District waits for council meeting before deciding

By Michelle Alaimo

Citing the need to wait until after an April 7 Saratoga City Council meeting, the Saratoga Union School District has decided to wait until April 8 before making a final decision on whether or not to accept a negative declaration for Saratoga School's renovation.

Despite pleas from some frustrated parents, the board also unanimously voted at its March 23 meeting to extend the public comment period on the school's draft environmental impact report until April 6.

Superintendent Mary Gardner said that the board should wait for the City Council's verdict on the draft EIR which it intends to do at its April 7 meeting. The school board will then make its final decision.

The Saratoga School renovation plans have been the subject of controversy for months, after HMC Architects suggested that 10 eucalyptus trees on the campus be removed because of safety issues. In recent months, some neighbors of the school have also opposed the plans after the draft EIR came out in January stating that the construction would have a negative impact on the surrounding environment.

Because Saratoga School is a historical school, the initial study that recommended the negative declaration had to be drawn up in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which allows for public comment, including the city's.

The board has been working with community groups and the city since the draft EIR was released trying to reach a compromise on hotly contested tree and traffic issues.

Gardner said that in addition to waiting until after the April 7 City Council meeting, the board is also waiting on a traffic study report from Wilbur Smith Associates, a traffic engineering consultant company working with the district.

As part of CEQA, Gardner explained that the city oversees the district in making sure that all questions and concerns with the draft EIR have been researched and addressed.

The city maintains that the study has not reached satisfactory conclusions on the issue of traffic circulation around the school.

While some felt the need to wait until all issues regarding traffic and trees were addressed, others are frustrated over the delay in plans.

"It's important for the school board to make the decision and go forward," school neighbor and parent Bob Shepard said.

Parent Mimi Frazer addressed those concerned with increased traffic and trees. She said that people need to embrace what they can do to solve traffic problems, including busing and carpooling. She added that she would like to see evidence, not hear only emotion, supporting why the eucalyptus trees should not be removed.

One parent had harsh words for neighbors who were telling the board they were unhappy about increased traffic around the school.

"If you buy a house adjacent to a school, you are going to have problems," parent Tracy Purvis said. "That is part of the real estate package."

Gardner said the board will most likely make a decision at a special meeting on April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Redwood Middle School. She said the construction project, set to begin in June, is scheduled to go out to bid the week of April 19.

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