At the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District's May 18 meeting, Bob Peterson, the district's chief business officer and director of administrative services, reported the possibility of leasing out space for such services at Saratoga High School. The space would be leased to the telecommunications firm of VelociTel (AT&T) to provide antennas for wireless communication services. The proposed location for the antennas is on the school's Performing Arts and Lecture Center, which is currently under construction.

VelociTel leasing agent Kathy Webber described the location as ideal, explaining that three antennas would be placed on the sides of the PAL painted to match, and related electrical equipment would also be shielded to blend in with existing structures.

"You wouldn't be able to see it at all," Webber said.

Peterson said the antenna/space leasing agreement could generate between $14,000­$16,000 in revenue each year for the district. The item, for informational purposes only at the May 18 meeting, is still pending approval by state and local agencies, including the city of Saratoga, Peterson said, before it can be approved by the school board. The agreement would be for a limited term and would not be exclusive to VelociTel, meaning other firms could put cell phone towers in similar locations.

Board member Cynthia Chang questioned the safety of being continually exposed to wireless microwaves emitted from the tower. Webber assured her the waves would be dispersed out at a height of about 60 to 70 feet, rather than down.

Board members Phil Nielsen and Lorrie Wernick were in favor of proceeding with the agreement. Nielsen reminded Chang how cell phone towers exist on many hospitals in the area, and Webber said there are already six towers in the Saratoga area.

"As a parent and an environmentalist, if I felt it was dangerous I wouldn't be doing it," Webber said.

In other action, service awards were presented by board members to honor longtime district employees and two student representatives, Saratoga High School senior Marissa Byrne and Los Gatos High School junior Dinah Chandy. The two students have served on the school board this year and report happenings at their respective schools.

Additional award recipients included: Los Gatos—work experience teacher and former baseball coach Joe Winstead, 45 years of service; librarian Linda Roshon-Harville, 35 years; special education teacher and former baseball coach Wayne Senini, 35 years; golf coach and computer science teacher and department chair Michael Costanzo, 30 years; and visual arts teacher Lani Dillon, 30 years of service; and Saratoga—social studies teacher and department chair Charles "Chuck" Newport, 35 years; and after-school custodian Adam Jordan, 25 years.

The board members heard the second annual report by Lorine Tetzlaff, chairwoman of the district's Citizens' Oversight Committee. The committee is a small group of volunteers who work in a watchdog function over the school board to make sure bond money and district revenues are spent appropriately.

As two major projects near completion—the PAL at Saratoga and the swimming pool, girls locker room and community room at Los Gatos—Tetzlaff stressed the seriousness of the projects. The PAL is expected to be finished by spring 2005, and the pool's grand opening is set for June 19. Los Gatos Principal Trudy McCulloch said she wasn't sure if that grand opening will include water in the pool.

Projects such as returfing the football and soccer fields at Saratoga are being funded by the school's athletic boosters club and private donors rather than bond money, Tezlaff said.

L.D. Hirschklau, the district's coordinator of special projects, reported to board members a review of the 2003­04 WorkAbility I and Transition Partnership Project, followed by a testimonial from a Saratoga student's success in the program.

WorkAbility I is a job development and job-coaching program that helps special education high school students become prepared for the work world after high school. The program is funded through an application process to the California Department of Education, and Transition Partnership Project funds are targeted for juniors and seniors in the program who have more intense needs. The students hold jobs such as shelving movies at Hollywood Video or bagging groceries at PW Markets. Through the program, students are assessed for abilities and career capabilities and take tours of community college campuses. In addition, families of these students are provided with information, networking opportunities and support.

Hirschklau also updated board members on the district's healthy lifestyles programs and smokeless school days, funded by a three-year tobacco use prevention education grant and the Safe and Drug Free Schools award. Reduced funds in these areas have led to some cutbacks in programming.

Board members unanimously approved a funding request for the 2004­2005 academic year to continue the Counselor on Campus Program, run by the Teen and Family Counseling Center. The district contracts with the center to provide counseling services to individual students and groups as well as crisis counseling, according to Mary Raz, executive director of the Teen and Family Counseling Center of West Valley.

Raz said licensed marriage and family therapist interns, under the supervision of professional licensed therapists, help students work out their problems, and refer them to qualified practitioners when appropriate or necessary. The most common reasons students use the program include unexplained injuries to family members, excessive drug or alcohol use, lack of sleep, family conflict, divorce/separation, fear, anger or guilt.