City/Schools meeting, Weds, July 21 5:30 pm

July 16, 2010
Dear Emeryville Neighbors,

I am trying a new format for my messages to you. By using a blog, I can direct you to my messages, but write more often without clogging up your inbox. If you would like to receive notification of new messages on my blog, you may sign up for that.

The Emeryville Center of Community Life, City/Schools Committee, Weds, July 21, 5:30pm, ESS

Next Weds. evening at 5:30 there is a City/Schools Committee meeting at Emery Secondary School in the atrium (enter on 47th near San Pablo Ave.). All City Council members and all School Board members serve on this committee (10 of us altogether) with 2 youth members as well. This is a very important meeting in my mind as the Committee will be recommending whether or not the School Board should place a bond measure on the November 2010 ballot to help fund the Center of Community Life project. I hope that you will be able to attend this meeting, or watch it on Channel 27 afterward (it is not broadcast live).

I believe that this meeting is important to all citizens of Emeryville. Whether you have children who attend the schools or not, you know the success of our schools says a lot about our community. Excellent schools make a place better. Emeryville’s schools are steadily improving. Not only will better schools help the individual students, families, teachers and staff in the short run, but it will help the wider community in the long run: improving quality of life for students and families, reducing crime, producing better employees for jobs and ultimately sustaining a more robust retirement system (if you consider that the next generation will be paying for our retirement). It also affects our property values. I don’t think the people of Emeryville need to be convinced that good schools are good for the community; we already know that.

The bond measure that is being considered would be paid for by the property owners in Emeryville on their property tax bill (approximately 80% of property owners in town are businesses, 20% are residents). The amount paid would depend on the assessed value of the property. The proceeds from the bond would help to pay for a new facility that would be used collaboratively by the school district for a K-12 school (during the weekday) and by the city for a new Rec Center (after school, on weekends and during vacation). It is about efficiency and economy of scale. It is a new model of a full-service school where the school community’s needs are met. There would also be room for other community services that would serve ALL residents of Emeryville, including a community library. This facility would be built on the current site of Emery Secondary School.

You might already know all of this, or this may be news to you, but I think that the information that will be presented on Weds evening at 5:30 is essential to understanding the rationale for building this facility. I think that all residents of Emeryville should be informed about this project because it will affect you. I think that all residents of Emeryville should be included in these decisions, not just by voting at the ballot box, but also by being heard in public forums. I know that there are many stakeholders who would like to know more, would like your voice to be heard, would like to feel that your elected officials are listening to you. Maybe you sent back a postcard from the recent school district mailing with your comments and suggestions. Please come, attend the meeting, get informed and be involved. The agenda can be found at the city website under City Schools Committee.

Sincerely,
Jennifer West
Emeryville City Council Member
emeryvillewest@gmail.com
(510) 420-5795

p.s. There is also a City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 20 beginning at 7:15 pm at City Hall. You are welcome there, too.

p.p.s. Hope you have checked out the Farmer's Market in town! It is open every Thursday from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. next to City Hall, on Haven St.