Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Di Salvo article
on Nativity schools
'on the money'
I was pleased to read Joseph Di Salvo's article about Sacred Heart Nativity Schools ("Public schools could learn much from Nativity schools," Dec. 4). It was a fabulous article and right on the money. We are very proud of the positive effect our schools have on the lives of our students as well as their families. We are changing lives.
After three years at our middle schools, student test scores increase an average of 25 percentage points. We have an abundance of community volunteers who offer one-on-one tutoring as well as extracurricular opportunities such as art, drama and music lessons.
We have well developed relationships with Bellarmine, Mitty, St. Francis and Downtown College Prep, and soon Presentation and Notre Dame High Schools, who offer our graduates tuition assistance and support.
Our first class of boys will be graduating from high school this year. As noted in the article, we must raise $1.8 million per year, the majority of which comes through private donations. The remainder comes from foundations and in-kind donations. This is no easy task. Our biggest challenge is getting our story out to the broader community and getting interested parties to visit our schools. We strongly encourage visitors. It is inspiring to see our Nativity Schools at work.
We appreciate Di Salvo's sharing of our story. Without the support of our community, we would not exist.
Heather Crane
San Jose
Heather Crane is a director of development at Sacred Heart Nativity School.
Cemetery board
appears determined
to acquire properties
I am concerned that the cemetery board is not being entirely candid regarding its desire to acquire two family homes on Oak Street for cemetery expansion. The Saratoga Cemetery Board has maintained that this land acquisition is for "future growth" or "looking to the future." In fact the cemetery district has sufficient land for burials for at least the next 40 to 50 years (according to the 2006 audit report) so there is no immediate need for land for burial purposes.
The immediate need appears to be for cemetery expansion that may include a grand entrance, a chapel, fountains and a scattering garden. This plan has been discussed for at least a year, as evidenced in cemetery board minutes, the 2006 audit report and the architectural renderings that exist on the architect's website. Expansion of this nature is not a "must have," it may not be desired by the taxpayers in the district and it certainly is not reason to evict two families from their homes.
The cemetery district has not sought public input regarding this project yet they appear determined to acquire these two properties. They hired a lawyer noted for his expertise in eminent domain cases prior to contacting the homeowners so one can only conclude that they anticipate taking legal action to acquire these properties.
I urge all Saratoga residents to educate themselves regarding the cemetery district since we pay the taxes to support this district (according to cemetery records, an average of $52 per household per year). The Saratoga Cemetery District is an independent special district. The county board of supervisors appoints the members of the district board but has no further authority regarding these districts. The Saratoga Cemetery District was one of four randomly chosen special districts investigated by the county grand jury in 2005-06.
In brief, the grand jury concluded that:
* Residents are unaware that their taxes support these special districts. The tax assessment is not specifically indicated on the property tax bill.
* There is little or no citizen oversight of these districts.
* The Saratoga Cemetery District has a great deal of money. Non-tax revenues (fees from interments and other cemetery fees) are nearly sufficient to fund the district, yet they receive an additional almost $500,000 a year in tax revenue.
Other records indicate that the district purchased two acres of vacant property in 2003 for $1.6 million and has more than $1.7 million available for additional land acquisition.
I urge all residents to read documents on the Internet pertaining to the Saratoga Cemetery District to determine for yourself if the district board is acting in the best interest of the residents of Saratoga.
Judy Johnstone
Arroyo de Arguello
Be aware of how
your tax money
is being spent
Please be aware how your tax money is being spent. Your tax money may be going toward acquiring property of two family homes on Oak Street. These two families do not want to lose their properties for possible expansion and a "bigger presence" for the cemetery. They do not want to be forced out of their homes by eminent domain.
Jerry and Lynne Gurley
Oak Street
Cemetery's planned
'grand entrance' not
in the public interest
I am writing on behalf of Nikki and John Teeter, residents of Saratoga. Their property may be in jeopardy of seizure by the adjacent county cemetery. John and Nikki are longtime active members of the Saratoga community. Nikki works at Hakone Gardens and also at local schools. They raised their kids during the 29 years they lived at their present address.
Apparently the cemetery board has been working on the idea of taking the property for the past year, even hiring planners and landscape architects to design a grand entry though the Teeters' property. The first time the Teeters heard about it was within the last month or so, when a real estate agent approached them about the acquisition.
The cemetery board maintains the property seizure would be in the public interest. However, the board has avoided sharing any information with the community. There has been no community involvement process, which in my opinion is a deliberate circumventing of the rules.
Nikki and John face an uphill battle, as the board has had a year to work on this, and apparently the board chairman has not changed his stance on the property seizure.
I feel that different ideas for the cemetery planning should be explored with the community. Surely there is a way to achieve the cemetery's needs without using eminent domain.
Nikki and John do not believe that a new grand entry is in the public interest, and as a county resident, neither do I. I hope you will support the Teeters and the other nearby property owners in defense of their property.
Robert Moberg
Palo Alto
Neighborhood is
just fine the
way it is now
I am a 30-year resident of the Oak Street neighborhood. I live across the street from both the Boyds and the Teeters. I have a deep and abiding affection for our neighborhood, and all of the people who live here, including the cemetery and its grounds staff.
I have, however, been really disappointed with the behavior of the cemetery district board. From the insensitive behavior of the initial contact with the families, through the defensive, combative and bullying behavior at a recent board meeting, I have been amazed that this group of Saratoga citizens believes they are representing the highest good of the community.
Despite the denial by the board members that they have been considering using "eminent domain" to obtain the properties, the minutes of their board meetings clearly show that they have discussed this possibility. When asked for information about their intentions for the properties to be presented in writing to the affected property owners, the board dragged its feet and has not been forthcoming.
It is my feeling that the neighborhood, as it exists today, including the cemetery, is a wonderful example of how great a community can be. It is literally a slice of heaven. To increase the presence of the cemetery in this residential enclave, now or ever, would be desecrating the history created by the founding families, as well as desecrating the history being created by the families currently living here.
Families have for years reared and raised their kids in this special place. It is the responsibility of the citizens of Santa Clara County to rein in this rough board, and send a clear message to similar entities that this kind of crass behavior will not be tolerated.
Bill Brown
Oak Street
Cemetery board
should listen to
the community
I am writing to express my concern about an issue that has surfaced in our community. Oak Street is a great place to live, and was a wonderful place to grow up. Unfortunately, the board of the Madronia Cemetery has decided it needs more real estate and, according to board chairman Philip Boyes, a "greater presence" on Oak Street.
The cemetery has, in fact, been planning the acquisition of two Oak Street properties for over a year now; the families living in those houses were informed in the most casual and callous way only a few weeks ago. I live in one of those houses, with my family. Words cannot express how shocked and offended we are that our neighbors for so many years were making their plans as if we did not exist.
Personal feelings aside, there are several problems with this plan of action. First, there is no immediate need for the land--the cemetery by its own admission has room for 40 to 75 years at its current rate of use. Second, there has been no communication or outreach to the community, which has strong feelings about preserving the feeling of the neighborhood as it is. Third, it has come to light that as a special district, the cemetery has almost no oversight--the board is appointed by the county Board of Supervisors but even it does not have control over what the cemetery board plans to do. Fourth, the terrible irony of all this is that the cemetery district receives revenue from property taxes in Saratoga and Monte Sereno--it is using our own money to retain lawyers and appraisers to kick us out of our homes.
The gentlemen of the cemetery board would do well to listen to their community. For those who are interested in expressing their opinions to the board and to Saratoga's government, more information including contact data can be found at oakstneighborhood.googlepages.com/home.
Jessica Teeter
Oak Street
