Measure R The Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Quality Education Funding Renewal Measure

1. Measure RThe Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Quality Education Funding Renewal Measure Protecting Our Community Schools

2. What is the Quality Education Funding Renewal Measure? • Renews and combines two existing local funding measures (due to expire) already approved by the required by 2/3 majority of Santa Monica + Malibu voters • (Measure S) $6.5 million per year • (Measure Y) $3.9 million per year • Total: $10.4 million per year

3. Why do Santa Monica & Malibu schools need Local Funding Measures? • The state doesn’t provide enough funding for the high-quality schools our students deserve and our communities expect. • Per-pupil spending in California’s schools has dropped nearly every year since 1978 • California has the second highest ratio of students per teacher in the nation due to inadequate state funding

4. How important is Measure R? • More than 10% of all per pupil funding in our local schools is at stake • $5,700 (approx.) per student per year from CA -- about $1,000 less than national average. • Approximately $2,500 per student per year additional received from local sources.

5. What do our Locally Approved Funding Measures Pay For?Smaller Class Sizes • K-3 classes are at 20:1 or less • Our local measures fund a minimum of 23 K-3 teachers, at a minimal cost of $1.9 million (Although funded by state grant, still an additional cost to the District) • Middle and high school classes are at 30:1 (compared to LAUSD at 40:1) • Our local measures fund a minimum of 30 teachers at a cost of $2.1 million

6. What do our Locally Approved Funding Measures Pay For?Elementary School Music Program • Without question, SMMUSD’s music program is one of the nation’s finest. • Elementary Music is most often something that is provided privately, if the parents can afford it and if they choose to do it • SMMUSD provides every elementary school with outstanding music programs taught by credentialed teachers at an annual cost of approximately $1.1 million. • Quality elementary music education promotes lifelong learning, as well as excellence in secondary music programs.

7. What do our Locally Approved Funding Measures Pay For?Libraries • Our local funding measures contribute at least 1.2 million to library programs • SMMUSD libraries are centers for technology and literacy • Librarians and library techs • provide assistance to students as they learn to read and help promote a lifelong love of literacy • help students find information and determine the relevancy and accuracy of that information.

8. What do our Locally Approved Funding Measures Pay For? Nurses, Technology and School Counselors • School Nurses • National recommended ratio is 1 nurse for every 750 students; California average is 1:2,500. SMMUSD is 1: 1,100 • Provide support for immunizations, hearing, vision and scoliosis screening, administering of medication, special needs students, health education, crisis intervention, student study teams, medical records and so much more • Additional technology support • 7 Tech Support Employees hired as a result of approved local funding measures • Counselors • SMMUSD has lower counseling ratios than California Secondary Schools • California Average is 1:500. SMMUSD has 1:250 to 1:350

9. What do our Locally Approved Funding Measures Pay For?Elementary School Physical Education • At a time when many schools in the state are canceling recess . . . • SMMUSD schools continue to promote healthy students by having PE in every elementary school • Physical Activities Specialists are hired in each school to direct children’s activities. • The cost for this is approximately $500,000

10. Our Locally Approved Funding Measures… • …allow Malibu and Santa Monica schools to protect important education programs and maintain the high quality schools our community expects and all students deserve

11. This funding will soon expire, and is up for renewal on the February 5, 2008 ballot Measure R, “The Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Quality Education Funding Renewal Measure”: • Must be affirmed by a 2/3 majority vote • Combines two existing measures into one – with no increase • Provides a senior exemption (now only available in one of the two existing measures) • Includes strict taxpayer accountability provisions and annual public review and audits by independent Citizens Financial Oversight Committee • Funds used to retain highly qualified teachers and reduced class size, protect excellence in instruction and continued achievement in math, science, technology, arts, music, and reading instruction and programs. And, to sustain our libraries, nurses, physical education, counselors, and other services and programs benefiting all students.

12. Measure R is supported by: • The Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs • The Classroom Teachers Association • The League of Women Voters • Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR) • Individual school PTAs throughout Malibu and Santa Monica • Business leaders • Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, administrators and staff

13. What can you do to help? • Volunteer your time • Help the Yes on R campaign committee • Work on “get out the vote” campaign • Phone banking • Educate others so they know what’s at stake

14. Financial contributions to the campaign committee are key! • Polling clearly shows that educating voters makes an enormous impact! The campaign committee pays for: • Direct Mail pieces • Advertisements • Public information • Volunteer coordination • Get out the vote campaigns • Phone banking

15. Campaign to Protect Quality Public Schools 2118 Wilshire Boulevard #264 Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310)395-4483 www.yesonRforOurSchools.com