The site of a former eucalyptus tree that was more than 100 years old at Saratoga Elementary School is creating cause for an upcoming celebration. The ancient tree was removed Jan. 3, 2002, for safety considerations, after a rainstorm in 2001 toppled a different 91-year-old eucalyptus tree on the campus.

"Eucalyptus trees have very shallow root systems, and a history of sudden limp drop," said Susan Bancroft, the school site council co-president.

The space where the eucalyptus tree once stood, adjacent to the school's multi-purpose room and playground, is being replaced with a heritage grove of redwood trees, dedication plaque, grassy area, rocks and landscaping. The spot will be used for sitting, reflecting, shade and for students to eat their lunch, said Principal Mary Barbara Zorio.

The school's heritage day, Nov. 25, will feature an informal heritage grove dedication at 10 a.m., which is open to the community. The Saratoga Union School District board members received special invitations to the dedication at a Nov. 11 board meeting.

The board members also unanimously decided to form a committee that will discuss selling a .45 acre piece of land adjacent to Redwood Middle School. Chief Business Official Ellen Tipton said the board must go through a formal bidding session and officially declare the piece of land as surplus before it can be sold.

The neighbors who live on each side of the land have proposed buying it at fair market value because it serves as more of a liability where kids hang out than an asset to the district. Board President John Waite said the district can use the revenue from the property sale during these fiscally challenging times.

"It's not useful property to the district, and I don't think anybody else wants it," Waite said.

Board member John Poo was selected to serve on a health and welfare task force, while board secretary Cathie Thermond was chosen as the board representative who will serve on a district budget committee.

The board members directed the district budget committee to look into putting guidelines on how the district's reserve fund can be spent and restored. Currently board policy states that in the event of an emergency situation, the district can spent below 10 percent of the reserve, but there is no plan on how the amount borrowed should be repaid.

Superintendent Lane Weiss also presented board members with a list of the top priorities generated by school principals of resources or personnel that no longer exist because of budget cutbacks. The schools are finding it difficult this year to do without some of the services and supplies that were eliminated or reduced last academic year.

"The tough decisions you had to make last spring are playing themselves out," Weiss said.

One of the needs the district was lacking included school improvement plan funding, or categorical funding for programs, resources and services. Tipton said the district recently received a total of $236,524 in SIP money for 2003­04 from the state, plus an additional $71,608 in deferred revenue from 2002­03.

Tipton said the district used some of the SIP money to pay the state a take back of $165,462, or a basic-aid penalty. This leaves the district $142,670 in SIP funding this year, slightly lower than last year's $189,747.