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Information on City Council Meeting to get out to parents asap

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Dear CUSD parents,
 
I will be attending the city council meeting.  The more people we can have attend then the better.  I need your help to get as many parents a possible to attend the meeting so please forward this email. The timing for the comments on this would be start at around 7:50pm.  A few parents could speak and the rest could stand behind the speakers in support. 
 
The Cupertino City Council budget hearing will be

Wednesday, June 9

starting at 7:50pm to about 10pm

at Cupertino Community Hall

10350 Torre Ave.    

 

Please do the following

1.  Attend the Cupertino City Council meeting and speak stating that you are a Cupertino Union School District Parent or stand in support of the parent speaker

 

2.  If you cannot attend then email encouraging friends to attend the Cupertino City Council meeting

 

3.  If you cannot attend then email by Wednesdy morning the Cupertino City Council members

http://www.cupertino.org/index.aspx?page=41

 

Kris Wang:  kwang@cupertino.org

Gilbert Wong:  gwong@cupertino.org

Orrin Mahoney:  omahoney@cupertino.org

Mark Santoro:  msantoro@cupertino.org

Barry Chang:  bchang@cupertino.org

==========================================================================

 
The Cupertino Union School District schools are having to struggle with unprecedented state cuts in which over $9.9 million in funding cuts is on-going and will repeat year after year. The layoff of over 100 teachers and increase of primary grade class size by 50% was prevented for this year with private donations and the contribution of furloughs from all the employees of the district.  The following year, we could face the same problem.  In these times of tight budgets, it would be good for the school district to have partners.
 
Some ideas would be for City of Cupertino through the Park and Recreation Department to work in partnership with the school district on science educational programs.
  • expand the science educational facilities of the McClellan Ranch:  environmental classroom,  the legacy farm at Stocklmeir property, mini-grants so that teachers can implement programs about the environmental studies and life sciences.

The children of today will be the invertors, the scientists, and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.  When we as a community in partnership with the school district support science and technology programs in our schools, we are investing in our future. With this investment, Cupertino will continue to benefit from local businesses tax revenue because these businesses will have the expertise that will keep them at the forefront of technology and innovation. In the near term, investing in our schools keeps our property values high and high property values brings more tax revenues for the city.   It makes our schools and our community highly desirable.

 

Examples of programs that are working well between the city and the school district are the crossing guards and programs that educate families and children about the benefits of walking to school.  When children and families walk to school this saves gas, reduces congestion about the schools, and is healthy for children.

 
I wanted to bring to your attention a June 3 online Mercury News article about the Cupertino City Budget.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15223511

 

The article quotes Carol Atwood, who is the Cupertino city director of administrative services

"...Cupertino has also been fortunate to not see a decline in residential home values due to the popularity of the high-performing schools in the area, Atwood said..."

 

The article says further that

"...The city is heavily dependent on Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Insight ...[which are all high technology companies]... for its sales tax, as the three companies account for 57 percent of such revenue..."

 

The article talks about major Cupertino City capital projects that include

" ...possible temporary dog park along Mary Avenue , ... fixing the dormant ponds at Linda Vista Park

 

At the June 1st Cupertino City Council Meeting, the estimated cost for a temporary dog park along Mary Avenue was $225,000.  At the meeting, a resident who lives near the proposed dog park was against the proposed park because of the potential litter, extra noise, and the hope that the city could find a better use for the public funds.

 

At the June 3rd Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting, the estimated cost partial cost for fixing the dormant ponds at Linda Vista park was  $450,000.  In future years, you would need to pay in addition for the remainder of the cost and for the maintainance of the pond and the equipment to pump water into the ponds.  Currently, people can still enjoy the park without the ponds.

 

The temporary dog park and fixing the Linda Vista Park pond will likely help a small sector of the community.  However, there are about 18,000 students in the Cupertino Union School District who could benefit from science programs. Investing in science programs and partnering with schools in our community for the children of this community is a good investment for now and for the future of the Cupertino. It helps education which keeps our property values high and nurtures our high technology businesses' workforce for the future so that these businesses can continue to generate tax revenues for the city.

 

Regards,

-Linda