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Photograph by George Sakkestad
Members of the community advisory group keeping an eye on the welfare of trees on the Saratoga Elementary campus during construction. They are (from left) Larry Ford, Kathryn Holt, Sarah Katz, a fourth-grader, Mary Kay Breitenbach and Dr. David Katz.
School tree worries shift to oaks
Community group keeps watch during construction
By Jason Baker
With construction in full gear at Saratoga Elementary School, a few Saratogans are wondering just how well the campus trees are weathering the impact.
Workers in June began initial renovations of Redwood and Saratoga schools, including structural removal and asbestos abatement. With phase one almost complete, workers this week will begin setting the footings for the new and renovated buildings on the Oak Street campus.
In order to allow space for foundations, pipes and utilities, workers were forced to cut some of the roots of the oak trees near the Oak Street side of the campus. Superintendent Mary Gardner said Debbie Ellis, the arborist employed by the district to monitor the eucalyptus trees, recommended that the district hire Jim McClenahan of Portola Valley to monitor the health of the oaks.
McClenahan initially pruned the district's trees prior to construction and agreed to evaluate the health of the oaks free of charge, Gardner said. He will be paid by the hour should any of the trees require his services.
Despite the district's efforts, Saratoga resident Larry Ford said he still has concerns for the safety of the trees. Ford and eight other residents comprise a community advisory panel monitoring the health of the trees during construction.
Ford said members of his group keep a watchful eye on the construction progress and submit notes to Ellis. He also is keeping in close contact with Gardner, "graciously pestering" the superintendent on the trees' behalf.
"We've found all kinds of problems, but the district has responded pretty well," he said. "We can't expect them to do everything right. We're just trying to minimize the damage as much as we can. I'm really concerned that the health of the oak trees has been significantly jeopardized."
The first phase of construction is a critical time for the trees, Ford said. Damage to the root system combined with the stress from decreased stability from digging has made the trees susceptible to damage and disease.
"Many of the diseases are held at bay by the health of the tree," he said. "Sometimes it's not until they are really stressed that they are overrun by disease. But it could take a year or two to see if the early damage will have an impact."
Gardner agreed with Ford that the oaks may indeed be at risk, but said there are things the district can do to mitigate the situation.
"The oaks didn't get as much early care as the eucalyptus trees, but we're making sure all of the trees are well cared for," Gardner said. "A couple of the [oak] trees were in marginal health even before construction. I can't guarantee that we can save all the trees, but we are doing our best."
Facilities manager Paul Tipton said workers had installed fencing around the eucalyptus trees and were setting up irrigation and mulching for the oaks to preserve their health.
"We've been working closely with the tree advocates and specialists in tree protection," Tipton said. "We are not killing the trees."
Tipton and McClenahan on Sept. 10 were completing an evaluation of the oak trees and would determine the best course of action. McClenahan could not be reached for comment at press time.
The tree controversy began in June 1998 after preliminary plans for Saratoga School's renovation called for the removal of two large eucalyptus trees near the playground and eight eucalyptus trees along the south side of the school near the parking lot.
More than nine months of debate--including the resignation in protest by trustee Jill Hunter--ended on April 27 when the Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a negative declaration and begin the construction bidding process.
Trustees reached a compromise with community groups on the issue of the removal of 10 eucalyptus trees. The district agreed to keep the two large eucalyptus trees near the playground until May 2000. Gardner said at that time that Ellis would recommend the removal of one of the two trees, keeping only the healthiest. Ellis also will evaluate the four eucalyptus trees near the classrooms and determine if any are unhealthy. Diseased or unsafe trees will be removed, Gardner said.
Board president Cindy Ruby also stipulated that any contractor who negligently caused destruction of either of the two largest eucalyptus trees would be fined $15,000 per tree. Contractors also were required to obtain a performance bond that ensures that the terms and conditions of the contract will be met satisfactorily, including tree protection measures.
To date, the district has paid McClenahan of S.P. McClenahan Co. Inc. more than $6,300 for services, including tree trimming at Saratoga School; Ellis has been paid $6,000 for consultation and care of the eucalyptus trees.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
