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Hubbell presented an Interim Report dated 4/15/04 from the Public Education Committee. He noted that 425 surveys had been returned, reviewed and the results tabulated. Hubbell provided Council with a spreadsheet that included all of the survey comments. He assessed the survey results explaining that interest in returning neighborhood schools to Los Altos Hills was town-wide. The greatest fear expressed in the responses was that the Bullis School site would be leased to another private school p and be removed as a public school location option. Hubbell explained that the Public Education Committee is submitting a request to Council for funding of$7,500 to hire an education attorney that could assist the Committee with evaluating the options for public education in Los Altos Hills including: the reallocation of territory between school districts (Los Altos School District and Palo Alto Unified School District); Charter School; and the formation of a Los Altos Hills School District. The Committee would also like Council to draft letters to the School Districts explaining that they are in support of the efforts of the Public Education Committee to help in opening discussion with the Districts and enabling fact finding meetings and for Council to advise the Los Altos School District that they are in strong opposition to the Bullis School site being leased to any private or quasi-school and being removed from public school options. Hubbell concluded that in the immediate future, the Committee hopes to conduct the fact finding meetings with the Districts, develop a map that best represents the multiple neighborhood interests, and begin collecting the data that addresses the 9 criteria required by law for redistricting. Duncan MacMillan, Public Education Committee, explained that it had become evident that whatever agreement was made with either school district to bring public education back to Los Altos Hills, it must include a Memorandum of Understanding with the City Council to hold them to the commitment of providing the school. OPENED PUBLIC COMMENT Sandy Humphries, Fremont Road, expressed her belief that a school is fundamental to the health and well being of the Town. She encouraged Council to help the residents keep a neighborhood school in Los Altos Hills and to support the efforts of the Public Education Committee. Nancy Kelem, Public Education Committee, explained that she was dismayed to report that the Los Altos School District Board members had reportedly said that they will keep the Bullis Charter school "nomads". Kathy Evans, Public Education Committee, reported that the Committee's findings supported three elementary schools in Los Altos Hills. She would like to address the needs of all neighborhoods within the Town. John Radford, La Paloma Road, addressed Council. He expressed his frustration with the Los Altos School Board and their continued efforts to block the Charter school from locating to the Bullis site. Radford would like Council to consider assisting the Charter school in finding a site. He is discouraged that the Town signed a lease with the District for temporary office quarters and didn't include the Charter school in the negotiations. 8 City Council Meeting Minutes April 15,2004