It's All Political
John Hasidic
PACE
Following political races in our nation, state, and community is not unlike following the stock market - watching thousands, millions of dollars change hands in the bat of an eye as candidates use mail and the media to jockey for the “pole position” in November. If money doesn't make the world go around, it sure spins the political universe. Consider the cost to send something as simple as a mailed pamphlet endorsing a candidate in the San Juan Unified School District: there are well over 100,000 homes in our district (one of the state's 10 largest) - at a simplified cost of $.40 postage per pamphlet, that a bill of over $40,000... not even including the cost of printing up the pamphlets in the first place! The costs of mass-mailing pamphlets state- or even nation-wide boggle the mind.
That is why fundraising is such an absolutely necessity, especially for local candidates such as School Board members. The San Juan School Board pays its members only $750/month, therefore candidates often find themselves sinking a great deal of their own money, their family's money, their friends' and colleagues' money into these elections. This is often not enough, meaning that candidates must also solicit professional organizations, trade unions, and even other politicians for a cash endorsement in order to fund their race. By building a coalition of donors and sponsors candidates also show their constituents a great deal about their platform, values, and character. A candidate who brings in a lot of union support most likely is pro-labor; a candidate who garners support from cultural organizations displays a deep respect and value for diversity. Traditionally, candidates for the San Juan School Board have found support from dozens of organizations - including the most important one of all: the organization that represents you.
SJTA PACE (Political Action Committee for Education) has been steadily building capacity through the volunteer donations of its members - from whose paychecks no more than $9.90/month deducted automatically on a monthly basis (any more than $100/year from any given member requires a great deal of paper work, making the surplus donation more often more trouble than it's worth - that's why we cap deductions at $9.90/month - $99/year). SJTA must raise any money it wishes to use to endorse School Board (and only School Board) candidates separately from its dues; it is against the law for any dues-collecting organization to use those monies in a political race. Candidates who want SJTA's support meet with SJTA PACE in May for intensive interviews and discussions, after which the PACE committee brings its recommendations to SJTA's Rep Council and Executive Board. After that point, your SJTA reps vote on whether or not SJTA should endorse the recommended candidates - making this a completely democratic and transparent process.
SJTA is well cognizant of how the world of politics functions - and we are not looking to elect a “yes-man” candidate who will hold our views and only our views to heart when making Board decisions. As thousands of employees make up SJTA - we represent many different views. We do, however, want to back open minded candidates on a non-partisan level who are level-headed and willing to listen to different points of view before making a clear, rational decision that will benefit the kids we teach first and foremost.
Our sights are already firmly set upon the 2012 election when two of our current Board members - Richard Launey and Larry Miles - are likely to step down and not run. This is significant because in 2012 we will have an opportunity to find, run, and win more candidates who value teachers' voice and reasonable discourse and open communication between all shareholders in San Juan's educational legacy. This, however, will be expensive.
This is where you - the as of yet uncommitted SJTA PACE member - comes in. As of now, roughly 1 in 10 SJTA members are enrolled in SJTA PACE. That is tremendous and has allowed SJTA to rapidly acquire significant funds to sponsor School Board candidates, but it is not enough. There are candidates who have tremendous private reserves to call upon, in some cases well over $100,000. If these candidates win our support, fantastic! - but if they don't, in fact if they are flat out hostile to SJTA we will have a vital imperative to defeat them in 2012. This is also important because, as you well know, our economy is not going to be improving any time in the near future - most realistic estimates place 2015 as the year when our state finally climbs out of its current hole. Therefore having a School Board that is staffed with reasonable, open, transparent and rational members is crucial now more so than ever before.
Our aim is to enroll at least one-third of our members in PACE by 2012. That would provide SJTA with a powerhouse of funds to aid those candidates we support in running for - and winning - the 2012 election. This cannot happen without your support. Times are tough right now and money is tight - but if we face a School Board who doesn't embrace the kind of relationship SJTA seeks, things can get much, much worse. Presently, SJTA has not even had to broach the possibility of pay freezes, pay cuts, or furlough days unlike our neighboring districts in Elk Grove and Sac City. Our layoffs have been very light when compared to the rest of the districts around the state. If a hostile Board is elected, all of that can - and most likely will change in a hurry.
If you cannot afford a donation of $9.90/month then please consider $5.00 - every bit helps, and every cent you invest in SJTA PACE is an investment in maintaining the well being of our district, the education it offers, and its teachers.