Voter Guide: Measure Y would extend parcel tax for Woodside Elementary

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Illustration Yes on Y. Courtesy Yes on Y.

The Woodside Elementary School District board placed Measure Y on the Nov. 5 ballot in an effort to renew the current parcel tax of $366.66 per parcel for another 12 years. Board members say it is necessary to continue existing programs at Woodside Elementary.

In 2017, Measure Z passed with 72% voter approval. It replaced a previous $290-per-parcel tax that has since been adjusted based on inflation to the current level. The tax amount for Measure Y is also subject to annual adjustments but will not exceed 4%.

Measure Y is estimated to raise $392,000 each year and would fund instruction, teacher retention and help keep low student-to-teacher ratios, arts and physical education programs, proponents say.

“We have had an upswing in enrollment over the last school year based on the expansion of transitional kindergarten. We’ve gone from 360 to 390 students now,” said Superintendent Steve Frank. “To maintain [class] sizes of less than 20, it’s very important that we continue to receive that annual parcel tax money.”

Frank clarified that the funds would not go toward administrative salaries and will directly benefit the students and the instruction they receive. A portion of the tax will be spent on staffing certificated teachers.

Woodside residents ages 65 and older will be exempt from the tax.

“It’s not a raise of taxes; it’s an extension,” said Frank.

Campaigning for Yes on Measure Y

School board President Jenny Hayden said she is focusing on gaining the support of Woodside seniors and parents. While campaigning for Measure E, a $36 million bond measure for facilities improvements in March, Hayden found it difficult to reach the senior community through phone banking.

For Measure Y, the campaign team of 25 people are going door to door, talking to seniors about the initiative and handing out flyers. As of Sept. 26, they’ve already talked to 500 out of nearly 700 seniors in Woodside.

Hayden explained that the available information of registered senior voters is outdated with old landline numbers and emails that don’t get checked. “The only way I know I can communicate this message is by talking to someone,” she said.

Other members of the team are serving as “grade leads” for parents of current students and are actively texting them with information on Measure Y and answering questions.

“If we don’t pass this measure, we would have to find the money elsewhere for the programs we currently have,” said Hayden. “We might have to look at programs to cut.”

Hayden and the committee are spreading the word on Measure Y whenever they can. If the measure doesn’t pass the district will likely hold another election, she said.

Until Nov. 5, the campaign team will continue to knock on doors, send out mail to registered voters and place lawn signs around town. In order to pass, it will need a two-thirds voter approval.

At this writing, there appeared to be no organized opposition to the measure. There is no argument against Measure Y filed with election officials.

YES on Measure Y for Woodside Elementary School did not raise any money but the campaign has a total balance of $75,000, according to campaign finance reports from the filing period of Sept. 22 to Oct. 19.

For more information on Measure Y visit yes4woodsideschool.com.

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