"They were so much more responsive than our board," said Lynette Lee Eng, the parent spearheading the movement.

Eng led a group of parents to the county board's meeting on Jan. 19, asking for the appointment of an ombudsman who could handle complaints against county school districts in an unbiased manner. The request led board member T.N. Ho, who represents Cupertino Union, to request discussion of the item.

While an evaluation by the county office of education's attorney showed that the county board and superintendent have no legal authority to create such a position, board members appeared sympathetic to the parents' cause and suggested several possible actions.

"There should be a county that's doing this, and if not, let's be pioneers," said board member Anthony Muñoz, who represents Area 6, which includes Evergreen, Franklin-McKinley, Oak Grove and parts of the East Side Union High School District. He recommended taking the proposal to the California School Boards Association and the California County Boards of Education, and possibly approaching the legislature, which could expand the county board's powers in such a matter.

But other board members were more cautious, questioning how to pay for such a proposal or whether they should go through the long political process of change. "If we were a tiger, we wouldn't have teeth," Ho said. The current complaint process involves a procedure called the uniform complaint process, which was standardized throughout the state with legislation that went into effect on Jan. 1.

Concerned parents had filed complaints under the old policies, so county superintendent Colleen Wilcox said the new system might solve those issues. "The rules have changed to make districts more responsive," she said. But Eng and her several supporters in attendance expressed disbelief at that idea.

The county board will now investigate the limits of the new legislation, and they encouraged parents to set up meetings with other area officials, such as state senator Elaine Alquist, who is a former Cupertino Union board member.

Gary McCue, president of the Cupertino Union Board of Education, said, "The Cupertino Union School District and the board of education make it a priority to solicit parent and community input. The district values the input of its parents and community and will continue to work hand in hand with our students, parents, staff and community to provide the highest quality education for our children. We regret the occasions that we cannot accommodate a request as presented, however, in every case we focus on the needs of the students and make every effort to resolve issues as soon as they are raised."