Funding for public schools is a major issue on the November ballot, with more than $10 billion at stake in the statewide ballot measure Prop 2.
The proposal would help school districts repair, upgrade and build new facilities, although opponents say it would only burden taxpayers with more debt.
Ongoing construction at West Portal Elementary in San Francisco will replace rows of portable classrooms with a state-of-the-art facility.
“Many students were in our temporary classrooms that were decades old,” said Emily Harris, a teacher at West Portal Elementary.
Harris has seen the challenges students and teachers face every day.
“When students are in these types of learning environments, they don’t have enough space for their own physical bodies,” Harris says.
SFUSD parent Satindar Dhillon has two children who have taken classes in what they call “portables.” He votes yes on Prop 2 to upgrade more schools in the state.
“When you see nice facilities, you feel better and more comfortable going to the school,” says Dhillon.
But opponents say wealthier districts have an advantage over disadvantaged communities because local districts are required to match funds to secure state school bond money.
Susan Shelley is a member of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which opposes Prop 2.
“A better way to do this would be in the budget, prioritizing those school districts that don’t have the resources for local bonds that don’t have the large tax base that other districts might have,” Shelley said.
Rather than asking taxpayers to pass another bond and borrow more money, Shelley believes the state should address these school repair needs when there are budget surpluses.
“Everything in prop two could have been paid for at that time if the Legislature had prioritized student safety and well-being, but it didn’t. So they’re coming to the voters for debt and for local property tax increases under Prop. 2, and we just don’t think that’s a good deal,” Shelley said.
Currently, there are approximately 10,000 public schools statewide, including approximately 1,300 charter schools.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 38% of students attend schools that do not meet the state’s minimum safety standards.
Unlike many other states, California does not have a permanent funding stream for school repairs. The money comes entirely from state and local bonds.
Kate Levitt works in SFUSD’s bond program.
“Combined with the local bond measures, the state funding really maximizes what public schools can do and how they can maintain aging facilities,” Levitt said.
Recent voting history points to an uphill battle for residents who support the program. In 2020, voters rejected the state’s last school facilities bond, a $15 billion proposal, leaving the state’s school repairs account virtually empty.
Teachers and parents are pushing for a different outcome.
“It’s the question for a lot of parents in San Francisco regarding the school district and whether we have enough money. To see more money coming in, I think it’s a good thing,” said SFUSD parent Jyoti Siyan .
“Renovating the school and bringing in new resources will really give our students the access they need overall,” Harris said.
For teachers like Harris, who supports the measure, passing local and state bonds for schools is paramount.
A nonprofit law firm Public Advocates has no position on Prop 2, but believes the funding will not reach low-income students of color in low-wealth districts who need it most.
It also says they recognize a “tremendous need for investment” for public school facilities.
