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Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Receives Community Survey Results: Quality of Education and Proposed New Taxes
Tonight (June 13, 2023), the elected board of trustees of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) receives and discusses survey results that are important for the future vision of the school district. The survey asked residents how they regarded their school district and compared those findings over a 20 year period of survey results. Residents were also asked if they would vote for a bond measure allowing the district to borrow money to build district-owned housing for teachers and staff. And residents were asked if they would support a parcel tax to fund an increase in teacher compensation.
See the survey results here: Survey of Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Voters - May 2023.
Results showed a clear improvement in recent years in how residents assess their local school district, although regrettably many residents still regard it as mediocre. And residents were somewhat supportive of a bond measure for workforce housing or a parcel tax for teacher compensation. However, some opposition arguments - when presented - were effective in changing support to opposition. Survey analysts concluded that "reminding voters that the measure includes strict accountability features" would be key to building confidence that the district would manage the funds appropriately. (Note: your Chamber’s Government Affairs Liaison is serving in his fourth year as chair of the MPUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and can vouch for the district’s responsible management of the now-completed Measure P construction program and the current Measure I construction program.)
What was obvious is that residents overwhelmingly want the district to focus on the basics: "strong core academic programs in science, technology, engineering, math, reading, and writing." Your Chamber suspects this comment made in a recent City of Monterey Community Survey may reflect what a significant portion of local residents think about the school district.
If you have a perspective for the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee about the proposed MPUSD workforce housing bond or parcel tax or quality of academics, please contact President and CEO Monica Lal at Monica@montereychamber.com or at (831) 277-2279.
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