Placer County will vote on school-related ballot items including the RJUHSD school board, Proposition 55 and Measure D tomorrow.

Three items on tomorrow’s ballot may have a direct impact on Roseville High School and its students.

Voters will determine who will fill three seats on Roseville Joint Union School District’s Board of Trustees. Two incumbents are up for reelection, but there will be at least one new board member due to Jan Pinney’s retirement after 21 years on the board.

Proposition 55 will continue the expiring personal income tax increases enacted in 2012 on earnings over $250,000, with allocations to California schools.

Finally, Measure D, which has been covered in detail in the past two editions of Eye of the Tiger, would bring $96 million to the district and at least $13 million to improve facilities at RHS.

Board

Current RJUHSD trustees Scott Huber and Linda Park will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees until their terms expire in 2018.

The five candidates in the running to join them are Julie Hirota, Gary Johnson, Andrew Tagg, incumbent Rene Aguilera and incumbent Paige Stauss.

Those elected will serve four years on the Board of Trustees.

Park is hoping to work alongside elected candidates who care about students’ best interests.

“It’s really important that the person that we bring into this office is there for the right reasons,” Park said. “I’d like to see a board member who’s responsible for what goes on in the community.”

She said she would like to work alongside someone who thinks long-term.

“[I’d like] someone who has the best interest of the future of the school district at heart,” Park said.

Proposition 55

If passed, Proposition 55 would provide a 12 year extension of the temporary income tax from Proposition 30 in 2012. Two thirds of the tax revenue raised have been allocated to California K-12 schools and community colleges in past years.

Proponents for the proposition point out that it does not raise taxes on anyone. In future years, its revenue will be geared toward things such as helping California’s teacher shortage, helping restore arts programs and preventing cuts to community college funds.

Those opposed claim that the extension is not needed to fund education. They caution that the original 2012 proposition was meant to be a temporary tax and argue it is no longer necessary.

Measure D

If passed, homeowners in district boundaries would pay $15 per $100,000 of their home’s property value annually. The accumulated revenue of approximately $96 million would be allocated to RJUHSD.  

According to Roseville High School principal David Byrd, the $13 million allocated to RHS will go toward a new gym, an upgraded girls locker room, a refurbished pool deck among other campus renovations.

“We have some older facilities and we think our community demands and expects to have really nice school facilities,” RJUHSD superintendent Ron Severson said. “The reason people move here is because of the high quality schools.”

Of the remaining funds, $30 million will be allocated to the construction of a sixth high school in west Roseville.

According to the Placer County sample ballot argument against Measure D, some are concerned that the tax increase will be “difficult for some residents to afford.” It argues that those opposed “would also prefer to see the old bonds fully paid off before the district incurs new debt.”

Board Candidates

Rene Aguilera 

Age: 55

Occupation: Incumbent
Relevant Experience: 2012-present RJUHSD trustee, 2002-2012 Roseville City School District trustee, Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference founder
Platform: Supporter of school, district pride

Julie Hirota  

Age: 45

Occupation: CA CareForce executive director, district parent
Relevant Experience: 2010-16 Blue Line Arts CEO, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society deputy director
Platform: Student-oriented

Andrew Tagg 

Age: 50

Occupation: Community banker, district parent
Relevant experience: 2013-15 Silverado Middle School Site Council, 2010-2013 Quail Glen Site Council, 2015-present Roseville Library Board member
Platform: Fresh eyes, new perspective

Gary Johnson

Age: 65

Occupation: Retired peace officer
Relevant experience: Old Adobe School Board, Placer Hills School Board, Placer Hills Fire Protection Board, Site Council member
Platform: N/A

Paige Stauss

Age: 60

Occupation: Incumbent
Relevant experience: 2004-present RJUHSD trustee and president, facilities, finance, continuous improvement leadership team comittee member
Platform: Rigorous education, maintaining fiscal responsibility