The committee will be composed of five members—Mayor Nick Streit, Councilwoman Kathleen King, a representative from the sheriff's office, a librarian and City Manager Dave Anderson, who will act as the staff liaison.

It has not yet been determined who will be the representative from the sheriff's station or who will be the librarian, but Streit, King and Anderson already formed a mission statement as well as goals for the committee, which include improving methods of communication, learning school expenditures, identifying budgetary needs and encouraging dialogue on issues of mutual importance with each of the city's seven public school districts. Two districts—the Saratoga Union High School District and the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District—consist of approximately 50 percent of Saratoga students, and the remaining 50 percent are spread throughout the other five districts and the two private schools.

According to Anderson, the goal of the committee would be to meet with each superintendent and school board member of each district at least once a year. The meetings will be open to the public and reports will be presented on a monthly basis before the city council.

During a Nov. 5 city council meeting, King suggested that the committee build a relationship with the key players before tackling tough issues, and Streit expressed hope that the formation of the committee would remedy any tension that was felt between the city and the schools in the past.

"There have been a lot of hits and misses with many of the school districts in the past," Streit said. "Communication only took place when an issue came up."

Streit added that for the city to have a good working relationship with the districts, communication must be maintained even when there is not an issue involving the school and its surrounding community.