By Jeff Hudson
Enterprise staff writer
The Davis Enterprise

The Davis school board on Thursday heard a presentation on the need for the Measure W parcel tax, as well as updates on enrollment, the state budget and a charter school proposal for Da Vinci High School.

Judy Davis and Janet Berry, the co-chairs of the Measure W campaign, displayed the campaign's new symbol - a circular life preserver.

Berry, a community activist and parent, said 'the community threw our schools a lifeline' in spring when the Davis Schools Foundation raised $1.4 million in donations, heading off looming teacher layoffs for the current school year.

'Now we need to give the schools a life preserver,' Berry said, adding that a yes vote on Measure W 'will provide a stable, ongoing funding source for the programs we saved this past spring. You will soon be seeing this life preserver logo on all our Measure W information to remind you that this is an emergency situation, and our schools as we know them are very much at risk.

'Every student in our schools will feel the impact of the cuts that will be necessary if Measure W does not pass,' Berry said. Without Measure W, 'all those pink slips (to teachers) will have to go out again and all those treasured programs - science, librarians, music - will once again be on the chopping block.'

Davis, who recently retired as principal at North Davis Elementary, emphasized that the successful spring campaign by the Davis Schools Foundation was 'good for this year only' in terms of saving teachers and programs, and that Measure W is needed as a follow-through to maintain the district's existing program.

Davis said 'If Measure W does not pass, the real burden will fall on the less fortunate. ... (Without it) some families will be able to provide private music lessons, hire private writing and math tutors, enroll in outside hands-on science classes, and provide trips to enrich their own children's education and lives.'

Davis said 'many other children will not have these opportunities, and the gap between have and have-not will grow wider. We cannot let this happen.'

Davis and Berry mentioned the new campaign Web site - http://www.yesW.org - and called for volunteers to host coffees and assist with other campaign tasks. Measure W, which will cost individual homeowners $120 per year for three years, will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

Elsewhere on Thursday's agenda:

- Assistant Superintendent Clark Bryant said the Davis school district has 8,536 students - about 76 more than the most recent enrollment projections, and about 86 students more than were enrolled in October 2007. Much of the increase is in grades K-3.

Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby added, 'We get paid (by the state) based on attendance. Have your students attend school every day. And if you take a long vacation, do an independent study program' so the district can receive funding for those days as well.

Colby also reported briefly on the state budget crisis, saying 'It's Day 66 without a budget, and counting.' Colby said he's worried about 'unilateral mid-year cuts' that may occur when the budget is signed.

- Superintendent James Hammond mentioned discussions are under way about a possible charter school petition for Da Vinci High School. Hammond advised the school board that they may receive such a petition by the end of the year, initiating public hearings. Da Vinci is exploring charter status as a means of redefining its business relationship with the district, and putting the school in a better position in the event of state budget cuts that might lead to local teacher layoffs.