Tonight the Superintendent sent a memo to the Board listing the effects if Prop. 30 and/or Prop. 38 don’t pass. It’s not good, and includes $10 million in additional forced closure (furlough) days this school year — school would end with a half day on Thursday, May 23 instead of a half-day on Friday, May 27–as well as $6.5 million in additional mid-year cuts. And then there’s 2013-14.
Though many school advocates feel Prop. 38 is better for schools in the long run (here is a more detailed comparison of the two measures as well as a fact sheet), the measure has never polled above 50 percent. Prop. 30 had polled above 50 percent until recently, but because of negative advertising the measure is now supported by less than a majority according to polls. Though I have long advocated a “yes/yes” position on the two measures, with the reasoning that asking voters to choose between the two dooms both to failure, I think now during the stretch it is imperative that education advocates impress on voters who care about our schools that Prop. 30 must pass. In other words, do whatever you want with Prop. 38 (I’m voting yes) but please, whatever you do, vote YES on 30.
- SFUSD Board member (and CA School Boards Association President) Jill Wynns on the importance of supporting Prop. 30 and Prop. 38 (on David Cruz show on Los Angeles station KTLK 10/30/12, scroll to 89:48 minute marker);
- Edsource infographic comparing the two propositions.
Rachel Norton 
