Wednesday’s school board meeting wasn’t about the “what.” It was about the “what if.”
If voters pass Governor Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, the Fresno Unified School District plans to invest $17.5 million into programs aimed at combating the rising high school drop out rate.
Zoua Vang, one of the “yellow button moms” remains positive that Prop. 30 will pass.
If it doesn’t, the district will be required to cut $11.5 million from the budget, on top of millions in cuts already made.
“That's what the children's movement is all about. We're here to monitor public conversations to ensure we forget talking about adults, and get the conversation back on children,” said Vang.
Financial Officer Ruth Quinto says Prop. 30 money is a plan b budget scenario.
The money will target at risk kids.
“Our initiative is to double the access to preschool so instead of 32% we would like to increase that to 80 percent participation rate,” said Quinto.
The tax initiative would raise the state sales tax by a quarter of a percent.
For critics who say yes to cuts and no to a tax increase...Governor Brown is threatening billions of dollars in cuts to education programs statewide.
Superintendent Michael Hanson says voters can already see tax dollars at work.
“With the results we're turning over more and more frequently we think we're investment worthy and we want to make that case to folks...and if they vote...this will be a big move in city building in the City of Fresno,” said Hanson.
Board members plan to vote on the recommendations next week.
If Prop. 30 fails November 6th, they’ll reconvene in January to talk budget cuts.
