Comments on: School district considers emergency parcel tax and delaying pool bond http://albanytoday.org/2009/02/14/emergency-parcel-tax-idea-floated/ News and stories on people in Albany, CA Fri, 17 Sep 2010 22:03:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Ross Stapleton-Gray http://albanytoday.org/2009/02/14/emergency-parcel-tax-idea-floated/comment-page-1/#comment-2101 Ross Stapleton-Gray Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:27:59 +0000 http://albanytoday.org/?p=977#comment-2101 Another potential variable, for the AUSD calculus... I wonder if the recession/near-depression may deliver an unanticipated boost in enrollment this fall? KTVU ran a piece this evening on private schools seeing enrollment drops, as parents opt to put their kids in public schools... while many people buy in Albany in order to have a very good public school for their kids, I do know of folks who live in Albany yet pay for private school... if those families decide to cut costs and go/return to public, we might see a new small wave of students. Another potential variable, for the AUSD calculus… I wonder if the recession/near-depression may deliver an unanticipated boost in enrollment this fall? KTVU ran a piece this evening on private schools seeing enrollment drops, as parents opt to put their kids in public schools… while many people buy in Albany in order to have a very good public school for their kids, I do know of folks who live in Albany yet pay for private school… if those families decide to cut costs and go/return to public, we might see a new small wave of students.

]]> By: Pat Low http://albanytoday.org/2009/02/14/emergency-parcel-tax-idea-floated/comment-page-1/#comment-2088 Pat Low Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:50:44 +0000 http://albanytoday.org/?p=977#comment-2088 Just a clarification on my comment re: Parcel Tax discussion by the School Board. While some informal discussion may occur at the Board Special Meeting for Budget Study on Monday, February 23 at 5:30-7:30, the formal "agendized" discussion will occur as an item for "review" at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 - 10:00 (for your planning if you want to attend--it's the last item on the agenda). I hope all of you who have thoughts, opinions and ideas (especially for creative revenue generation) on the school district budget issues will attend one or both of the meetings. If you have ideas, thoughts that you wish the board to hear, the Monday meeting will provide public comment time for you to speak. Thank you all for your support of Albany schools. Best, Pat Low Just a clarification on my comment re: Parcel Tax discussion by the School Board. While some
informal discussion may occur at the Board Special Meeting for Budget Study on Monday, February 23 at 5:30-7:30, the formal “agendized” discussion will occur as an item for “review” at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 – 10:00 (for your planning if you want to attend–it’s the last item on the agenda). I hope all of you who have thoughts, opinions and ideas (especially for creative revenue generation) on the school district budget issues will attend one or both of the meetings. If you have ideas, thoughts that you wish the board to hear, the Monday meeting will provide public comment time for you to speak. Thank you all for your support of Albany schools.

Best,

Pat Low

]]> By: Andrew Austin http://albanytoday.org/2009/02/14/emergency-parcel-tax-idea-floated/comment-page-1/#comment-2078 Andrew Austin Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:14:12 +0000 http://albanytoday.org/?p=977#comment-2078 Dear Jennifer, You raised some good points in your note. Thank you for adding them to this forum. The bond for AHS classrooms, pool and therapy pool can be spent in such a away to generate income. This is by building more classrooms which allows more students to go to the school. This is what Dr. Wong did in the eight years he ran the district. We certainly need more classrooms just to make the learning for the current student body be decent. The original plan called for five classrooms. There is of course another good thing to the more students in more classrooms you can offer more types of classes. This keeps students interested in school which is a big help in the high school age group. Yes we can build classrooms and pools, we just need a BOC that is made up of all the different interests. Parents of students, swimmers, admin. neighbors etc... In Peace, Andy Austin Dear Jennifer,
You raised some good points in your note. Thank you for adding them to this forum.
The bond for AHS classrooms, pool and therapy pool can be spent in such a away to generate income. This is by building more classrooms which allows more students to go to the school. This is what Dr. Wong did in the eight years he ran the district. We certainly need more classrooms just to make the learning for the current student body be decent. The original plan called for five classrooms.
There is of course another good thing to the more students in more classrooms you can offer more types of classes. This keeps students interested in school which is a big help in the high school age group.
Yes we can build classrooms and pools, we just need a BOC that is made up of all the different interests. Parents of students, swimmers, admin. neighbors etc…
In Peace,
Andy Austin

]]> By: Jennifer Carlson http://albanytoday.org/2009/02/14/emergency-parcel-tax-idea-floated/comment-page-1/#comment-2077 Jennifer Carlson Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:59:20 +0000 http://albanytoday.org/?p=977#comment-2077 I look forward to this avenue of finance being fully explored! I have a problem with the increasing expense associated with the rebuilding of our pool when we have so many excellent pool options available to us in both Berkeley and El Cerrito. I realize we want to offer our high schoolers a pool for their use, but El Cerrito is nearby and would benefit significantly from the additional cash flow we might generate for them. When do we begin to model the behavior we are now trying to teach our children (AND our politicians!): Don't Buy What You Can't Afford! We cannot afford this pool. Times have changed since this bond was approved. When given the choice between a community pool and a quality education for my child, I choose the education. I'll handle the pool issue myself! I look forward to this avenue of finance being fully explored! I have a problem with the increasing expense associated with the rebuilding of our pool when we have so many excellent pool options available to us in both Berkeley and El Cerrito. I realize we want to offer our high schoolers a pool for their use, but El Cerrito is nearby and would benefit significantly from the additional cash flow we might generate for them. When do we begin to model the behavior we are now trying to teach our children (AND our politicians!): Don’t Buy What You Can’t Afford! We cannot afford this pool. Times have changed since this bond was approved. When given the choice between a community pool and a quality education for my child, I choose the education. I’ll handle the pool issue myself!

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