Big Bear, CA, April 3, 2012, 8:00am – The Bear Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees held a Special Board meeting on Friday, March 30th for the purpose of adopting a resolution calling for a parcel tax in order to continue to provide a quality education for the students of Big Bear Valley. Already $3.3 million dollars have been cut from the school budget by the State over the past two years and cuts to education are expected to continue. A dozen community members were in attendance with many expressing their concerns and opinions about the tax, which will be a July 10th mail ballot election with many suggesting long-term planning and solutions instead of a band-aid to the current financial problems facing the District. Following discussion, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution, which will be called the Bear Valley Quality Education and Core Academics Measure. The measure states that the parcel tax will be $49.50 for four years with exemptions for certain seniors and disabled persons that, if passed, will yield the school district $1.45 million annually. The money will be used to sustain quality core academic instruction in reading, writing, math and science; reduce class sizes where possible; avoid further elimination of qualified teachers; maintain safe student transportation; keep school libraries open; provide career development and job training programs for high school students and provide computer and technology support, expansion and instruction. Additionally, it was noted, that under no circumstances would the parcel tax dollars be used for administrator’s salaries and benefits. Kurt Madden, BVUSD Superintendent, emphasized that there would be strict accountability measures put into place including an independent citizens oversight committee to ensure the funds will be properly spent. The parcel tax, which needs approval by at least two-thirds of the vote to pass, would provide locally controlled funding for our schools that could not be taken away by the State.
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