The mantra for district funding has always been: choose an election with the lowest possible turnout. The fewer people who vote, the greater the likelihood that only school supporters cast ballots. So far, it's worked, so why change it? This is hardly news.

I 100% agree with Observer. In fact I’m not even sure why they’re paying consultants at this point. Don’t they have the notes left over from all the previous measures?
And I love the phrase “polluted electorate.” Not sure about anyone else, but wanting to vote out Newsom makes me feel clean.

It should stay on the ballot with the recall. There will be plenty of voter turn out which usually doesn't end well for the district. What the hell they need another parcel tax with falling enrollment is beyond me. I don't care which ballot it ends up on, I'll be voting no.

It boggles my mind how the School District operates. First they pay huge amounts of money to hire consultants to orchestrate a plan to get them more money buy trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the residents of the city. Then they try to win the election by hiding it from everyone who might be opposed. I expect when this is on the ballot the district will work hard to get volunteers to call everyone likely to vote for the measure (teachers, parents, etc.) and try to hide it as best they can from everyone else.

There really should be a law that any measure related to taxes or raising money through bonds, etc. must be done during a major election (One where we are electing senate and congressional representatives)

I agree with Menlo Voter, enrollment is steady for the last 10 years while property tax revenue (the major source of Menlo Park School District funding) has been rising at 10% or more, year over year. That huge amount of additional revenue is getting spent somewhere but it does not seem to be on the kids...

The district's political consultant made the right call. If the recall election happens and it probably will, it will draw more conservative "polluted" voters to the polls and those voters don't want more money for education.

MC,

I am curious what you mean by "Conservative 'Polluted' voters"? Do you mean people whose opinion is different than your own? One of the biggest problems in the United States right now is that so many people feel that anyone who does not agree with their point of view is "Evil", "Wrong" or "polluted". Things are not going to get better in this country until people with different view points can discuss them like adults and find compromise.

As for the election, since those "Conservative voters" will also have to pay any parcel taxes they deserve to vote on them as much as anyone. Trying to "hide" the election is just dishonest and wrong. It needs to be voted down just on that basis.