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SUSD board denies proposal to keep students at Redwood Parent group was pushing for no move
By Michelle Alaimo
The Saratoga Union School district has decided not to go ahead with an alternative, parent-suggested plan that would have avoided sending children to Strawberry Park School next year.
Instead, the board said March 9 that it will stick with its previous decision made at a Jan. 26 meeting, and send the Redwood School sixth graders to the San Jose school during construction at the middle school.
Board members had considered reversing their earlier decision after several parents came up with an alternative plan, which involved placing a number of portables on the school's field.
The parents' plan, sent anonymously to homes on March 3, would have allowed all three grades to remain on campus during construction, with the construction phased in over several years rather than the one year now planned.
Board president Cindy Ruby said she received more calls on this one issue than on any other during her time as a board member.
Many parents at the meeting expressed support for the board's previous decision to move the sixth graders and asked the board to not change its mind.
"Don't let splinter groups influence policy and override your actions," parent Noelle Henderson said.
Parent Jon Mulberg agreed and said, "Construction activities should be done expeditiously and without delay." He added that by sending the sixth graders to Strawberry Park, the students would have a chance to bond as a group.
Others didn't agree with Mulberg, though.
Parent Patrick Lo said a sense of the community at Redwood would be lost because the sixth graders would be split off from the rest of the student population.
But Principal Christopher Farmer, who supports the board's decision, said that bringing in portables would have a big impact on the school's physical education program. Farmer explained that since the portables would sit on the back field, which is used in PE classes, students would have to spend more time in the classroom, which would actually increase the number of portables needed at the school.
Board member Stephanie Petrossi said that the board needs to think about the safety of the children at Redwood School. She explained that by moving the sixth graders to Strawberry Park, there would only be 500 students instead of 800 in the construction zone.
She says that even though the sixth graders will be on another campus, it is very important for the students to know who their principals and administrators are. Farmer agreed and said that an administrator will be based on the Strawberry Park campus and that he will also be very visible to the students.
Board member Bonnie Yamaoka explained that the parent plan of having portables on the Redwood site and spreading out construction would actually increase the number of years students are exposed to construction.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
