Kathy Young says her kids got good grades when they were going to school in the Rio Linda elementary district. But that changed after elementary school.
"When the kids go into the high school district they don’t seem to have had as good of results."
Young says she’s voting “yes” on Measure B.
"I’m hoping that by passing the measure that we will get a little better results for our high school kids."
If Measure B passes, the Grant Joint Union High School District would merge with three elementary school districts: Rio Linda, Del Paso Heights and North Sacramento.
Measure B opponents say the elementary districts are already doing well academically and that joining forces with the low-performing Grant high school district is a bad idea.
"Part of the problem has always been the dysfunctional high school that has been run with the Grant Joint Union School District."
Wess Larson is on the Rio Linda Elementary School District board. He says Measure B would create a monolithic district that would take away local control of schools.
"…and it just destroys the central democratic principle of our society of local control where communities of interest can determine their own priorities."
But Measure B supporters say reorganizing the districts will help improve elementary, middle and high school transitions for students and free up funding for classroom supplies.
Since this is a special election, turnout is predicted to be low and Wess Larson admits the low turnout doesn’t bode well for his campaign to reject Measure B.
"Unfortunately I think a lot of people will miss this one."
If Measure B passes, the new North Area Unified District would become effective on July 1st of 2008.