☆ “Far from being wise”: San Jose Unified board candidates disagree on Measure R
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Many San Joseans were concerned when SJUSD added $1.15 bn Measure R to the ballot despite rapid enrollment declines, the recent Civil Grand Jury report citing “leadership issues,” and—you know—the fact it'd *double* the taxes we already pay to SJ Unified. Below, Opp Now asked SJUSD board members/candidates to weigh in. An Opp Now exclusive.
Rami Gideoni, SJUSD Area 5 trustee candidate: I'm afraid I oppose Measure R. It's a matter of confidence that those requesting the funding have thought through all options, are capable of handling the funding, and would use it prudently. The recent public report on the district does not inspire in me such confidence.
The district claims $1.4B are required for repairs and improvements. In 2012, we approved a $290M measure ($400M inflation adjusted) to address these exact budget sections; yet the district's now requesting an additional $1.15B. Out of this amount, up to $283M are designated for affordable housing, leaving $867M for these budget sections.
The public deserves to know why these needs were not met by the ongoing annual budgets or the previous measure. Lack of transparency may lead to suspicion that the district intentionally avoided spending funds on these needs. Additionally, raising money at the current levels of interest rates is far from being wise.
Lenka Wright, SJUSD Area 5 trustee candidate: Measure R is the solution that the San José Unified School Board put forward to voters to address urgent facility needs and updates, combined with providing affordable rental housing for teachers and staff.
If passed, the school district’s $1.15 billion bond measure would mean an additional $840 a year for the average San José home with an assessed value of $1.4 million. This would more than double what we’re already paying in school bonds. I understand the financial pain this would cause for our retired homeowners who live on fixed incomes.
As the parent of an SJUSD student, I’ve seen firsthand the crumbling facilities and outdated classrooms. I want our kids to learn in safe and functional environments. I want quality teachers for them. If Measure R passes, I will commit to working with parents and the community on prioritizing where the bond money goes and effectively using the funds.
Carla Collins, SJUSD Area 3 trustee: San José Unified is preparing today’s students to be tomorrow's thinkers, leaders, and creators. While we strive to meet the diverse needs of our community and students within available funding, our neighborhood schools are outdated and need modernization. Measure R is an effort to complete improvements to help develop the facilities, labs, and learning spaces that we need to prepare students for college and in-demand careers in fields like health sciences, engineering, technology, and skilled trades. Measure R would provide locally controlled funding to:
Replace and update campus safety systems
Update classroom technology and infrastructure
Repair old electrical systems
Upgrade classrooms and labs
Provide affordable housing to attract and retain teachers and staff
The tax rate for Measure R would be limited to $60 per each $100,000 of a property’s assessed (not market) value. Additional information about Measure R can be found on our website.
Nicole Gribstad, SJUSD Area 5 trustee: Measure R proposes a bond measure that would incur $1.15 billion in debt, translating to a tax rate of $60 per $100,000 of assessed property value. However, by eliminating unnecessary spending and addressing funding disparities between schools, we can avoid the need for Measure R altogether.
Public schools receive funding from a combination of local, state, and federal sources, which totaled $857 billion nationwide in the 2022 fiscal year. (See here for a visual breakdown using U.S. Census Bureau data.) School districts primarily rely on local property taxes to generate revenue, distributing resources to schools based on prior expenditures.
To enhance fiscal responsibility, we must improve transparency in school spending, promote equity in resource allocation, and simplify regulations. By doing so, we can effectively reallocate funds and prevent the additional burden on taxpayers that Measure R represents.
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