Portola Valley School District parcel tax measure leading in early returns

Measure S, a reduced parcel tax measure for the Portola Valley School District, is ahead in early results from Tuesday’s special election.

By the close of election night on May 4, 75.3% of votes counted were in favor of the measure, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass, county election officials reported. Measure S was the only item on San Mateo County’s all-mail ballot.

The district is asking for less money than the current parcel tax, which is set to expire: $471 per parcel annually versus the current rate of $581. It would raise $997,000 annually for the K-8 district. It has an eight-year term and would expire in 2029.

“Although we are happy to learn of the early result and the strong support from our community, it is important that the Elections Office takes the time to count every vote,” said Superintendent Roberta Zarea in a Wednesday email. “We are cautiously optimistic based on these initial results. A lot of work went into listening early on to our community so we could put a measure on the ballot that our community could get behind. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our local PVSD schools and children.”

Semi-official election results at 8:10 p.m. on election night show Measure S with 1,743 votes in support and 573 no votes (24.7%). Just two of these votes were turned in at voter centers; the rest were mailed to the Elections Office.

District officials are asking taxpayers for less because the district has made $1.3 million in cuts over the last three years, said district Chief Business Officer Connie Ngo. The district saved money by eliminating an assistant principal position at Corte Madera School; eliminating a district office classified staff position; freezing the hiring of the director of learning and innovation; eliminating 30 telephone lines; and reducing its workforce by seven teachers and classified staff positions through attrition, Ngo said.

Voters in March 2020 failed to renew the soon-to-end tax, Measure O, which expires in June and raises about $1.2 million annually for the district. It funds advanced math, science and technology, reading, writing, art and music programs; reduced class sizes; and retention of teachers for the district’s two schools, Ormondale and Corte Madera, according to the district website. The tax also covers 17% of district teachers’ salaries, according to the ballot measure.

Measure O passed in 2013 with 69% of the vote and consolidated two expiring measures: Measure C (with an annual tax of $290 per parcel) and Measure D ($168 per parcel), and increased the rate by $123 to $581, Ngo said.

All voters who live within the school district boundaries, which extend beyond those of the town of Portola Valley, could vote on the bond measure. The district includes Woodside residents who live in the Skylonda and Skywood Acres neighborhoods and off Philips and Family Farm roads, and part of Mountain Home Road.

The next results will be released after The Almanac’s press deadline, on Friday, May 7, at 4:30 p.m., according to the San Mateo County Elections Office. The Elections Office plans to certify the results on June 3.

Email Staff Writer Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com.