Menlo Park City School District

Superintendent Update
December 2, 2016

Dear MPCSD Community
 
Last Wednesday, November 30, a Special Board meeting was held to continue the discussion and hear community input regarding various parcel tax options, including input on the amount, duration and timing of a potential tax. District staff presented information and a draft resolution for the levying of a potential parcel tax. To view the video of the meeting click here. For the presentation click here. After a lengthy discussion, and after listening to community input, the Board gave staff direction to draft a resolution with a placeholder of  a $350 parcel tax on the March 2017 ballot, expiring after six years. This draft will be presented to the Board for discussion and action on Monday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Hillview Middle School. For greater detail and more information on our need for a parcel tax, I encourage you to visit our FAQs .

Since August 2015, we have been analyzing the need for a parcel tax to correct the structural deficit resulting from the expiration of Measure C this summer, the continuing increase in student enrollment, and the State mandated increases in the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS). Since the loss of our parcel tax measures last May, we have also been examining the need for reductions.

Quality schools are the foundation of any thriving community. The Menlo Park City School District educates our 3,000 students at a  level comparable to  any other award-winning, top achieving district in the nation. And MPCSD does this with a per student cost that is lower than comparable districts across the nation. MPCSD has become a destination district within Silicon Valley, and the increasing property values here are a testament to the correlation between excellent schools and valuable homes. The voters of MPCSD recognize this and have traditionally supported our schools with parcel taxes that allow MPCSD to provide the education that the community expects.

Measure C was approved by the voters in 2010 to address deep state cuts and enrollment growth. A seven year sunset was included in the original measure because of an assumption that the state would reinstate historical funding  to the district and enrollment growth would slow and flatten by the end of that period. Neither of these assumptions has proven true. The state has not resumed its pre-recession funding levels as it had originally indicated and has imposed on school districts an increased burden of contribution to the state-managed teacher pension system. MPCSD's mandated contributions will double from $3 million this year to approximately $6 million by 2020-21, at which point they are scheduled to level off.

Additionally, the enrollment trend that was expected to flatten out by now has actually continued to increase with an additional 468 students enrolling since Measure C was originally approved. Another 300 students are expected over the next ten years.

Now the district is in the unprecedented situation of facing the impending loss of $1.7 million annually in parcel taxes because of Measure C's expiration at the same time as continued enrollment growth and increased mandated state obligations put an even heavier financial burden on the district. After the expiration of Measure C, we do not expect additional funds from state, local, or other sources in an amount to sustain our class sizes, high quality teachers, and comprehensive educational programs.

Given these conditions, the district anticipates an annual deficit of $5.3 million by 2021-2022. The Board and District staff have engaged in a months-long public process with the community around balancing the level of local funding for our schools. This Monday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m. at Hillview the two newly elected Board members, David Ackerman and Caroline Lucas, will join existing Board members, Stacey Jones, Joan Lambert and Terry Thygesen to possibly take action to ask voters to approve a renewal of Measure C (currently at $207) and potentially to increase the amount.

As a community funded district, we collectively have the power to decide what kind of schools and education we want our students to experience. Will we rise to the challenge of funding a program of excellence? Or will we settle for dismantling the programs we have worked so hard to build and giving future students less than we expect? I believe our community values education and will choose to support our schools and will work together to provide the funding needed to educate its growing student body without sacrificing excellent teachers and quality schools. We are a strong community that wants every child to achieve academic excellence, grow physically and emotionally stronger, and discover and grow their talents.

Sincerely yours,

Maurice Ghysels
Superintendent

Every child achieves academic excellence
Every child becomes emotionally and physically stronger
Every child discovers and grows their talents
181 Encinal Avenue
Atherton, CA 94027

Superintendent
Maurice Ghysels, Ed.D.

Stacey Jones
Terry Thygesen
Joan Lambert
David Ackerman
Caroline Lucas

Vision Statement
Every  child achieves academic excellence. 
Every child becomes emotionally and physically stronger.  
Every child discovers and grows their talents.
MPCSD BOARD 
OF EDUCATION UPDATE

The following upcoming Board meetings will be held at Hillview Middle School, PAC building, 1100 Elder Avenue, Menlo Park

December 5, 6:00 p.m.
December 13, 6:00 p.m.
January 10, 6:00 p.m.

For Board information including meeting calendar, agendas, minutes, member contact information, or to join the Board's email distribution list click here.