Los Altos HillsLos Altos HillsPublic Education UpdatePublic Education Update

A public forum to update the citizens of Los A public forum to update the citizens of Los Altos Hills on efforts to Reorganize Public Altos Hills on efforts to Reorganize Public

Education in Los Altos HillsEducation in Los Altos Hills

November 15, 2006November 15, 2006

Tonight’s agendaTonight’s agenda

• Councilmember Statements Councilmember Statements

• Presentation of background and Presentation of background and information on the reorganization process information on the reorganization process

• Questions and answers (related to above)Questions and answers (related to above)

• Public Forum (public input)Public Forum (public input)

• Resolution(s)Resolution(s)

Some fundamental beliefsSome fundamental beliefs• Public education is a key element of the American Public education is a key element of the American

experienceexperience

• Neighborhood elementary schools are very Neighborhood elementary schools are very important for the development of our children and important for the development of our children and our communityour community

• Public properties should be used for public Public properties should be used for public educational purposes educational purposes

• Private school attendance at 35-40% levels is not Private school attendance at 35-40% levels is not healthy for public educationhealthy for public education

• Passivity by LAH does not workPassivity by LAH does not work

What is our Town’s goal for What is our Town’s goal for public education?public education?

““We seek a permanent solution providing We seek a permanent solution providing excellent, locally-controlled and locally- excellent, locally-controlled and locally- available public K-8 education for every available public K-8 education for every resident family in Los Altos Hills. These resident family in Los Altos Hills. These schools should also provide recreational schools should also provide recreational space for the residents of our Town.”space for the residents of our Town.”

Where to startWhere to start

• There is a line that divides our town in twoThere is a line that divides our town in two

• Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) K-12 serves part of our townK-12 serves part of our town

• Los Altos School District (LASD) K-8 Los Altos School District (LASD) K-8 serves the other part of our town serves the other part of our town

• LASD feeds into Mountain View/Los Altos LASD feeds into Mountain View/Los Altos (MVLA) high schools(MVLA) high schools

The map is the basic issue…The map is the basic issue…

All 4 LAH schools have closedAll 4 LAH schools have closed

• Fremont Hills closed in 1976 - Fremont Hills closed in 1976 - now now leased by PAUSD for >$1m/yearleased by PAUSD for >$1m/year

• Purissima closed in 1976 - Purissima closed in 1976 - sold by sold by LASD, complete housing developmentLASD, complete housing development

• Eastbrook closed in late 70’s - Eastbrook closed in late 70’s - fields fields sold by LASD in 1986, buildings leasedsold by LASD in 1986, buildings leased

• Bullis-Purissima closed in 2003 - Bullis-Purissima closed in 2003 - extended-day K, special ed, private daycareextended-day K, special ed, private daycare

More on this ProblemMore on this Problem• Displacement of elementary school-aged Displacement of elementary school-aged

students in their communitystudents in their community• Loss of community and neighborhood support Loss of community and neighborhood support

systemssystems• An exodus of LAH children and families out of An exodus of LAH children and families out of

the public school systemthe public school system• LAH is the largest city in the Peninsula NOT to LAH is the largest city in the Peninsula NOT to

have a local public school (have a local public school (smaller communities smaller communities than ours – like Atherton, Woodside, and Portola than ours – like Atherton, Woodside, and Portola Valley have their own schools)Valley have their own schools)

The Public Education Committee The Public Education Committee (PEC) assessed needs/options(PEC) assessed needs/options• Public meetings (3) and Mail-in survey Public meetings (3) and Mail-in survey Mar 2004, Mar 2004,

Godbe telephone survey Godbe telephone survey Oct 2004, Oct 2004, History of public History of public ed in LAH ed in LAH Dec 2004, Dec 2004, Active in LACF CPR Active in LACF CPR Oct 2004 Oct 2004 – Mar 2005, – Mar 2005, … more than 10 different and formal … more than 10 different and formal presentationspresentations

• A total of seven options were vetted including: A total of seven options were vetted including: – LASD & PAUSD work formally togetherLASD & PAUSD work formally together– Jointly-run schools in the HillsJointly-run schools in the Hills– Joint PAUSD/LASD charterJoint PAUSD/LASD charter

The PEC voted unanimously for The PEC voted unanimously for a reorganization (redistricting)a reorganization (redistricting)

• Define a K-8 territory for an LAH districtDefine a K-8 territory for an LAH district

• Provide for high school attendance to be Provide for high school attendance to be as currently defined between PAUSD and as currently defined between PAUSD and MVLA (preferred option)MVLA (preferred option)

• Failing an ability to maintain current high Failing an ability to maintain current high school boundaries, attend PAUSD school boundaries, attend PAUSD exclusively (acceptable alternative)exclusively (acceptable alternative)

LAH Council took action…LAH Council took action…• Approved the Resolution on March 23, 2006 to be Approved the Resolution on March 23, 2006 to be

delivered to the County Committeedelivered to the County Committee• At the request of the districts, delivery was postponed At the request of the districts, delivery was postponed

to allow time for a negotiated settlementto allow time for a negotiated settlement• Multi-lateral discussions ensued between LASD, Multi-lateral discussions ensued between LASD,

PAUSD, MVLA, LAH, and BCSPAUSD, MVLA, LAH, and BCS• LASD failed to deliver on the term sheet and PAUSD LASD failed to deliver on the term sheet and PAUSD

would not participate beyond a 1-year MOU on funding would not participate beyond a 1-year MOU on funding • Resolution delivered June 20, ad-hoc committee Resolution delivered June 20, ad-hoc committee

formedformed

An LASD K-6 at Bullis is An LASD K-6 at Bullis is not a real solutionnot a real solution

• Does not eliminate the lineDoes not eliminate the line

• Will have to be filled with a large number Will have to be filled with a large number of Los Altos childrenof Los Altos children

• Ignores PAUSD students beyond IDTsIgnores PAUSD students beyond IDTs

• Ignores BCS’ LAH enrollmentIgnores BCS’ LAH enrollment

• Bullis will always be the smallest, most Bullis will always be the smallest, most vulnerable school within LASDvulnerable school within LASD

The High School IssueThe High School Issue

• PEC and town council were not trying PEC and town council were not trying to solve a high school issueto solve a high school issue

• Unless Gunn is part of the solution, the Unless Gunn is part of the solution, the Council will not support redistrictingCouncil will not support redistricting

• No Gunn = No council support and no No Gunn = No council support and no ballot voteballot vote

Steps in Approval ProcessSteps in Approval Process• Resolution delivered to Santa Clara Office of Education Resolution delivered to Santa Clara Office of Education • County Committee on School District Organization holds County Committee on School District Organization holds

hearings starting on Dec 7 and then votes to take on the hearings starting on Dec 7 and then votes to take on the project of defining an LAH K-8 district, or notproject of defining an LAH K-8 district, or not

• Staff thoroughly investigates our “9-criteria” hurdleStaff thoroughly investigates our “9-criteria” hurdle• Approved resolution goes to State Board of Education Approved resolution goes to State Board of Education

where more hearings are held. If approved, the State where more hearings are held. If approved, the State issues a ballot numberissues a ballot number

• Area to be reorganized (LAH) votes in next election after Area to be reorganized (LAH) votes in next election after State Board approval. Majority vote (50% + 1 vote) State Board approval. Majority vote (50% + 1 vote) passes the measure with new district effective in July of passes the measure with new district effective in July of the following yearthe following year

We can pass the 9-criteriaWe can pass the 9-criteria1.1. Adequate number of studentsAdequate number of students2.2. Organized on basis of substantial community identityOrganized on basis of substantial community identity3.3. Equitable division of property and facilitiesEquitable division of property and facilities4.4. Will not promote racial/ethnic discrimination or Will not promote racial/ethnic discrimination or

segregationsegregation5.5. Insignificant cost increases to the StateInsignificant cost increases to the State6.6. No significant disruption to ed programs/promotion of No significant disruption to ed programs/promotion of

sound ed performancesound ed performance7.7. No significant increase in school housing costsNo significant increase in school housing costs8.8. Not primarily designed to increase property valuesNot primarily designed to increase property values9.9. No substantial fiscal impacts on existing districtsNo substantial fiscal impacts on existing districts

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

• Any solution needs to take the entire town into Any solution needs to take the entire town into accountaccount

• Pressing for change can be very difficult but Pressing for change can be very difficult but necessarynecessary

• LAH-based neighborhood elementary schools LAH-based neighborhood elementary schools need local controlneed local control

• Many of us feel we have the opportunity to do Many of us feel we have the opportunity to do what is best for our children and for the future what is best for our children and for the future of LAHof LAH

The map is the basic issue…The map is the basic issue…