BURBANK, Calif. — Even as she’s giving the downbeat, music teacher Ashley Suhr is trying hard to remain upbeat about her position.

“I’m very worried. I’ve heard that it’s going to be a very close vote," Suhr said.

She’s talking about Measure I, a parcel tax on the upcoming ballot in Burbank. The outcome directly affects her.  

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“The school board a couple weeks ago voted to pink slip about 30 teachers and certificated personal in our district," she explained. "They’re not sure they’re going to have the funds for some of us anymore.”

Among the cuts proposed for next year’s budget: the elimination of elementary school music teachers. 

Suhr is the band and orchestra director for Luther Burbank Middle school but she’s also the newest music teacher in the district. She expects she would be laid off and an elementary music teacher with seniority would move into her position.

“It would be very painful," she admitted. "My family, we moved here to Burbank last year when I got this job. We bought a house here. I have two children who are in the elementary schools. It would be a huge shock to our family.” 

Burbank School District Superintendent Matt Hill says the district has to have a plan in place should the measure fail.  

“These cuts for me, I think, destroy what we believe in public education here in Burbank," he said.

The proposal includes increasing class sizes, eliminating elementary PE teachers and cutting college and career readiness programs. 

If this tune sounds familiar, it’s because Burbank has been through this before.  In 2018, a similar measure was put to the voters. It came close – 64 percent -- but missed by 938 votes.

“It requires two thirds of the voters to say yes on Measure I," Hill explained. "It’s going to come down to a couple hundred votes, I believe.”  

The proposed parcel tax of ten cents per square foot would be in place for 12 years. Based on the average home, Hill says most residents would pay about $14 dollars a month, with seniors able to apply for exemption. 

Opponents argue that property owners will likely pass the cost on to tenants, causing rents to increase. They also feel that rather than art, music and PE, the district should devote more funding to  “the most important subjects of English and Math.” 

The state requires schools notify teachers by March 15 if their position is being eliminated. So Hill says the district had to plan for the worst. However, should the measure pass, he says he’d be happy to undo all that work.

“Best case scenario, as soon as the election is certified, we can go back to the school board and say let’s rescind these layoffs," he said.

That would be music to Suhr's ears. 

“I’ve built a real connection with these kids and I would be very sad to say goodbye," she said.

She’s not ready to step down from the podium yet and she hopes she won’t have to.