HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 11Final Minutes
Los Altos Hills Education Committee Meeting
Regular Meeting
December 11, 2013
1. Meeting called to order at 7:05pm by the Chair, Ms. Rose.
Present were committee members Jennifer Carlstrom, Duncan
MacMillan, Heather Rose and Karen Schuster. John
Harpootlian was present as the council liaison.
2. Duncan MacMillan reported on enrollment numbers, which are
not that different from last year. BCS’s number of students from
Los Altos Hills enrolling in K appears to be lower than previous
years -- less than ¼ of the total number of LAH residents
allowed by the geographic preference. Enrollment from LAH to
BCS also appears low in grades 7 & 8. These numbers are not
official school information. Deborah Padovan had sent a letter
to BCS asking for enrollment information and BCS declined.
The Education Committee did an estimate of LAH students at
BCS based on Bullis Boosters Club (BBC) directory
information, not school information; thus, these numbers may
not be accurate. In Los Altos the concentration of kids per
parcel is higher than in Los Altos Hills resulting in higher per
student tax incomes for LAH students. In both cities property
tax revenues are increasing.
3. The Los Altos School district meeting on Monday discussed
potential BCS sites. Possible 3 sites or 2 sites but a specific site
was not discussed. They ruled out Covington and potentially 3
other sites plus a limit on the number of kids on a site. LASD is
not legally allowed to dictate what the BCS site is used for
because it infringes on their program. Meeting with a mediator
December 11, 2013. Mayor Waldeck is active in the Parcel
Group. Bond Survey will begin. To place a Bond on the ballot
during major elections is better than special elections. During
this time low approval threshold 55% vs 66%, which is better. A
two site split appears to remain. Surrounding “Prop 39”
facilities, more lawsuits are expected. BCS’s open enrollment
has begun. Another strand of Kindergarten has been added.
LASD had Kinder/New Student open enrollment in December.
PASUD open enrollment in January. LASD needs to
Final Minutes
accommodate BCS growth. Some BCS growth is coming from
4th, 5th,6th,7th and 8th grades as well as new strands of Kinders.
If students are out of district, then they do not come with
facilities rights. Admitting out of district students to BCS, plus a
lower number of students per classroom than LASD, plus
LASD’s refusal to offer additional facilities to BCS at the sole
expense of BCS results in student crowding at the BCS and
Bullis Center for Innovation campuses. For example, BCS uses
the “Library” facility provided by LASD as a classroom rather
than a library. So, LAH students at BCS do not have a
dedicated library.
4. One Crossing Guard at West Edith and Foothill Expressway.
Provided by City of Los Altos. Traffic backup at Pinewood
School is about 10 minutes. Ms. Rose attended a Traffic and
Safety Committee meeting and learned that a superintendent
needs to make a formal request for a crossing guard. A
potential solution at Pinewood is a turn lane. A turn lane would
eliminate parking. Lights may be a different traffic solution. Los
Altos Hills Traffic and Safety will study the options. Another
suggestion is educating the Los Altos Hills citizens about
Pedestrians and Traffic times. John Harpootlian offered some
solutions such as staggered start times and no parking in the
school to improve flow of traffic.
5. Duncan MacMillan updated us on PASD and discussed traffic
flow at the Miranda Avenue drop-off at Gunn. Timing of lights
may be changed. Cost is $1.5 million and expected completion
is April ‘14 or June ’14. Changing Arasterdero Road traffic flow
and lighting may be an experiment.
6. Jennifer Carlstrom moved to approve the minutes. Duly
seconded. Motion Carries unanimously.
7. New Business:
Duncan MacMillan proposes that we solicit a doctorate student
to research and present a thesis based on why parents choose
private schools. Why are 40% choosing Private Schools and
60% choosing Public Schools?
Final Minutes
Meeting was adjourned at 8:29pm