As a parent of a SCHS graduate and a graduating senior, I have appreciated the variety of education options available to my children through SCUSD. It’s unfortunate that district children are having many of these same options now taken from them because of state funding cuts in education. Summer school and the GATE program have been eliminated, and now the district is planning to cut (among other items) the high school 7th period option if Measure A does not pass. The 7th period option is an elective opportunity – a time for students to explore interests beyond the core curriculum. It will take awhile for state funding levels to be restored, in the meantime, I’m hoping Santa Clara voters will back our local schools by passing Measure A.