. Exemptions are available for qualified seniors, disabled, contiguous parcels and others.
These funds will help us continue to pay for popular educational and vocational programs currently offered at the high schools. Vibrant, thriving high schools enhance the community, property values and the local economy.
Over the last several months, with input from staff, teachers, parents, and community leaders, the district has prepared a list of programs and activities that require the support of the parcel tax, including;
• Keep school libraries open
• Maintain and improve shop, art, music, drama, culinary, agriculture, technology and other career education classes
• Give appropriate raises to teachers and staff
• Improve college preparatory courses
• Maintain small class sizes and counseling services
High school achievements
Measure B will enable the West Sonoma County Union High School District to continue to provide exceptional education opportunities in west Sonoma County as it has for more than 100 years, as illustrated by these recent achievements:
• El Molino High School in Forestville has been honored by the state Dept of Education as a Distinguished and Gold Ribbon school more often than any high school in Sonoma County.
• Analy High School in Sebastopol has placed on Newsweek’s “America’s Top High Schools” list five years in a row.
• Laguna High School in Sebastopol has been honored six times by the state Dept. of Education as a California Model Continuation High School.
• The West Sonoma County Union High School District is the highest rated public high school district in Sonoma County and to the Oregon border (niche.com, 2020).
Yes on Measure B provides an opportunity to make a difference not only in the lives of more than 1,800 students and hard-working teachers and staff but also in the quality of life in our community, by supporting critical programming in our public high schools. Yes on Measure B will enable us to continue along this solid pathway of providing world-class education and opportunity for all of our students.
We are proud to have the endorsement of our West County Teachers Association.
For more information, go to www.friendsofwscuhsd.org
Please join us in voting Yes on Measure B!
Jim Walton, chair Measure B steering committee
Mary Bracken, president El Molino Education Fund
Loretta and Chip Castleberry, business owners and former teachers
Jim Corbett, “Mr. Music” Foundation
Mary Fricker, member Measure B steering committee
John Grech, El Molino H.S. teacher
Leslie McCormick, president El Molino Boosters
Sue Mobley, business owner
Adam Parks, president Analy High School Boosters, business owner
Dennis Rosatti, business owner
Lily Smedshammer, Analy High School teacher
David Stecher, former West Sonoma County Union H.S. District trustee
Friends of West Sonoma County Union High School District
