HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 3Los Altos Hills Education Committee
Meeting Minutes
March 3, 2010
1. Meeting was called to order by Chairman Carey at 7PM. Present in Council Chambers
were committee members John Radford, Susan Stark, Irena Halsey, Jennifer Carlstrom,
Tracey Stewart, Duncan MacMillan, and Bart Carey. Participating by tele-conference
were Anne Marie Gallagher, and Christine Murad. Absent were Lee Hartley and Eric
Ramberg. Council liaisons Summit and Warshawsky also attended.
2. Draft meeting minutes from January 8th 2010 were adopted unanimously.
3. Carey and Radford updated the committee on meetings with superintendents and
board presidents from Los Altos School District (LASD) and Bullis Charter School (BCS).
Meetings were productive in explaining upcoming Education Committee Resolution to
be forwarded to City Council regarding issues pertaining to LASD, BCS, and Gardner
Bullis School (GBS). Any assistance from LAH Education Committee in regard to these
issues was offered. Both LASD and BCS representatives were opposed to bringing
resolution to City Council, for different reasons. BCS representatives disagreed with
content of the resolution. LASD officials explained active behind-the-scenes work to
find a permanent location for BCS, and felt the timing of the resolution was poor in this
regard.
4. The committee further considered the proposed resolution to City Council (which was
adopted by the Education Committee at January 8th meeting). Views were expressed
that the resolution should proceed to council at their upcoming March meeting, per the
adopted Education Committee Resolution in January. Other views were expressed that
since both LASD and BCS opposed the resolution, consideration by council should be
postponed. A motion was made by Gallagher and seconded by Radford to table the
resolution until the next Education Committee meeting. This motion was defeated 5-3,
with Stark, Radford, MacMillan, Stewart, and Murad voting no, and Gallagher, Halsey,
and Carey voting yes.
5. 2010-2011 Kindergarten enrollment was discussed. It is anticipated that approximately
50 students will matriculate in all-day K at GBS. So far 12 applications have been
received from LAH students who reside in Palo Unified School District (PAUSD)
boundaries, and consistent with the MOU between the districts, these students will
have priority for attendance just after LASD students residing in the GBS attendance
area.
6. Duncan MacMillan presented preliminary summary of 2007-2009 LAH student
enrollment data, from information received from the districts, and compiled by Steve
Hubbell. A copy of this data will be included.
7. Tracey Stewart provided an update to the committee in regard to communicating with
residents via RSS feeds. This item is under discussion with town staff.
8. The committee reviewed a letter from LASD Superintendent Tim Justus to LASD parents
discussing recent facilities offer to BCS, recent court decisions, and other issues. A copy
of this letter will be included.
9. John Radford and Anne Marie Gallagher updated the committee regarding their recent
attendance at a Charter School Summit sponsored by the Santa Clara Office of
Education. Some issues discussed regarding charter schools from around California are
similar to those in the BCS-LASD conflict.
10. Duncan MacMillan and Tracey Stewart updated the committee regarding Gunn
High/Miranda access. It appears that funding for this project will be moved up by
PAUSD as recommended by the committee.
11. Committee members filled an upcoming calendar as coordinated by Tracey Stewart to
attend local school board meetings.
12. There was no further public comment.
13. Next Education Committee meeting was set for May 5.
14. Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.