LAUSD has been walking a fine line between providing information and advocacy in its use of district resources to promote Measure EE, a tax increase that will cost property owners $500 million per year for 12 years.
Superintendent Austin Beutner recently instructed district staff to place Measure EE posters at every school that doubles as a polling place in the June 4 election. The posters are “informational,” not campaign materials, the district insists, but in areas where Measure EE is the only thing on the ballot, the posters and banners arguably cross into advocacy when displayed at a polling place.
On May 10, Beutner, in a video “Superintendent’s Message,” says Measure EE will provide funding “to attract and retain high-quality teachers… and provide quality instructional programs” among other things. Left out of the message was any mention of LAUSD’s perpetual budget deficit created by administrative bloat, unfunded pensions and unaffordable platinum-level health benefits for employees, retirees and all their dependents. In the same video, Beutner notes that LAUSD schools are “hosting competitions to collect the most pledge to vote cards,” and blends messaging about the importance of voting with crafted lines on Measure EE.
On May 16, Beutner sent a “Dear colleagues” email to every LAUSD employee about Measure EE, urging them to vote and to encourage “students, families and community members” to “make their voices heard.” The message included a postscript urging employees to go online to sign a data-gathering “pledge to vote.” He asked them to “help inform our school communities” with a link to resources that include artwork for posters and banners, pre-designed social media messages, and “suggested talking points.”
As with the video, the email contains brief lines summarizing opposition and supporter arguments. That might be prudent cover, but it’s not hard to read between the lines.
The legal guidance offered to district employees warns, “Even if you avoid words of express advocacy, if the listener gets the clear impression that you’re urging a yes or no vote, the communication is prohibited.”
By that standard, LAUSD’s campaign efforts have been questionable at best.
