Vote yes on Measure C

Four years ago, in response to unprecedented state budget cuts to education, Oak Park voters approved by a resounding 81 percent "yes" vote, the passage of Measure D4. That measure provided for a special tax of $197 per parcel to protect vital school programs, maintain reduced class sizes and uphold other standards of education excellence that residents of Oak Park expected of their schools.

Measure D4 also provided for an independent citizens oversight committee to review district expenditures and issue annual reports to the community on how the $926,000 in annual funds were spent.

As the chairman of the oversight committee this past year, I would like to emphasize that the parcel tax proceeds were used in a manner consistent with the intent of Measure D4 and was vital in preserving essential programs and maintaining smaller class sizes within our schools.

On June 3, Oak Park voters are being asked to simply renew the original D4 Parcel Tax. Measure C will not increase taxes. It simply extends the current parcel tax which will help protect our highquality education and enhanced student instruction.

In recent surveys, over 50 percent of Oak Park residents with and without students in the schools cited the quality of the education offered by Oak Park schools as a major factor in why they chose to move to Oak Park. Oak Park schools are in the top 10 percent of the state's Academic Performance Index and consistently outperform other districts in Ventura County and statewide.

Simply stated, protecting the quality of our children's education benefits not only our students but all of the residents of Oak Park. Great schools develop good future citizens, maintain high property values, keep our neighborhoods safe and preserve Oak Park's unique community character.

State funding will not provide the high quality of education that our children deserve. We must renew this critical funding source which helps preserve our education excellence. Please vote yes on Measure C.

Michael Paule

Chairman, Measure D4 Public Oversight Committee Oak Park