Saratoga News

LGUSD asks to be left out of 'global solutions'

Leaving boundaries as they are suits many at forum

By Michelle Alaimo

Emotions ran high, but tempers were kept under control at a June 19 public forum on six possible scenarios for school redistricting.

Some 400 people came to Monta Vista High School to hear what nearly 50 speakers had to say about the scenarios announced at a May 28 meeting of the Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization. Those attending the forum were asked to complete a survey telling the committee which scenarios, if any, they approved of and listing any other scenarios they would like to consider. By the end of the evening, the stack of completed surveys was several inches high.

"If LGUSD is not broke, don't fix it," and "Bigger is not better" were signs seen throughout the forum.

"Just leave us alone" was heard repeatedly throughout the evening. Many of the speakers and audience members want the boundaries to be left as they are, which is one of the options.

The common reason for not wanting unification was fear of losing local control of schools.

Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent Bert Pearlman received a standing ovation and loud cheers from the audience when he said, "We respectfully ask you to leave us out of your global solutions."

Matt Hurley, chairman of the board, reminded the audience, "We are not voting here tonight. No decisions have been made, and no decisions will be made here tonight."

The chairman also assured Saratogans who are in the Cupertino School District that they have not been excluded from the scenarios.

Others voiced opinions on redrawing the boundaries along city boundaries. Those supporting that idea wanted to give the children a sense of belonging to the community as a whole.

"I feel like there is a definite split in our community because we live in Los Gatos but don't go to Los Gatos schools," parent April Maiten said.

Jennifer Crotty of Saratoga, who represents the Alliance for School Boundary Change, said there are residents who want to be full members of the community, and this can only happen when students attend schools in the same city in which they live.

Speakers also asked the committee why notices were not mailed out to all those who will be affected by any changes.

In an interview with the Saratoga News after the meeting, Larry Shirey, senior research analyst for the Santa Clara County Office of Education, said that it is too costly to conduct a mass-mailing campaign. He said the committee notifies the newspapers, school districts, schools and board members. Shirey said they depend on people to read the newspaper in order to get the word out.

At the end of the forum, the committee told the audience that all comments, which were videotaped, will be used to help narrow and modify scenarios. The committee said the modified scenarios should be announced at a committee meeting tentatively scheduled for July 23.

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