By Bill Baker, J.D.
Editor and Publisher, The San Bruno Beacon
The San Bruno Park School District (SBPSD) Board of Trustees was going to put a parcel tax measure on the November 2008 election ballot. However, knowing that they had a snowball's chance in Hell of passing a parcel tax, during a high turnout Presidential Election year, the San Bruno Park School District (SBPSD) Board of Trustees decided to fold up their tents and try their luck in a low turnout March 2009 election. This laughable move on their part shows that this Board is dysfunctional, has no credibility, and a weak almost nonexistent case for a parcel tax.
This parcel tax, that the SBPSD Board is too dysfunctional and afraid to put on the November Ballot, is nothing more than an attempt by them and their Superintendent to pay for their collective mismanagement of SBPSD funds and assets.
The SBPSD Board of Trustees is trying to sneak this ridiculous, burdensome tax past San Bruno's voters in a low turnout March election.
Instead of spending their time scheming to find new ways to bleed more money out of San Bruno's residents, the SBPSD Board of Trustees and Superintendent should be spending all of their time using the large amounts of taxpayer money, that they already have, to provide our children with a focused, quality education.
In a June 12th Daily Journal article, SBPSD Board Member Russ Hanley stated that he suggested the March tax election date, that was approved by the Board, so that the SBPSD Board could "rally" parents and SBPSD staff. In other words, the SBPSD Board plans to use SBPSD public schools as campaign central for their tax campaign.
Before Mr. Hanley and his Board colleagues start using SBPSD school property, staff, and/or taxpayer money to promote their tax campaign, I would strongly suggest that they consult with their attorney.
Undoubtedly, the campaign for this tax scheme will result in disrupting the educations of the children who attend the SBPSD as these children are dragged into the tax campaign. The children whom the SBPSD is supposed to be educating will have a harder time focusing on their school work as this tax campaign drags on consuming the time and resources of the SBPSD. To add insult to injury, the mismanagement of school funds and assets will continue even as this Board and Superintendent attempt to bleed more money out of San Bruno's residents.
Poor planning and mismanagement of SBPSD funds and assets, by the SBPSD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Hutt, have created the mountain of problems that the SBPSD is dealing with today. These people are not going to suddenly change, get smarter, or receive some divine inspiration or revelation that will make them better at their job; they are going to keep making the same mistakes over, and over, and over again. No matter how much money you give these people, things will never get better as long as they control the SBPSD. 