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0 <br /> schools. Approximately 600 children attend private schools which is 40% of the student <br /> pp <br /> • <br /> o <br /> population while the national average is 10%. <br /> Duncan MacMillan, Public Education Committee member, summarized the meeting <br /> results with Council. Contrary to newspaper reports, MacMillan thought the meeting was <br /> very positive. He viewed that meeting as the first of several meetings. He reported that <br /> the Palo Alto School District did express certain concerns with the proposed <br /> reorganization including: the declining enrollment at Nixon Elementary; possible need for <br /> an additional high school campus and the fiscal impact on the Los Altos School District <br /> and the Mountain View/Los Altos High School District. MacMillan explained that <br /> several of these concerns are also driven by additional extraneous factors separate from <br /> reorganization. <br /> In reference to the resolution before Council this evening, MacMillan explained that after <br /> reviewing the staff report and realizing that the resolution would not provide the expected <br /> legal standing to impede the leasing of the Bullis site, the Committee is suggesting <br /> modifications to the draft resolution. The amendment would delete the language that <br /> would create the petition and start the process for reorganization. The new language <br /> would direct the Committee to continue discussions with the Palo Alto School District <br /> and to survey the southern part of Town (Loyola attendance area) and west Los Altos to <br /> determine their interest in any reorganization. With this information, they would define <br /> the "affected area" and a separate committee would gather the 25% of registered voters <br /> signatures necessary to petition for reorganization. MacMillan explained that the <br /> • Committee feels adoption of the amended resolution is still very important and would <br /> validate the importance of a"neighborhood school". In conjunction with the adoption of <br /> the resolution, the Committee would also like Council to consider the option of <br /> purchasing the Bullis site and preserving it for public education. <br /> Assistant City Attorney David Warner clarified that Council should focus on the <br /> resolution before them for the purpose of this meeting. The additional considerations, as <br /> expressed by the Public Education Committee, while relevant in the decision making <br /> process, should not become the subject of the meeting and would be inappropriate. <br /> Mayor Pro Tem O'Malley requested clarification on the proposed resolution before <br /> Council tonight and the changes outlined by the Public Education Committee. <br /> Warner explained that the resolution being reviewed by Council and considered for <br /> adoption triggers the process for consideration of the reorganization procedure that <br /> transfers territory from one school district to another. The county education committee <br /> on reorganization is required to consider the resolution and review a series of findings, <br /> hold a public hearing and determine if it is appropriate for them to make a <br /> recommendation that territory be transferred. If it chooses to make the recommendation, <br /> it goes to the State Board of Education. They will evaluate the county committee's <br /> recommendation and if they approve it, the County Clerk and the County Superintendent <br /> hold an election within the territory that is being considered for transfer. If a majority of <br /> the voters approve,then the area is transferred the following year, July 1. <br /> • <br /> 3 <br /> City Council Special Meeting Minutes <br /> May 12,2004 <br />