With Election Day just a couple days away, The Beat is still getting some questions on what exactly Measure Q is and how it would benefit schools within the Milpitas Unified School District. We recently sat down with MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan to get some answers…
“Measure Q is a new parcel tax. It’s $119 per parcel. It’s focused on well-being and mental health for all of our learners,” said Superintendent Jordan.
During Covid, the district received federal and state funding that was put toward expanding their pool of health clerks and academic counselors at Milpitas High, as well as supporting mental health.
However, now that money has been spent. And now, facing a $2 million deficit, MUSD got prepared to make cuts.
“But we heard from our community and staff that they valued those positions and didn’t want us to do layoffs,” said Jordan.
So MUSD’s Board of Education decided to put a parcel tax on the ballot.
At present, MUSD works hard to get grants and donations flowing into the district. Since 2016, they’ve received approximately $110 million in grants.
Although it takes a lot of time and effort from staff to apply for these grants, MUSD has been steadily doing so, partially out of not wanting to ask the community for additional investment.
“But now we’re at a point where we need to turn to our community and ask them to invest in our learners and schools – and that investment really turns back into investing in the future of our community,” Jordan said.
Currently, there is a parcel tax in Milpitas known as Measure E, which is $84 per year; it expires in 2031.
The current parcel tax provides funding for STEM and supports the district in putting money toward science specialists in the elementary schools. It also funds science, english, language arts, and math at the secondary level. The current tax was approved in 2010 and was renewed in both 2014 and 2022; it cannot be applied to wellbeing, mental health, or athletics. It can only be spent on what was specified for voters on the ballot.
“We wouldn’t be able to support our learners who are still struggling from the impact of Covid. And also now with social media, which creates greater amounts of depression…There are a lot of things happening in our society that have increased the level of sadness, anxiety, and depression. That’s why we think these services are vital,” added Jordan.
The new parcel tax breaks down to an additional $9.97 per month per property, and would bring an additional $2.2 million a year to the district. It would be in effect for a total of eight years.
If Measure Q isn’t passed, the district may need to make cuts to its counselors and health professionals, along with its advanced career prep and computer science programs. Support for struggling students and those with special needs could also be potentially cut.
“The Board and I are very grateful and appreciative of our community in Milpitas because we know how much they value our schools,” Jordan told The Beat. “We look at Measure Q as an investment in our schools and an investment in maintaining the quality of our schools.”