In the 2025 special election held May 5, the AUHSD community failed to pass Measure T. It received 63.57% “yes” votes but needed a 66.67% majority; in other words around 786 more votes were needed to pass the measure. Measure T would require property owners under the age of 65 to pay $130 in annual parcel tax to support public schools. This money helps the AUHSD school district retain qualified teachers, advanced academic programs, and smaller class sizes – all of which are conducive to a better learning environment.
As a result of the “no” vote, the district is short of $4.5 million in local funding, and budget cuts have been made that directly affect our schools. Yes, our community already pays $301 of parcel tax annually to support schools. However, an affluent community asking for $130 more annually isn’t excessive in the context of our public education’s quality. Also, the tax wouldn’t apply to senior citizens and renters.
It seems the outcome wasn’t a result of a lack of want, though, but rather a lack of full awareness. Librarian and math teacher Jennifer Frugaletti said, “…not enough people went out to vote.” In fact, the county reported voter turnout of just 29 percent. Frugaletti thinks this could be because Measure T was included in the special election and in the past similar measures have been included in the general election. Frugaletti also attributed Measure T’s failure to pass due to an unsuccessful “campaigning” strategy. “People weren’t aware of the doomsday list.”
Large senior citizen populations in Walnut Creek (specifically in Rossmoor) did not receive information in the most effective way. For instance, senior citizens could have still voted “yes” on Measure T while exempting themselves from paying the tax due to their age. An overall lack of awareness and a lack of knowledge about the implications of the measure could have contributed to the concerning funding dilemma our district finds itself in.
As Frugaletti explained, “Even though we may not lose teachers, you will probably notice all of your classes are a lot bigger this year. Things that need to be repaired, like, if you notice, there’s not nearly enough outlets in your classrooms, get put off. And buying extra copies of books, or extra copies of anything gets difficult.”
While Measure T’s failure has received a varying public response, Campo’s staff continues to fight for students’ educational resources and opportunities. Although budgeting is always a complicated process, less funding adds further complexity. Vice Principal James Lathrop wants students and families to know “We’re going to do everything to make sure that students have access to learning. That’s a safe classroom space, good qualified teachers, books, devices…wellness support, and counseling support.”
“Now we have to drill down and think about what we really want to provide to students because all of those things are really important,” Lathrop added. He doesn’t know exactly what the future landscape of resources will look like at Campo but he feels confident in those working at the district level to think critically and creatively about how to best support students.
Senior Maneli Malboubi is an impassioned proponent of prioritizing public education and, with that, ballot measures to increase school funding. She explains, “If public education isn’t free then kids are less likely to get educated and then it [becomes] a cycle of uneducated people, uneducated students, uneducated adults. With that, I think that democracy will fall.”
Amid attacks on the department of education and the growing popularity of charter and private schools throughout the nation, public education is in the midst of significant setbacks. Going forward, it is crucial for students to continue their investment in and appreciation of public education – not because it’s perfect, but because it represents something greater. While policy measures ultimately rest in the hands of adult voters, students have the power to advocate, raise awareness, and protest for their future. Collaborating and reaching out to members of our community who may be removed from the immediate reality of local schooling is vital in creating change.
