The recent state budget failed to fully fund public education by almost $3 billion, and this when California's per pupil spending is well below the national average.  Worse still, deficits are already projected for 2009-10 and mid-year cuts this year are a real possibility.  The chances that our state will adequately fund public education in the near future are slim to none.

How will we in Davis respond?  One option is to eliminate programs and services currently available to our students.  Another is to vote yes on Measure W, a three year parcel tax to fund school programs placed at risk by the budget crisis.  This measure is the community’s opportunity to further protect the programs saved for just one year by the recent Davis Schools Foundation Dollar-a-Day fundraising effort.  Information about the measure is available at www.YesW.org.

Local control is the foundation of American public education because we believe our schools should reflect our community's values.  The economy may stumble and state funding may falter, but in Davis we have the ability to educate our children as we believe we should.

For our schools, for our children and for their future, please vote yes on Measure W.

Susan Lovenburg