Saratoga News

High school district forms funds oversight committee

By Michelle Alaimo

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District is in the process of forming a citizens' oversight committee to monitor the spending of $79 million in bond funds approved by voters in June.

"The purpose of the citizens' oversight committee is to ensure that the funds are spent in accordance with voters' intentions," district Superintendent Cynthia Ranii said.

Money from the Measure B bond can only be used toward the renovation and upgrade of current facilities and the construction of new facilities at the two aging high schools.

The district will be accepting applications until Sept. 11 from those interested in participating on the committee. A letter to all registered voters in the district announcing the intention to form a committee during the Measure B campaign went out earlier this year, Ranii said. And the committee openings have also been advertised in local newspapers.

So far, more than 25 residents have applied for a spot.

Ranii said the board hopes to put together the seven-member panel with a variety of people, including at least four with expertise in finance, accounting and project management. The remaining three would be laypeople. All those interested must complete a one-page application obtained from Dorothy Diekmann, district director of business and operations, at the high school district office and must be a resident of the district. Diekmann proposed the process, which passed unanimously, at the Sept. 1 board meeting.

According to Diekmann's outline, the committee will

* guarantee that bond funds are applied toward the projects outlined in the district's Facility Needs Assessment Plan and the state's Five-Year Plan,

* review financial plans ensuring the optimum combination of local and state funds are applied to the facility plans, and

* give a progress report to the board of trustees at least twice a year.

Ranii said she and the board tentatively plan to announce the names of those selected for the four three-year terms and the three two-year terms at their board meeting on Oct. 6.

The first release of bond money--$20 million--will not arrive until sometime in November, Ranii said. The district is working with HMC Architects to develop an implementation plan for how the first funds will be used. Ranii said that plan should be ready the first week of November.

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