The price of a good education The price of a good education (October 20, 2004)

Parents say out-of-pocket expenses to send kids to Palo Alto schools are worth the price of admission

by Alexandria Rocha

Student body cards. PE outfits. Lockers. Book fairs. Carnivals. Science camp. Lab fees. Back-to-school dinners. Gift wrap fund raisers. PTA memberships.

If you're talking high school, there are also donations to the science boosters, parent service boosters, band boosters, theater boosters, sports boosters and robotics team boosters. And don't forget the direct appeals - those tiny envelops that come at the start of school asking for lump sums in the hundreds.

That short list barely scratches the surface of items and events that Palo Alto public school parents pay out of pocket every year.

Parents here can easily shell out thousands of dollars annually for their child's public school education. But, for most, it's worth it.

"This parcel tax is a drop in the bucket compared to what you're asked to put in," said Elaine Kearney, mother of three students in the Palo Alto Unified School District and one in private preschool.

Kearney is referring to Measure I, a parcel tax extension on next month's ballot. The school district is asking Palo Alto voters to increase the amount and longevity of a current parcel tax from $293 per year per parcel to $521.

For Kearney, it's a no-brainer. She and her husband will support the measure.

Their children span the grade levels, with Alison, 15, at Gunn High School; Hannah, 11, at Terman Middle School; and Emma, 7, at Barron Park Elementary School. Kearney said all three have benefited from the district's small class sizes, the qualified and experienced teachers, and the enriched curricula.

"This is a (parcel tax) continuance that has a distinct period of time. It's not like anyone's paying a tremendous amount more," said Kearney. "Financially, it's not an issue for us. It's a one time a year thing."

Like many other Palo Alto residents these days, the Kearneys moved here 10 years ago for the public school system.

Originally from New England, the family was living in Mountain View when Alison was ready to begin school. Scouting around, Elaine became dismayed with the local schools.

"I asked them where's the science? Where's the rat in the cage? Where's the plants?" Elaine recalled. "They told me it was through the literature."

The Kearneys found hands-on curricula in Palo Alto and moved soon after. The couple runs their own online business, so picking up and moving wasn't a big deal.

The family was also attracted to the district's physical education program. "The kids play golf; they play Frisbee," Kearney swelled.

And Kearney said the district's board members have always valued and maintained the same programs her family holds dear -- art and music.

There is also something about attending public schools that you don't get with private schools, added Kearney.

"Private schools close their doors. The public school is open. It's a community effort," she said.

Mary Jo Strnad can attest to that. She and husband Jeff have five children who also stretch across the grade levels, with Stephen at Gunn; Beatrice and Helen at Terman; and J.J. and Thomas at Nixon Elementary School. There is also Shannon, who is in college.

"There isn't a family who hasn't driven a Strnad to a soccer game," she said.

The Strnads moved from Southern California to the Stanford campus, where Jeff works, about seven years ago. Before they moved, all the Strnad children attended private schools.

"On our cul-de-sac there were four girls who all went to private schools. None of them knew each other," said Strnad. "You don't have that sense of community."

Strnad, who said she will also support Measure I, was confident in sending her children to Palo Alto's public schools. Like the Kearneys, the enriched, hands-on curricula was attractive.

With so many children attending the local public schools, there is no shortage of appeals for donations at the Kearneys or Strnads.

This year alone, the Kearney's donated $1,475 to Partners in Education, formerly known as two separate organizations, the All Schools Fund and Palo Alto Foundation for Education.

With PTA membership fees, donations to teacher scholarships, field trip expenses, school supplies lists, among other out-of-pocket contributions, the Kearneys could be shelling out more than $3,000 annually.

There are also eScrip and schoolPop, where participating businesses contribute a percentage of credit card or ATM purchases to the school, group or organization of the buyer's choice.

Both women say the donations are worth it to keep the public schools at the current level of quality. And Strnad said she never feels pressured to give.

"I don't know how some of these parents do it. We do it because we budget it and know it's coming," Kearney said.

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