The State Board of Education upheld a denial by the Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization to transfer 38 parcels into the Saratoga school districts.
The parcels in question are on Chester, Allendale, Apricot Hill and Camino Barco avenues. The homes are now located within the Campbell school districts.
The Camino Barco petition was first denied early last year by the county and then appealed by petitioners to the state board which heard the case on Feb. 11. The board received more than 300 letters from parents in the SUSD opposing the transfer. Superintendent Mary Gardner said that while this transfer only involves four children, it is unknown how many more children would move into the petition area.
Much of the petitioners' case was based on community identity--a sense of not belonging to the community because they are not part of the school district.
San Jose mayor visits Saratoga
Newly elected San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales paid a friendly visit to Saratoga's City Council Feb. 17.
The mayor has been touring nearby city government meetings to offer his support to cities, and ask for support in return.
He said he'd like to tackle tough issues including the county's environmental and transportation issues. He'd also like to form coalitions of civic leaders to get those jobs done, he said. Gonzales then offered an invitation to the annual California League of Cities conference, to be held this year for the first time in San Jose.
Commissioners finally found
The city of Saratoga has finally found new commissioners to fill three seats that remained vacant for months on the city's library and finance commissions. Ernest Brookfield will serve as the city's newest finance commissioner, and Cathy O'Donnell and Ruth Gipstein will hold library commission seats.
All three were supposed to be sworn into office at a City Council meeting Feb. 17, but only Brookfield was present. His term expires in October.
O'Donnell's term ends in 2000, and Gipstein's in 2002.
There is still one seat open on the finance commission.
Saratoga, California Since 1975
