Dear Editor,
The Association of Piedmont Teachers (APT) and California School Employees Association Piedmont Chapter (CSEA) endorse Measures G and H.
We support Measure G because it is essential to preserving educational programs in the Piedmont schools. As an eight-year replacement of our current school support tax, revenues from Measure G help fund everything from small class sizes to school counselors, from libraries to student resource specialists, as well as our core curriculum, and much more. Because revenues from Measure G account for approximately twenty-five percent of PUSD’s budget, the three-hundred-plus staff and the thousands of students at the heart of our schools are depending on this investment for our schools and community.
We also support Measure H which will provide funds to retain and hire the staff who make Piedmont schools among the best in the state. PUSD needs the additional investment of Measure H because, over the last decade, compensation for employees has not kept pace with Bay Area cost of living increases. A steadily growing number of employees have left Piedmont schools over the past two years. Additionally, inadequate compensation has made hiring new employees and fully staffing schools more difficult than ever. Insufficient state funding and a small local commercial base means the situation will only get worse unless community members take this opportunity to invest in schools.
APT and CSEA members care deeply about our students. Please help our members to continue building excellent schools and meeting the needs of all students by voting yes on Measures G and H.
Thank you for your support.
On behalf of APT and CSEA members,
Gabriel Kessler, President of the Association of Piedmont Teachers
Terra Salazar, President of the California School Employees Association Piedmont Chapter 60