Approve the 2016 1,000 Mentors for Youth Challenge Op-Ed.

The 2016 Davis 1,000 Mentors for Youth Challenge will promote volunteering in support of youth as the community works together to close the opportunity gap and build social capital for all our kids.

The Challenge is a joint initiative between the Davis Joint Unified School District and the City of Davis, partnering with local businesses and community organizations to engage volunteers and help youth access opportunities and develop their potential.

Adults from outside the family circle play a critical role in helping children develop their full potential.  All kids, regardless of background or family income, need opportunities and experiences that help build the character and skills to be successful in life.

Having a mentor increases a young person’s chance of graduating high school and attending college, avoiding risky behaviors, and developing self-confidence and resilience.  Studies show youth with mentors have higher grades, more confidence and self-efficacy, and better school attendance than their non-mentored peers.

The 1,000 Mentors for Youth Challenge builds upon the Davis community’s high-level of volunteerism and commitment to education and youth.  Mentors support kids through after school programs, school and classroom volunteering, peer tutoring, business and workplace internships, recreational and athletic programs, UCD partnerships, and public library and congregational and inter-faith youth programs.

Updated 1/12/15: 

Staff in conjunction with the Parcel Tax Subcommittee recommends proceeding with a June 30 resolution to approve a November 2016 ballot measure. 

Staff in conjunction with the Parcel Tax Subcommittee recommends working with a firm to provide polling and survey services for the November 2016 ballot measure.

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Approve timeline to proceed with a June 30 resolution to approve a November 2016 ballot measure and to receive direction and input on a possible poll or survey.

Receive a staff presentation that provides a general overview of DJUSD's voter approved parcel taxes.

This presentation/discussion will include:

• Parcel tax overview and history
• Funding streams and comparisons
• Programs and Services
• Recommended timeline
• Outreach and awareness
• Next steps

Updated 1/12/15: 

DJUSD’s two parcel taxes (Measures C & E) support a plethora or curricular and co-curricular programs for Davis students.  Both are scheduled to expire June 30, 2017.  While staff and the Parcel Tax Subcommittee recognize that the Board has options as to when to run a renewal for Measures C & E, the following four considerations have led staff and the parcel tax subcommittee to make the following recommendations to the full Board: 

1. The November general election has historically been a favorable time for DJUSD to renew its parcel taxes. Simply put, more voters participate in general elections.

2. It is less expensive for DJUSD to run a ballot measure during the November 2016 general election as opposed to special elections.

3. Successful renewal of the parcel tax in November 2016 allows the DJUSD to maintain a positive budget certification for outgoing years and allows the DJUSD to avoid creating an employee layoff plan also known as a “Particular Kind of Services” or (PKS list).

4. An unsuccessful November 2016 election allows the Board time to conduct a special election, prior to the measures C & E expiring in June 2017.

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Davis was one of the first communities to support its schools through local parcel taxes.  The community voted in favor of its first parcel tax in 1984 and to this day has continued to maintain the local parcel tax as a way of supporting educational excellence in DJUSD schools.

Currently, the DJUSD receives approximately $9.5 million dollars annually (roughly 12% of the annual budget) from local parcel taxes.  These parcel taxes allow the District to provide students a litany of services not fully covered through state funding alone.  

Under the recently adopted Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), DJUSD continues to be an average funded district for California even with the local parcel tax funding; yet, we are wealthy in community volunteerism, and intellectual and local financial support.  Davis parents and community members demonstrate the value of quality education via their long time backing of Parcel Taxes to support excellent schools. 

Davis parcel taxes support:

1. Math & Reading Programs
2. Elementary Science
3. Reduced Class sizes
4. Core Classes (Science, Math, English, Social Sciences)
5. Secondary Foreign Language Programs
6. Music Programs
7. Secondary Advanced Placement Classes
8. Secondary Physical Education Programs
9. Librarians
10. School Counselors, Nurses and Student Support Staff
11. Athletics and Co-curricular Programs
12. Staff Training
13. Improved Nutrition Fresh Farm Produce
14. Classroom Supplies and Educational Equipment
    
    

Updated 1/12/15

The cost of hiring a polling/survey firm is estimated at $10k-$25k.

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There is not a specific cost associated with the discussion of this item tonight.  Future costs include the cost of developing the ballot measure including the cost of outreach and legal services, and the election cost for the ballot measure. The future financial impact of DJUSD parcel taxes is approximately $9.5 million in program funding.