Election Guest Op-Ed: Teachers Say Vote for Measure A

As long-time teachers in Ross Valley schools, we have experienced first-hand how overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating facilities impact teaching and programs. Measure A is the right solution to these problems and will make it possible for teachers to maintain the high quality of education we've worked so hard to achieve here in Ross Valley.

Two-thirds of the classrooms at White Hill, our only middle school, are deteriorating portables. These portables are so crowded that teachers have to squeeze between desks to reach students and there is no room for small group learning activities. Windows are left open, even in cold weather, to keep mold spores from affecting teacher and student health. White Hill's very popular band teacher runs his program in a moldy, leaky portable that he has painted and patched up on his own time. We need to pass Measure A and replace these portables with permanent classrooms and create facilities that reflect our dedication to academic excellence.

At our elementary schools, music and PE teachers juggle schedules and rooms to in order to teach all their classes. Several Brookside Upper music classes are taught on the multi-purpose room stage, displacing PE classes on rainy days and forcing teachers to hold gym in the multi-purpose room lobby!

Teachers care about students and programs. Teaching in overcrowded, deteriorating portables is discouraging and difficult. And adding more kids to classrooms doesn't work for teachers or students. Losing dedicated art and music spaces to classroom use makes it very hard for teachers to do their jobs. No one wants to go back to art and music "on a cart." No one wants to have 40 students in a class.

Measure A provides the funding to fix these problems! With new facilities, teachers will be able to maintain the academic excellence and diverse education that your children deserve. We hope you will join us in supporting Measure A.

Vote YES on A this Tuesday, Nov. 2!

Jan Bishop, Brookside Elementary School

Mitch Brown, Manor Elementary School

Tina Clinton, Wade Thomas Elementary School

Yvonne Nolan, White Hill Middle School, Ross Valley Teachers' Association Co- President