Can Constitutional Amendment Save California Schools?
New America Media, News Report, Anuja Sieth, Posted: Mar 20, 2010 
As California public schools faced a flood of pink slips to some 22,000 teachers and other staff last Monday, one legislative plan to fund public education and save those jobs was drawing support from school officials and education advocates.
A constitutional amendment proposed by State Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, would allow school districts to approve a local parcel tax – a special flat tax levied on properties -- with a 55 percent majority rather than the two-thirds majority that is currently required.
“If the state cannot adequately help the local schools, then they have to help themselves,” said Simitian. “This is a tool that will allow local folks to make local choices about the local needs.”
Last year more than 16,000 teachers lost their jobs, and in the last of couple of budget cycles approximately 10,000 classified school employees met the same fate. A one-time federal stimulus fund injection helped save many school jobs, but there won’t be more. And in his current proposed budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans another $2.4 billion cut to public education.
Simitian’s proposal, SCA 6, known as the School District Parcel Taxes act, would allow local school districts to raise revenues by putting a flat parcel tax measure before voters. Such parcel taxes have been approved in some districts to enhance instructional programs, hire additional
