What you need to know about the upcoming election for the Walnut Valley Unified School District.
WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?
Walnut Valley Unified School District (two seats)
• Phillip Chen, health deputy for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, incumbent
Contact: phillip@phillipchen.org; 818-256-7889
• S. Sean Monemi, professor of engineering
Contact: ssmonemi@yahoo.com or www.seanmonemi.com; 909-753-9877
• Larry Redinger, retired professor
Contact: larryredinger@gmail.com; 909-374-3453
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Funding
WVUSD is a low-wealth district, meaning its share of education funding from the state is on the low-end. Monemi said he was concerned about students leaving the district for other districts and wanted to add more Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
Three-cities district
Since the district covers Walnut, Diamond Bar and a slice of West Covina, some debate whether one city is favored over the other. Chen and Redinger live in Diamond Bar. Monemi lives in Walnut. Monemi has said some feel there is not a strong voice from Walnut on the school board. Presently, four members are from Walnut, one is from West Covina.
Unity on board
Though the district has come through some hard times, some say the board is more unified than ever. Redinger said the board has a good working relationship with the teachers and classified employees.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
Redinger was elected in 1989, lost in 1997 and returned to the board in 1999. He supports Chen and says the board works well together. No endorsements were made by the teachers or classified employees union. Chen ran for Assembly and lost in the primary to eventual winner Ling Ling Chang in 2014. Monemi ran for school board in 2013 and lost to incumbents Helen Hall and Cindy Ruiz and newcomer Tony Torng.
WVUSD BALLOT MEASURE, MEASURE O
Here is the text of the measure:
Walnut Valley Local School Improvement Measure. To upgrade facilities to maintain excellent education/college readiness by providing facilities/technology for advanced math, science, engineering, upgrading outdated classrooms, science labs, libraries, computer systems, improving school safety/security, and repairing, constructing/acquiring classrooms, facilities, equipment, shall Walnut Valley Unified School District issue $208 million in bonds at legal rates, with independent citizen oversight, no money for administrator salaries, and all funds used for neighborhood schools in/around Diamond Bar and Walnut?
Why it is on the ballot?
Supporters say the district needs more revenue to continue its upgrade of school classrooms and facilities. Those opposed say the project list is vague and the district should not be trusted with additional monies. Measure O gives the school district the authority to assess properties $48.50 per $100,000 in assessed value, but the district says it will not go above $115 per $100,000, the current tax rate paid by homeowners within the district. When accounting for previous WVUSD measures passed in 1991, 2000 and 2007, each homeowner pays about $575 per year for WVUSD school improvement bonds.
What is needed for passage?
55 percent supermajority vote