When Los Altos School District (LASD) board members considered a bond measure earlier this year, Bullis Charter School officials were publicly silent.
Not anymore. The board voted last month to oppose Measure EE, LASD’s $350 million bond measure on the Nov. 5 ballot to improve and update facilities. Bullis Superintendent Maureen Israel released a Sept. 30 press release on behalf of the board of directors.
“We agree with LASD Board Trustee Vladimir Ivanovic that his colleagues have not been forthcoming about the use of a significant percentage of these funds to house Bullis at the so-called new “10th Site” school (in Mountain View),” according to the eight-member board’s statement.
The 10th site is targeted for district-purchased property where Kohl’s is located in the San Antonio Shopping Center. Bullis officials contend the space isn’t big enough to accommodate their 1,050-student school.
Among the board’s claims, Bullis was excluded from LASD’s discussions about putting Measure EE on the ballot, does not want to be on the 10th site and is content with the current setup, sharing campus sites at Blach and Egan junior high schools.
“Measure EE language doesn’t mention Bullis at all, yet elsewhere, LASD officials acknowledge that they are considering spending up to 45% of the total value of the bond ($145-plus million) to house a school that doesn’t want the money in the first place. That lack of transparency is disconcerting,” read the board’s statement.
LASD board president Bryan Johnson said the board and other bond critics are assuming wrongly about Bullis being eyed for the 10th site.
“I think a key aspect of those criticisms is the mistaken belief that the board has made some sort of final decision on how much to spend on the 10th site, and just won’t admit it. That is not true,” Johnson said. “We remain committed to transparency, which is why we were disappointed when BCS demanded back in the spring that any further long-term facilities discussions be held in secret. We remain ready to resume a collaborative process to balance the needs of all local students.”
Johnson reiterated the board’s rationale for the bond.
“Los Altos School District provides one of the best educations in the state with our award-winning small school model. However, LASD facilities have not been truly modernized in almost 30 years. Our junior high schools are currently overcrowded, with hundreds of students learning in old and deteriorating portable classrooms that are expensive to maintain.
“Measure EE would provide locally controlled funding for repairs and upgrades at existing sites to protect student safety and maintain excellent local education. Measure EE would also replace temporary, deteriorating portables with permanent facilities. To the extent that some funds may be allocated to the 10th site, it will be to reduce the overcrowding on the junior high campuses, which impacts the programs there on a daily basis.”
Johnson noted a detailed facilities master plan, on the district’s web site (lasdschools.org) for information on where funds would be spent.
“Without this source of funding, facilities will continue to deteriorate and repair costs will increasingly impinge on the district’s finances,” Johnson said. “The measure is subject to annual audits, citizens’ oversight and local control. We are committed to transparency and input from a variety of perspectives, and our top priority is to consider the needs of all local schools in this decision-making.”
