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Ravenswood City School District’s Measure S, aimed at increasing an existing parcel tax from $223.90 per property to $434 for another eight years, was winning easily Tuesday night.
The measure had 78.11% voter approval, according to semi officials final election night results. It needs two-thirds to pass.
The measure would fund the expansion of affordable preschool and early-childhood education, living wages for educators, and instruction for elementary and middle-school students in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park. It would also go toward maintaining small class sizes, building facilities for early-education programs and helping low-income families afford childcare.
The measure would raise an estimated $2.7 million annually, starting July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2034. The total would be subject to inflation adjustments but amount to roughly $21.6 million.
If approved, Measure S would extend the tax from Measure Q, which expires in June 2026 and was aimed at improving elementary and middle-school students’ learning and achievement in reading, writing, math and other educational programs; funding classroom computers and technology; increasing safety; keeping class sizes small; and attracting and retaining staff.
Karen Pace, director of Ravenswood Early Childhood Collaborative, saw Measure S as a big boost for education and care programs serving the very young.
Without it, Pace said, pursuit of those kinds of initiatives would be delayed, hurting local families.
She noted that the district has been investing in transitional kindergarten through the eighth grade.
The district understands that an effective way for children to succeed in the school system is for them to be ready to learn early on, she said.
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