Election 2012

Barack Obama was reelected as president and Proposition 30 and Measure ES were passed on Nov. 6, both of which guarantee funding for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD).Junior Matthew Ware said he believes that Obama’s reelection is good for the general state of the nation.“I’m thrilled that Obama has won a second term in office,” Ware said. “That being said, he will have to work with a Republican-controlled Congress over the next two years and we may see some of the same difficulties of the past two years come up all over again on many issues.”Sophomore Bobby Butchko however said he is not pleased with the president’s return to office because he said Obama will not pursue any significant educational reform.“Obama being re-elected means to me that there won’t be any specific changes to the education system,” sophomore Bobby Butchko said. “There won’t be any improvements. Things won’t get worse, but I don’t think the education system is a success. I think it needs reform, so it would mean more of the same.”Government teacher Rose Salumbides said that Obama will be proactive with regards to education.“We definitely have a friend in the White House,” Salumbides said. “I think education has proven to be important to him as a president, with all of his support for states on funding [and] Pell grants.”According to Ware, Proposition 30 will have a direct impact on the state of education in California.“It’s heartening that California voters passed Proposition 30, because it shows a commitment to the future of our education system, and frankly, the economy of our state,” Ware said. “But, in the end, I’m disappointed to see [Proposition 38] lose. It was a really ambitious proposal, and it’s always frustrating to see people with big ideas fail at the hands of small issues.”Butchko, however, sees Proposition 30 as problematic because it raises sales tax by one quarter-cent, as problematic.“I’m very disappointed that Proposition 30 passed, because sales taxes hurt everyone,” Butchko said. “They’re not just something for the rich. They hurt stores, they hurt people and they hurt the poor especially.”Measure ES also passed, and, according to Salumbides, will allow for the refurbishment of Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) school facilities.“Measure ES deals with modernization,” Salumbides said. “I think it will help Samo complete the infrastructure needed to bring up the individual classrooms to more of a 21st century and more technology based learning environment.”Principal Laurel Fretz said that while many of the ballot measures pertain to the state government, the Samo community will continue to work hard to maintain a quality education system for students.“I have faith in our teachers, parents, and students,” Fretz said. “We will continue to work hard and experience high quality teaching and learning at Samo regardless of the election results.”cdebeus@thesamohi.com