If You Want Your Taxes to Stay Local, Vote on Measure I
Willits public schools are in desperate need of maintenance and repairs. Every single school in the Willits Unified School District leaks when it rains, and that’s just the beginning. The longer we defer maintenance, the more expensive repairs will become.
The question is how do we, as a community, raise funds to pay for those repairs? In the upcoming election, there is a statewide proposition and a local ballot measure that address school funding. California Proposition 15 would only guarantee an additional $15,000 per year for Willits schools (or $180,000 over 12 years). Measure I would allow Willits schools to raise $17 million over 12 years.
If Prop. 15 passes, California schools will get 40 percent of the revenue. Of that, community colleges will receive 11 percent. The remaining funds would be divvied up among K-12 schools statewide. Prop. 15 isn’t polling very well, so depending on it to fund local school repairs is a big risk, but even if it does pass, it only guarantees $100 per student per year, not nearly enough to pay for the upkeep required for Willits schools. It’s possible that more revenue could come our way, but there’s no guarantee.
On the other hand, if Measure I passes, 100 percent of revenue would remain local and go toward repairing and maintaining Willits public schools, including charter schools. Because the general obligation bond will be issued in four or more stages, the school board can reduce the burden on taxpayers should economic conditions change or other funding, such as Proposition 15, become available.
As a reminder, Measure I would cost property owners a maximum of $40 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value) per year. Assessed value is determined by the Mendocino County Assessor and is listed on your property tax bill. If, for example, your house is assessed at $250,000, your overall annual bill would be $100 (that’s about $8 per month).
With these funds, public schools in Willits would have the funds to responsibly fix what is broken and keep school facilities in good repair. Willits Unified projects include replacing broken furniture at schools districtwide, repairing the roof at Blosser Lane Elementary, purchasing portable classrooms at Brookside Elementary and cafeteria tables at Baechtel Grove Middle School, paving parking lots at Willits High and the District Office, updating science classrooms at Baechtel Grove and Willits High, and similar projects.
Proposition 15 is a whole different deal. I’m not recommending a vote for or against Prop. 15; that’s a personal decision. I’m just letting you know that Prop. 15 is unlikely to provide the funds needed to maintain local schools. Please realize that a vote in favor of Proposition 15 does replace the need for Measure I. With Measure I, you will be able to see your tax dollars at work here in Willits.
In the last election, 162 people skipped over the school bond—leaving it blank rather than voting yes or no—presumably because they didn’t feel they knew enough to make a good decision. My goal here is to provide information so voters feel comfortable taking a position one way or another. Please don’t leave it blank. If you need more information, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. You can reach me at the district office at 707-459-5314.
Congratulations to the following certified staff, you have attained permanent status with WUSD! We greatly appreciate your dedication to the students and district.
Lucas Brown, District School Psychologist
Melissa Coughlin, Teacher at Brookside
Katrina Hall, Teacher at High School
Trisa Hall, Teacher at Brookside
Patrick Keough, Teacher at BGMS
Kirsten Myers, Teacher at Brookside Speech and Language
All of Brooktrails has been reopened with the exception of third gate.
Due to fire conditions WUSD schools will be closed on Tuesday Sept. 8th.
Great communication on Class Dojo! Let’s keep it up!
Hello Brookside Families! Do you need help setting up your devices or have questions about your student's apps? We are here to help you with your tech needs. Please contact our Brookside office at 707-459-5385. We are happy to help!
First day of school 2020.
Wi-Fi Bus locations and times.
Hi Brookside Families,
August 21, was supposed to be a school picnic on the field, but obviously we won’t be having it. I’m sorry for the cancellation of this event.
You should all be getting a call from our office and a call or letter from your child’s teacher soon. It has been fun speaking with families! Everyone is sounding positive and upbeat for the kids- and that’s fabulous! Together we can make a great year for our students!
If you have questions feel free to email me at kathleencrossman@willitsunified.com.
Thank you!
❤️
HOTSPOT at home
For people who have cell service this is how you make your iphone a hotspot so your chromebook can connect to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NToTQfrdNHg
This is how you turn your Android phone into a hotspot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Y1HS4j8SU
This would work for people who have good phone service but don't pay for home internet service. This is how you can check to see if a hotspot will work in your location. The hotspot is simply just like the phone for access to the internet.
Brookside teacher getting the room ready to go.
WUSD will have 4 buses parked around the district for student wi-fi access during distance learning. The district will also have additional vehicles able to do this and they will be moved to accommodate students needs.
All WUSD schools will open on August 31, 2020 with a Distance Learning program. This plan is based upon the Governor’s order for school districts within counties placed on the state Watch List. Even though our county is not currently on the Watch List (as of August 4, 2020), Dr. Doohan has advised that our county data meets the criteria and is therefore recommending that all schools in Mendocino County open with a Distance Learning model.
The state has defined the requirements for schools in order to provide high quality learning for all students. Our instructional program will be very different than it was in the spring, when we were mandated to close with little to no planning time. Teachers and staff have been working throughout the summer to develop methods and curriculum that will be effective and engaging. All students will be scheduled to be online daily at specific times to receive instruction from their teachers and to participate in activities where they will interact with their peers. Independent activities will also be part of the instructional program and will take place during specified time periods. Teachers will create a daily schedule for their classes that will outline the specific times and activities that students must complete. You will receive information regarding the specific schedules within the next couple of weeks.
The district is committed to helping our families and will be reaching out with phone calls beginning August 17th. We appreciate your support as we continue to fine-tune all of the many details involved in our instructional delivery method. I have every confidence that with the help of our parents, our staff can provide an excellent program that addresses your students’ needs.
For households unable to receive Internet we are looking at the possibility of opening school campuses on a limited basis, we also purchased equipment to have Wi-Fi on our school buses that will be placed around the community for internet access, as well as working with our local businesses to open up Wi-Fi to the public. WUSD will also provide devices such as chrome books, iPads, and headphones for all students who need them. In most cases grades 3-12, your child should have their own device.
We truly miss you and look forward to the days when we can reopen schools, please stay tuned for more detailed information in the near future. Thank you all for being a part of Willits Unified School District.
Mark Westerburg
At the July 17th WUSD School Board Meeting, two important decisions were made. First, we will start school on Monday August 31st. Secondly, the WUSD schools will begin the year in a remote (distance) learning environment.
It is the goal of the staff to provide a much improved educational experience for students. In grades TK-2 we will focus on packets for students that go with our curriculum and will allow parents to follow the process. In grades 3-5 we will be using workbooks and technology provided by WUSD to enhance the work. Baechtel Grove Middle School will be using a schedule that provides four periods of core instruction, one of PE and an elective period. They will have live online instruction every single day from the district adopted curriculum. We are also providing parent support for technological and other questions and concerns, as well as informational training. You will be able to call the school directly and get a response from designated staff. We all believe that you need to be adequate and meaningful partners in this work. At the High School students will have a three period schedule where the courses last six weeks. Each school will be providing parents and students with many details and procedures in late August before we start.
We will transition to on site classroom instruction as soon as the health guidelines allow us to do so. If we want our children back at school, as a community we need to continue to follow health guidelines, to not get on the county watch list with the state. The district is working with other local governmental agencies to provide more free internet access, as well as exploring opening up our school libraries to download assignments.
The CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Sports have been shifted to two seasons with one beginning in mid December and the second season starting in mid March. The majority of sports will be offered, just compacted into two seasons.
Their online instruction will look very different this year, as teachers increase their knowledge of virtual instruction. We will be in communication with families as the situation changes. Please stay patient as we transition to this changing environment.
The WUSD School Board is meeting tomorrow night to do some needed business and discuss the reopening options for the fall. There will not be a decision made, it is to soon to know what it will look like on Aug. 31st. When we do consider opening in the fall it will be in a more Covid prepared schedule or remotely. Our goal is to allow parents choice of doing independent study or back in classroom instruction if the conditions allows it. I use the restaurant mentality, if we can’t be in the inside of the restaurant, we can’t be in the classrooms. If the rules are some percentage capacity in the restaurant with masks we will try and provide that option in classrooms.
In mid-August our goal will be to call each family and ask parents to choose an option of in class or independent study and we will make the staffing adjustments needed. Beyond staffing we will need to make building specific plans for situations that may occur. Our goal is to provide the safest environment we can and give parents options. If we had to start tomorrow our data is trending the wrong way and the guidelines are locking down more not less, so we would be on home instruction.
If you would like to give the board information please use my email address to do so. ( markwesterburg@willitsunified.com ) If you would like to participate in the zoom board meeting this is the address https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9782489039?pwd=V0U2cUtHZUMzQk5xR3d5Vy9wT1JkZz09 There is also a chat box to ask questions or use your time during the public comments section.
The WUSD staff is working hard this summer to get ready for this new situation that provides the safest and best academic environment we can financially afford to do.
Hello Brookside families! Tomorrow, Friday May 29th is our last homework drop off opportunity for Brookside students. Please return all work, whether complete or not. The drop off times are 8:30-12:30 pm and 4:30-6:30 pm. We look forward to seeing all of your hard work!!
Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school will get extra food benefits. These food benefits are called Pandemic EBT or P-EBT benefits. P-EBT benefits help families in California buy food when schools are closed because of the coronavirus emergency.
Families will get up to $365 per eligible child on their P-EBT card to use on food and groceries.
Families with children who get CalFresh, Medi-Cal or Foster Care benefits do not need to apply. Most will get their P-EBT card in the mail during the month of May. P-EBT cards will begin arriving around May 12, 2020.
Thank you to volunteers, Cooley Construction, Olenik Fencing, and our grant sponsor Keurig & Dr. Pepper for the new playground at Brookside. This KaBoom Grant allowed us to put an additional site for our kids.
New Shelter in Place Guidelines for Stage 2, now in place.
