Brett Barnard, chairman of Preserve South Pasadena Schools, which successfully pushed a $288-per-parcel tax last month, said he believed his district's small size mattered more than its affluence in determining passage.
"There is a real community cohesion," Bernard said, noting that South Pasadena has one high school. "You get into a district like L.A. Unified, I can't imagine that."
In a June interview, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon Cortines acknowledged that the sprawling district would face an uphill battle in passing a special levy.
"It's not always easy, but because it's not easy doesn't mean we shouldn't it give it our best try," said Cortines, who hopes to float a parcel tax next year. "I guess I am hopeful because I think that whether it's the middle class or the rich or the poor, they all understand the importance of education."
The Long Beach Unified School District is surveying residents about whether they would support a parcel tax. Spokesman Chris Eftychiou noted that more than 70% of voters approved the two bond measures the district had sought in the last decade.
"I would caution against drawing conclusions about one school district from another based simply on demographics," he said. "The Long Beach community has traditionally been very supportive of their local schools, and this school district has not gone to the well nearly as often as other school districts."
Rowland Unified's Ott, who was a senior deputy at Los Angeles Unified for five years before moving to her current position in 2005, advised large districts to carefully craft their proposals to fund programs that the community wants most. She also urged them to focus heavily on outreach to voters who have no children.
"I do think it's a greater challenge for large districts, especially when the majority of voters are not parents," she said. "That's who you've got to reach."
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seema.mehta@latimes.com
