MEETING OF AUGUST 15, 2002
By: Steve Yarbrough
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberShoup Park was shining on this beautiful August Rotary meeting day and President Mary had a full house when she opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance. Songmaster John Sylvester led the group in Smile and Dan O'Donnell treated everyone to some humorous thoughts on aging gracefully.
Past President Ginny Lear introduced visiting Rotarian Judy Johnson from the Palo Alto club whose classification is Antiques. Ginny also welcomed the Rotarians with guests.
President Mary announced that the Areas of Service BBQ will be held September 26, 2002, in Hayward. She said that Mel Kahn is forming a car pool to the event.
Boo Bue and Joe Renati are sharing Rotary Foundation duties this year and will be traveling to Hayward on Foundation business on behalf of our club.
NEXT WEEK: Rotary Handbook Updates!
The proofs will be going around for everyone to update their profiles in the handbook. President Mary wants new and current data on hobbies and activities and specialties. Those who need photos should contact Clyde Noel during the meeting.Joan Rosselle announced that Marion Tavenner and Karen Fox hosted the Alpha Omega dinner. Joan needs volunteers to provide the dinner for Sept 14, 2002. Can you help her?
Mel Kahn announced that September 12, 2002 will be BILLY RUSSELL DAY! Billy has been a member of the club for 52 years. Plan to bring guests to honor Billy and sign them up for lunch that day.
Steve Shepherd was looking for volunteers to help CHAC with the Mountain View Art and Wine Festival parking on September 7 and 8. 50 volunteers are needed. If you can help, contact Steve or Wyatt Allen at Bank of Los Altos.
DISTRICT NEWS: Ginny Lear is attending the cabinet meetings and reports that the Foundation tickets are getting ready. The prize this year will be a trip to either Belize or Australia for the RI convention.
LOU BECKER presented his 5-minute talk. Lou is a retired engineer whose 43 year career focused on construction and design of large telescopes and similar devices. He has traveled the world doing this work and operated his own business for 25 years. Originally from the mid-west, Lou attended Iowa University and worked in Pittsburgh, PA prior to moving to the West Coast. One look at the clear skies of the Bay Area and Lou and his wife decided to stay forever. He loves to travel, golf and fish. He volunteers in the Keep Los Altos Schools Strong campaign and works with a mission in Alaska for children. Welcome Lou, we all enjoyed meeting you.
Finemaster Mary nipped Walt Scholey, Will Corkern and Karen Fox, who got matching grants from 7-8 other Iowa supporters.
THINK ABOUT THIS: President Mary asked everyone in the club to consider the following: What does it mean to be a good candidate for membership in our club? What should the criteria be? Please email her or Membership Committee Chair Steve Yarbrough with your comments.
PROGRAM:
John Sines presented speaker Michael W. Kirst, professor of Education and Business at Stanford University since 1969. A Harvard doctorate and former holder of several top level government positions, Dr. Krist spoke on the topic of school financing.
(John mentioned that Dick Hasenpflug is the "father" of the Los Altos schools parcel tax which was recently defeated, but will again be on the ballot.)
Dr. Kirst discussed new directions for financing of K-12 schools. He noted that in the
pre-1970s, school districts relied on ad valorem property taxes, with the state contributing approximately 30-40 percent of the districts' revenue. Funding was controlled locally via school board actions.
In 1972 the state experienced a decline in enrollment and President Reagan imposed a per-pupil revenue limit. Also in 1972, the Supreme Court of California declared unconstitutional the financing of schools using the property tax. Then in 1978, the Jarvis/Gann initiative known as Prop. 13, was approved by the voters. Prop. 13 amended the California Constitution to limit property taxes to 1 percent of the assessed value and limited increases to 3 percent per year. This still governs today.
The result of all these changes has been a dramatic and difficult shift from locally controlled school financing to state centralized control over school financing. Now 85 percent of the local school district budget is controlled by the state through a heavy layer of state regulation.
Dr. Kirst notes that this arrangement ties the school districts to the boom and bust cycle of the state economy. The outlook is grim. California now ranks 28-30 in per pupil spending. Largest class sizes in the country. Largest number of pupils for the infrastructure.
Local options are three:
1. Fund local schools through private foundations.
2. Parcel taxes, which require a 2/3 vote.
3. Developer fees on new construction.Dr. Krist says there is no long-term strategy in this state for financing of schools.
He says the options for this state to building in local school financing are four:
1. Lower the threshold for approval of the parcel tax from 2/3 to 55% majority.
2. Levy a county sales tax by 2/3 vote (or lower it to 55%).
3. Surcharge state income tax.
4. Amend Prop. 13 to allow ad valorem tax. (unlikely).Dr. Kirst concluded that we have an "equalized" educational system, where all districts receive approximately the same per capita support, but the system is inadequate to provide the education and support our children deserve.
Programs and Events
August
August 22 - Carl Guardino: President & CEO of Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, "Silicon Valley: State of the Valley and the Economy"
August 29 - Joyce Friedrichs: Education Director for Biz World, "Teaching Business & Entrepreneurship To Kids"
September
September 5 - Rotary District Governor Brad Howard
September 12 - Billy Russell Day Picnic
September 19 - Judy Johnson: "Unexpected Treasures" Antiques & CollectiblesSeptember 26 - Humberto Mayorga: Rotary District 5170 GSE Scholar
"Information in this newsletter is intended for the exclusive use of the members of the Rotary Club of Los Altos to facilitate the work of the club and to promote club fellowship. It is not to be used for any commercial or outside, unrelated, non-profit purposes. No publication of material in this newsletter should occur without the express permission of the club President or the Editor of the Rotator."Copyright 2002 The Los Altos Rotary Club
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