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# A definite Super Tuesday for PTA
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/a-definite-super-tuesday-for-pta/
- Published: 2008-02-12T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:12:47.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

*By Rebecca Kennerly Your column here*

ON FEB. 5, OUR LOCAL SUPER TUESDAY ballots included Measure R, a renewal of a funding measure that provided critically needed operating revenue for our schools. This funding pays for lower class sizes, reading, literacy and math programs, science and technology instruction, school librarians, and music and art programs. For the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs, the failure of this measure was unthinkable, and much to our relief, the measure passed with a 72.54 percent “yes” vote, well above the very high 2/3 majority needed to renew this funding for our schools.

What does Measure R mean for the district’s school children? Its passage means that our schools have at least some assurance of financial stability in the continually unstable and inadequate funding environment that is the state budget. It means that voters in our community pledged consistent local support for their local schools. And, finally it means that, in the face of the current state budget and next year’s expected funding reductions, we can, hopefully, stave off the worst of the state’s budget cuts.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs began its efforts for Measure R well before the measure even had a letter R, well before it was a measure. Before I became president of PTA Council. PTA starting thinking about renewing this funding measure the minute we passed the last one. We knew our kids need stable, predictable funding for their education, and we couldn’t rely on that coming from the state of California.

The Measure R campaign was an extraordinary convergence of diverse members of our community. It included teachers, classified employees, business and civic leaders, seniors, elected officials, district employees, and yes, parents. PTA joined with this extraordinary coalition to invest its money, political capital and volunteer efforts into the future of the children of our school community. And it is with no small degree of pride that I tell you that much of the heavy lifting for this measure was done by PTA. PTA leadership at every single school in the district pledged support for, and then worked to pass, Measure R.

Literally hundreds of people contributed to the passage of Measure R, however, my most urgent thank you goes to PTA members across our school community who not only understood the importance of this measure, but gave their time, energy and dollars to ensure its passage. You are the real heroes of the day. Please know how important your contribution was, and rejoice in the knowledge that your efforts truly made the difference in providing a better and more secure learning environment not only for your own children, but for all the children in our district.

I believe this election was about more than renewing vitally needed funding for our schools. It was about community. We have heard a lot of talk these last few months about our communities — our two communities. But I strongly believe that we are one community — one school community. We are a community that strives to understand and serve the needs of all of our families. A community that acknowledges our differences, that fights hard to rectify injustices, that refuses to leave anyone behind and will not rest until everyone’s voice is heard. And the only way we can do that, the only way we can be effective advocates for our children — is to do it together. We know we are stronger together. And we know that if we turn on each other the ultimate losers are our children.

If we can do this for Measure R — if PTA can come together, despite our differences, to help improve learning in all of our classrooms, I know we can do it as a community — a single school community, working together to benefit our kids and all of our futures.

The state of public education hangs in the balance here in California. According to the California Budget Project’s numbers, released this week, the current budget proposes $4.825 billion (yes, BILLION) of cuts to spending covered by Proposition 98 (the Constitutional amendment that guarantees minimum funding for public education). Proposed 2008-09 cuts to K-12 could move and $800/student. And these numbers don’t include the impact of cuts on other programs that directly impact children and families.

Now that we’ve had this great victory and a moment’s rest, it looks like PTA must now turn our attention to joining other school communities across the state to make our voices heard in Sacramento. Thank you.

REBECCA KENNERLY is president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs. She

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 12, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)