Oak Park schools need our support
The Oak Park Unified School District has been active on several fronts as it tries to keep pace with a dwindling budget and declining enrollment.

Earlier this month the district released encouraging results from a survey that asked residents how they feel about renewing the D4 parcel tax, which expires early next year. About 80 percent of those surveyed said they would support an extension of the $197 annual tax, which generates about $1 million a year for school programs and teacher salaries.

The school board also is considering another attempt at a bond measure to help renew aging classrooms and decrepit infrastructure. In 2006, voters turned down a pair of bond measures worth more than $70 million each, citing the concern that the district was overshooting its mark. Because the district was no longer growing, the old war cry of crowded classrooms rang hollow, voters said.

But even if there are 27 students in a classroom instead of 30, school buildings and parking lots still grow old, roofs become leaky and air conditioning units begin to break down. Declining enrollment obviates the need for new buildings, but old ones still need repairs. Having fewer students also means the school district is receiving less in per pupil funding from the state. Replacement funds won't be forthcoming unless proud parents dig into their own pockets.

A new bond--this time in the more appropriate $20-$25 million range--is the correct solution. It will be devoid of unnecessary frills and targeted to meet the school district's immediate needs. Oak Park schools aren't the shiny gems we remember them to be and it's important to bring them up to par before the repairs get out of hand.

During the coming year The Acorn will stand in favor of both the bond measure and the parcel tax extension. The only question is whether the issues will be placed on the June ballot, on the November ballot or on separate ballots. Either way, we encourage residents to support the new school funding.

This time, the timing is right.