Struggling Marin districts need to be consolidated

I realize there are two main ways public schools are funded: “basic aid,” which relies on property taxes and another program that relies on state funding. I think this system has, in part, led to Marin County, with its relatively small population, having 18 separate school districts.

Each district appears to have a full complement of highly paid administrators. At the very least, each has a superintendent and assistant superintendent. Many of these 18 districts are ridiculously small. I think the Sausalito Marin City School District, with just two elementary schools, is a prime example. Though it has a full administrative staff, its teachers face potential layoffs and ongoing issues of bargaining for appropriate compensation.

Areas with high property values and, thus, higher property tax income, have preferred to keep their taxes to fund schools in their area as basic-aid districts. Even these, such as the Mill Valley School District, are beginning to experience financial challenges that are leading to staff and program cuts. At MVSD, transitional kindergarten classes are returning next year only because parents raised the funds for it.

I think this fragmented funding system leads to teachers being underpaid. Every year, some Marin teachers receive official warnings that their positions could be cut before the next school year. While many are eventually reinstated, this kind of chaotic uncertainty is cruel. Given that our underpaid teachers often have to commute long distances from residences they can afford, many soon opt to find work closer to home. High staff turnover impacts school culture through lack of continuity.

It was good to read that some teachers unions banding together to address this chaotic mess (“Marin school unions unite over pay, staffing,” April 10). Surely it’s time to consolidate more districts into larger, geographically based districts.

— Elaine Reichert, Santa Venetia

Hard to support renewal of tax for SMART train

I am writing in response to the article published in the IJ on April 9 with the headline “SMART eyes 2026 election cycle for tax pitch.”

Let me get this straight: The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District would like to renew the sales tax to fund an expensive train that very few ride, clogs San Rafael traffic and uses pollution-causing diesel engines? Yeah, no thanks.

— Robert Elkjer, San Rafael

Some retirement account holders will take extra hit

I’ve often wondered how our President Donald Trump, who once called himself a “stable genius,” managed to own a casino (a notoriously profitable line of business) that was forced to declare bankruptcy. For me, the recent debacles of Trump’s tariff plan and the reaction of the stock market helps explain it.

Those who must take minimum required distributions from 401(k) and individual retirement accounts for 2024 will get hit extra hard, because those distribution amounts were based on the portfolio valuations of Dec. 31, not on valuation as of the date of distribution. Thus, accounts will be depleted at an accelerated rate. We have MAGA voters to thank for that.

— George Forman, Nicasio

Marin Democrats oppose the recall effort in Fairfax

As chair of the Democratic Central Committee of Marin and a Ross Valley resident since 1970, I can confidently share that the Marin Democratic Party opposes the current attempt to recall Fairfax Mayor Lisel Blash and Vice Mayor Stephanie Hellman.

Both were previously endorsed by our central committee. We believe they are serving the Fairfax community well.

This costly and divisive effort is a waste of the people’s time and money. As they are both up for reelection next year, even a successful recall effort would occur shortly before the voters have an opportunity to express their concerns and hopes for their community in next year’s election. Voting in a regularly scheduled election is the appropriate way to resolve policy issues, not by mounting a recall effort that will occur well into their full term in office.

This is not what small town politics should be about. The Marin Democratic Party urges voters to decline to sign the “notice of intent” petition or any future petitions supporting this recall effort. We stand with Rep. Jared Huffman, Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, the Marin County Board of Supervisors and a growing number of community leaders in asking voters to resist the recall. It is time to bring back civility to our political discourse. It starts locally.

— Pat Johnstone, San Anselmo

Vote yes on Measure E for Ross Valley teachers

As a homeowner in San Anselmo for almost 30 years and a teacher in the Ross Valley School District for 17 years, I am writing to express my support for Measure E to extend and modify our district’s parcel tax. While RVSD schools are excellent, (two of the five just received California Distinguished Schools awards) our salaries continue to be at the bottom end of the salary schedule in Marin County. In addition, RVSD receives the lowest per-student funding in the county.

Measure A will help educators get closer to a liveable wage. While our current parcel tax doesn’t expire for a few more years, we need the additional revenues now. Doing so will help keep the programs and teachers we currently have and help fill vacant positions that are less attractive to applicants due to the much higher salaries in districts a few miles away. These revenues will support teacher salaries.

Amending the current parcel tax from a flat rate to a square-foot formula is a more equitable way to tax building owners. Homes smaller than 1,400 square feet will actually see a tax decrease, while a 2,000-square-foot home will have an increase of only about $25 per month.

San Anselmo and Fairfax registered voters: When you receive your ballot in the mail, vote yes on Measure E, and mail your ballot before May 6. Thank you for supporting our public schools.

— Diana Sottile, San Anselmo

State Legislature should pass ‘Polluters Pay’ bill

I’m a California elder really scared about the future we’re leaving for our children and grandchildren. The recent catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles are a reminder that the climate crisis is wreaking havoc on lives and livelihoods across our state.

I don’t think it’s fair that taxpayers, who didn’t cause this escalating crisis but are the victims, should have to pay the hundreds of billions of dollars to repair the damage. The Big Oil polluters are the ones who have known for decades about the destruction they’re causing.

California legislators are considering the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act that would make the world’s biggest fossil-fuel polluters pay their fair share to cover costs of climate damages here. It will help lower costs by funding critical climate solutions — including transitioning to clean energy, building disaster resilience, creating a sustainable infrastructure and supporting workers and communities suffering climate harms.

I’ve been calling my state representatives to ask them to support the bill. It’s already law in Vermont and New York. I’m so glad to feel there’s something I can contribute that’s positive for the generations to come. What about you?

— Nancy Hollander, San Rafael

Yearning for the days when Biden was in office

Early last year, even before deep discussions within the Democratic Party led to former President Joe Biden stepping down from his reelection campaign, I decided I wasn’t going to vote for him.

As it turned out, I didn’t vote for former Vice President Kamala Harris or President Donald Trump either. But, I gotta tell you, after watching the news for the past couple of months, how I miss having Biden in charge.

— Frank Ridley, San Rafael