Oak Park should vote ‘Yes’ on

Out unique and treasured community is threatened by the budgetary crisis in Sacramento.

The Los Angeles Times on Jan. 22 printed a story reporting that the median sales price in Oak Park fell from $487,500 in 2002 to $391,000 in 2003.

In the past, one of the chief reasons people moved to Oak Park has been our excellent school district. But that may change unless we take action now to pass Measure 4D.

Due to the hard work of Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) founders like Jan and Steve Iceland, Ron Stark, David Ross and the Oak Park school boards and the outstanding administration and teachers that followed, 98 percent of Oak Park graduates have gone on to college, Oak Park High School has been named as one of the top 100 schools in the country and every school in Oak Park has ranked in the top 10 percent of schools in the state.

But now OPUSD has had to reduce administration and non-teaching staff to the bare minimum levels necessary to ensure student safety. Future cuts will directly impact classroom instruction—teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and a reduction in education loom ominously on the horizon.

I met with several teachers over this past weekend who believe they will lose their jobs if Measure 4D is not passed. They tell me that class sizes could increase by 50 percent if we do not act now and pass Measure 4D. The threat is real.

Why vote for Measure 4D? Gary Richards, the superintendent of schools here in Oak Park, promises that Measure 4D will provide funds to avoid reductions in teaching staff, retain qualified and experienced teachers, maintain up-to-date textbooks and supplies, preserve music and art education, and maintain college prep and honors courses.

With the scheduled reduction next year in the amount property owners currently pay to retire school bonds, the net cost of Measure D4’s parcel tax to a homeowner in Oak Park will average about $6 per month. If approved by two-thirds of Oak Park voters, Measure 4D will only be in effect for five years.

My mother is retired here in Oak Park, she is single and living on a fixed income. But the proponents of Measure 4D have provided for our senior citizens, making an exemption available that guarantees that there is no burden on those living on a fixed income.

Last Tuesday evening I urged all of my fellow Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) members to join me in openly supporting Measure 4D. The Oak Park MAC responded by unanimously endorsing a "yes" vote on Measure 4D.

The last day for registering for the March 2 election is Feb. 19. If you are not registered to vote, there are voter registration forms available at the Oak Park Fire Station. If you are registered to vote, our community and the children we educate depend on you to take a few minutes on March 2 to make a difference by approving Measure 4D.

David Blake Chatfield

Vice-Chairman,

Oak Park MAC