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# Without Measure R students will suffer
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/without-measure-r-students-will-suffer/
- Published: 2008-01-15T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T17:58:20.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By REBECCA KENNERLY, president, Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs, DR. MIKE GRUNING, past chair, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, and HARRY KEILEY, president, Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association For more information about Measure R, or to get involved in the campaign, visit www.YesOnRforOurSchools.org.*

MEASURE R IS ON THE FEB. 5 presidential primary ballot. Your “Yes” vote will help to preserve rigorous academic programs and great teachers, the keys to a great education for local students. If Measure R does not pass, local schools will face serious budget cuts that will impact academic programs, and we could lose some of our best teachers.

With the state proposing cuts of as much as $1.4 billion from K-12 education, local Santa Monica schools require a reliable source of funding to ensure that our children continue to receive an excellent education in their neighborhood schools. The state budget simply can’t provide enough funding for high-quality local schools.

That is why Measure R is so important for Santa Monica residents — it protects our local schools and ensures our students will continue to receive an excellent education.

Measure R continues local funding that has already been approved by voters. This funding is critical for keeping class sizes small in kindergarten through third grade, retaining great teachers and high quality academic programs such as literacy instruction, mathematics, science and technology instruction, elementary school libraries, arts, music and much more.

Great teachers are essential for excellent education — and Measure R helps ensure they remain in our schools. Measure R also supports small class sizes that allow teachers to give additional help to those students who need it, and challenge others who excel in subjects such as reading and math.

If Measure R does not pass with 66.7 percent voter approval, our schools will lose this critical funding and the programs it supports. No other source of funding exists to prevent severe cuts in education programs if Measure R fails.

Measure R does not increase tax rates. It simply continues existing funding measures previously approved by local voters. The measure includes strict taxpayer accountability provisions to ensure that funds are spent wisely and as promised. Annual audits are reviewed by an independent citizens’ oversight committee to track every penny of Measure R spending, and will be reported annually to taxpayers. No Measure R funds can be taken by the state or used for a d m i n i s t r a t o r salaries. An exemption is available for senior citizen homeowners, age 65 and older. A growing list of community organizations, the Santa Monica Police O f f i c e r s Association, senior citizens, business groups, parents, teachers, homeowners, renters and many other community leaders have joined together with us to support Measure R.

Our community expects great schools for our kids. Great schools are part of what makes Santa Monica a great place in which to live, helps protect property values, and keeps our community safe. Vote to protect our schools.

Please join us on Feb. 5 and vote Yes on R.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 15, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/011508.pdf?ref=smdp.com)