HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 16Minutes Los Altos Hills Education Committee
Special Meeting July 16th, 2010
1. Meeting was called to order at 4PM by Chairman Carey. Present were committee members
Jennifer Carlstrom, Irena Halsey, Duncan MacMillan, John Radford, Susan Stark, Tracey Stewart,
and Bart Carey.
2. Meeting minutes draft from March 3, 2010 were adopted unanimously.
3. Meeting minutes draft from May 5th, 2010 were adopted unanimously after the last sentence in
item #5 was changed to the following: “A committee member inquired whether one possible
solution to providing a permanent site for Bullis Charter School (BCS), especially given the
budget crisis, is to close one current LASD elementary school. Another sentence was also added
to this section: “Superintendent Justus did not anticipate that parcel tax funds would be shared
with BCS unless their chartering agency was changed to LASD.” These minutes were adopted
unanimously with these changes.
4. Duncan MacMillan and Steve Hubbell presented final LAH student public school enrollment data
from 2007-2010, copies of which will be included. Also presented was a draft letter to
school/district superintendents, adopted unanimously by the committee (motion by Stewart
and second by Halsey) with minor changes, final copy of which will be provided here, and also
forwarded to superintendents. The Education Committee wishes to thank Steve Hubbell for all
his efforts in compiling this data. It was noted that LAH provides $18,000-$32,000 per student
per year, depending on district.
5. It was discussed that the LASD parcel tax is not expected to be on the November ballot. It is
anticipated to appear on general election or mail in ballot in spring 2011. Jennifer Carlstrom
pointed out that approximately 80 of districts in the state have parcel taxes, and the majority of
these are in the greater Bay Area. Only one district in the state (San Marino) shares a parcel tax
revenue with a charter school. A parcel tax proposal in the Alum Rock district was recently
defeated, partly based on a campaign by a charter school to oppose the tax since it would not
be shared.
6. The committee discussed whether it should take a position in favor or against the LASD parcel
tax. It also discussed whether or not it should lobby for particular language to be included in the
parcel tax and whether we felt the parcel tax and language of the parcel tax should be discussed
by the LAH town council candidates.
7. Duncan MacMillan and Tracey Stewart provided an update on Gunn High/Miranda access. Work
is in progress for a temporary solution since a permanent solution is not expected to be in place
until 2013.
8. School board meetings are on hold for the summer, so no updates were available to the
committee. Tracey Stewart will continue to maintain the calendar of education committee
member attendance at school board meetings.
9. Committee officers were elected. Bart Carey and Jennifer Carlstrom were unanimously elected
chairman and secretary respectively for one year terms.
10. With no old business, meeting was adjourned.