School board mulls Proposition 82

GLENDALE ? School board members are considering throwing their weight behind Proposition 82, a controversial statewide universal preschool measure that would tax high-wage earners to provide preschool for every 4-year-old in the state starting in 2010.

The discussion during Tuesday’s meeting followed trustee Greg Krikorian’s visit to Sacramento Saturday and Sunday, where he and representatives from 1,000 school districts discussed the initiative.

The California School Board Assn. decided to remain neutral on the measure, which film director Rob Reiner supports.

The initiative would spend about $6,000 annually per 4-year-old. Krikorian, who opposes the measure, was concerned about school districts shouldering the costs of more students. “It will create a whole other grade level in school districts,” Krikorian said. “Is that money spent wisely when we have so many other needs?

“After hearing all the arguments ? there is no doubt in my mind that preschool would help children’s education,” Krikorian said. “There is nothing more I would like to see than preschool for all children, but we have a challenge for all of our grades in K to 12.”

The district is struggling with reduced funding due to declining enrollment and is still trying to restore programs that were eliminated or lost during the state’s recent budget crisis, Krikorian said.

Board President Chuck Sambar, who is uncommitted on the issue, said many boards are taking a stance against it.

The La Ca”ada Unified School District board unanimously adopted a resolution against Proposition 82 on May 9.

“I’d like to hear some more about, it but I have a feeling we will have a split [board] on this,” Sambar said. “What this creates is another mandatory program from the state and that can be a problem because we are fighting against the state mandating this and that on us. So we are caught in a quandary.”

Preschool is certainly beneficial, however, for many children, Sambar said. “It has a great deal of meaning and value,” he said. “It is necessary and beneficial. But on the other hand, it guarantees a program and mandates it, and the question is at what expense and at whose expense?”

Krikorian also has concerns about the fairness of mandating high-income-bracket taxpayers fund preschool for all.

“There has to be an across-the-board vision with this,” he said. The measure’s advocates point to studies that show that children who attend preschool read earlier and learn faster, and they tout that 99.4% of the state’s taxpayers would not feel the proposition’s cost.

If passed, credentialed teachers would be placed in every preschool classroom and there would be strict oversight and accountability over the program, according to proponents.