LAUSD says it needs the Measure EE tax. Skeptics say the district has a spending problem

In the past, the promotion of raising taxes for schools was the cracked asphalt playground, the leaking classroom roof and the crowded year --round campuses.
But at STEAM Legacy High School in South Gate, Exhibit A is A well-equipped engineering classroom for teacher Mario Ibarra.
He has 3D printers, laser cutting machines, embroidery machines and other equipment that his students use to make robots, marble
Sorter and hydrogen-powered mini-cars.
These students, 90% from low-
Income families are already stories of success.
President Carla Barrera
Ortiz, the question is, if voters approve the package tax measure EE in a vote on Tuesday, what else can be done.
\"Just like Mario is passionate about how we can do better for our students, how the burden on my shoulders every day is doing better for the life of the community I serve, Barrera-Ortiz said.
\"These students are our community.
\"Measuring EE will charge owners 16 cents a year for every square foot of interior space that does not include a parking lot. For a 1,500-square-
$240 walk home.
The tax will raise about $0. 5 billion a year in 12-12
A year of life, the second of the country-
The biggest school system that costs about $13.
One year 7 billion
The elderly and those receiving disability benefits can apply for tax exemption.
The classrooms equipped with Ibarra are an exception, as a result of the extraordinary wisdom of applying for grants and working with the industry.
Under the current funding structure, students in most regions do not have these resources.
But officials say more people will benefit from better learning conditions if measures EE pass.
They cited the success of the launch of Ibarra and Barrera
The Los Angeles United School District deserves evidence of increased financial support. L. A.
Unified is still overcoming the negative public perceptions of the expensive, poorly managed and unsuccessful iPads of the past --for-
All the hard work and expensive, new student information systems that don\'t handle well.
Critics of the new tax say it\'s too early to trust L. A.
Combined with a fiscal windfall income and thought there would be a lot of money to help students if the area simply improved management.
Two are needed for this tax measure.
Third, voters have approved and overcome a campaign to \"reject EE\", which believesA.
Faced with declining enrollment and warnings from county analysts about deficit spending, uniunified has done too little to cut its budget.
The recently approved teacher contract also criticized expensive commitments, which provided for salary increases, increased nurses and librarians, and slightly reduced the size of the class.
The Chamber of Commerce in the San Fernando Valley claims that the evidence \"strongly suggests that\" LAUSD has a spending problem, not an income problem.
\"It is irresponsible to require smaller class sizes and continue to hire more non-teaching positions with fewer students, and to accept financial supervision from L. A.
County Board of Education, promising to raise and pay additional fees and then ask the owner for more money.
The business group said: \"We all agree that we want to provide a solid, quality education for our children, but the policies, programs and expenditures of LAUSD do not allow us to achieve our goals.
To solve the problem, the Board of Education voted to set up a supervisory committee to review how the money was spent --
Do more in parcel tax than in other regions;
However, critics counter that the committee may be dissolved due to a sudden whim by the board.
Residents are currently paying special taxes for Los Angeles. A.
But this is a different requirement for taxpayers.
The existing charges involve five voters-
Approved school building bondsa total of $20. 6 billion —
Approved as of 1997.
The owner is gradually paying off the arrears;
These taxes hit $123 this year.
There are 22 worth $100,000 per assessment.
District officials say other similar bonds are needed to build, repair and modernize school structures in the future.
The EE measure will supplement the operating funds provided through the state and federal governments.
Its proceeds will go into the region\'s general funds and there is no limit on how to use these dollars.
Critics point out that the proceeds are not necessarily used to hire school staff or improve the classroom environment.
New funding may not even be available for these purposes.
This is because, according to its own analysis, the expenditure of the school system far exceeds its income.
The region also faces the burden of increasing statutory contributions to the underfunded national teacher pension system.
Under labor contracts, the area\'s obligation to pay for the medical benefits of retirees also increases costs.
In one case, the measure of EE income may not be sufficient to maintain the status quo at L. A.
Unify work on other aspects to cut costs and get additional funding from other sources.
More efficient work is underway, officials said, and they are beginning to save money.
There is a lot of demand even in Ibarra\'s class.
On a recent Wednesday, he was overseeing 33 students who assembled the machine in groups to classify the marble according to weight or appearance.
This is a technical and mechanical challenge.
Ibarra has more than 200 students on his roster this semester.
At least he needs a teaching assistant.
In addition, some students are going to college.
Level of work and may therefore receive university credits.
For example, additional funding can help build this relationship by bringing community college teachers into high school to improve and certify the skills of students.
Students can already obtain such certificates in certain technical fields
Skills areas including waterQuality inspection.
In an interview, L. A. schools Supt.
Austin Bitner says he won\'t wait for the Measure EE to roll out more of these efforts.
But he said the whole school system is very much in need of additional resources.
For example, at the 96 th Street Primary School, he recalled the house that went to the third school --
Although he said he liked school, he was not a first-year student for about half the time.
\"His mother is very ill.
Beutner recalled: \"I can\'t afford to stay in bed.
\"This is the only adult in his life.
\"The school has assigned a staff member to manage a series of this disruptive family situation.
Beutner also mentioned a secondary school with about 1,000 students, and the staff counted 125 children with \"some sort of suicidal idea. “Twenty-
At present, 5 people are in hospital for clinical treatment.
\"We have a psychiatric social worker,\" he said . \"
\"It\'s impossible for you to tell me that this is acceptable.
Although the academic performance in the region is generally consistent with the performance of school systems in other cities facing similar challenges --
Including a large number of immigrants, homeless students and low
Family income-
Beutner can easily admit the disadvantages: 68% L. A.
Unified students are less than 58% of the country\'s academic goals in mathematics and English.
\"This is unacceptable,\" he said . \"
\"We have to do better.
We know this and we are working on it.
People like Mario and Kara are working hard.
As for support for measuring EE, Beutner added: \"For those who would say \'we are frustrated, so the answer is No.
What is yours?