The real cost of public education

Our public education system is being shortchanged by Sacramento, and leaving little that the Las Virgenes School District can do but to seek outside funding through public and private donations, or perhaps float a new bond measure that would mean the imposition of a new tax.

We’re all in favor of helping our schools, but there’s a limit on what the public should be asked to pay.

The proposed bond comes on the heels of the $93 million Measure R approved by voters in 1997 to build new schools and renovate classrooms. In 2004, there was Measure E, a $98per-year parcel tax that prevented larger class sizes and spared a variety of programs. The new bond hopes to raise another $60 to $70 million and would go the ballot box next summer.

So far, the voters have been supportive, enabling our local schools to become a shining example of the best that public education has to offer. But how often can the Las Virgenes district go to the well before it finally comes up dry?

At the same time, the school district can’t go through life asking for handouts.

School donations are a wonderful thing and recently a debate has arisen over which community is doing more to help the financially troubled district, Agoura Hills or Calabasas. Businesses in both communities donate what they can, within limitations. Their altruism is to be commended. The debate, rather, focuses on city government and what obligation it has, if any, to support the local school district.

Both Agoura Hills and Calabasas have contributed to the district through a variety of means. In recent years, more than $2 million in city funds have been allocated. Still, the question remains: When should taxpayer money earmarked for municipal purposes be diverted for school purposes? In principal, it should not, but the lines are fuzzy and when the local cities help the school district, they also help themselves.

Stephanie Bertholdo’s page one story presents an interesting study of this tale of two cities—Agoura Hills, Calabasas and how each has chosen to help our schools—and it doesn’t cost a dime to read.

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