Big Bear, CA, June 13, 2012, 4:00pm – This week, the County Registrar’s Office will mail ballots for the Bear Valley Quality Education and Core Academics Measure, known as Measure M, to registered voters living in the Bear Valley Unified School District. The all-mail ballot election needs to be returned by July 10th. As State funding continues to decline, the Board of Trustees for the Bear Valley Unified School District voted unanimously to place this measure on the ballot. In each of the past two years, the State has cut over $3.3 million from our local schools, which has resulted in severe cuts to our education system. Budget cuts have resulted in the elimination of staff, including teachers, increased class size, reduction of intervention programs, cancellation of summer school and music program funding, as well as incorporating furlough days for all employees resulting in additional no school days for our students. BVUSD states that the measure will provide locally controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State to protect core academic programs and maintain quality instruction in our local schools. By law, none of the funds can do used for administrators’ salaries or benefits. If passed, an independent citizen’s oversight committee will be established to ensure that all funds are spent as promised. The measure is, in essence, a parcel tax that, if passed, will cost property owners $49.50 per parcel, per year for four years. In order to pass, the measure must be supported by 66.7% of those who vote. Registered voters are reminded to look for their Measure M ballots in the mail and return no later than July 10th.
[audio:https://kbhr933.com/wp-content/uploads/SP31552.mp3|titles=Measure M – Cathy Herrick reporting]
