HomeMy WebLinkAbout914 - REGARDING the 2002 Ballot Issues.RESOLUTION 914
OF CTTY COUNCIL OF CITY OF BOULDER OPPOSING PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 31 (UNZ INITIATNE)
WHEREAS, a proposed ballot initiative to amend the Colorado Constitution by adding a
section (18) to Article IX, entitled English Language Education far Children in Public Scllools,
would eliminate all other English Language Acquisition programs in Colorado, including ESL,
bilingual education and dual immersion, in favor of a"one size fits all" immersion program,
which would require all students to learn English in one year or less; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2002, the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education
passed a Resolution in Opposition to AmendmenC 31, stating that this proposed initiative would
dramatically and ne~atively impact the districYs capacity to meet the needs of English language
learners as well as the needs of all students; and
WHEREAS, the proposed ballot initiative Amendment 31 would remove local control of
instruction in public schools from its board of education, as currently guaranteed by the state
constitution; and
WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of this proposed initiative on Boulder Valley School
District would be costly to loeal taxpayers and there is no provision to fund these additional
expenses in Yhe Amendment; and
WHEREAS, Boulder is a community that celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity and
treats its multiethnic and multilingual communities as assets. The proposed ballot initiative
would resYrict the ability of local residenYs to prepare for participation in Che rapidly integrating
worldwide economy; and
WHEREAS, amending the State Constitution, is not a matter to be taken lightly and
requires serious consideration oFits potential consequences;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Boulder, that it
hereby officially declares its opposition to proposed ballot initiative Amendment 31, and hereby
urges Boulder's registered voters to sustain local control of their public school sysCem by voting
against Ameudment 31.
ADOPTED this 15th day of October, 2002.
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Mayor
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