Speak Out

Choice structure not working in WG

Regarding Kate Carter's article March 6 titled "Preliminary report says the district diversifying its schools," I would like to share a few observations as to why the current choice structure is not working for Willow Glen schools.

First, Willow Glen secondary schools don't have a major magnet program with which to attract and retain our neighborhood students. Higher-achieving students are attracted to magnet programs, which tend to establish "a have and have not" educational system. Since Willow Glen sits in the middle of the district, it would have made sense 17 years ago to establish a magnet program at Willow Glen Middle and High schools, such that students from north and south might be attracted to Willow Glen schools.

Second, we lose more than 50 percent of our neighborhood students to other schools in the San Jose Unified School District. In contrast, Almaden Valley retains almost 90 percent of its students.

Almaden Valley schools have strong parent involvement, which enables these schools to do major fundraising. Castillero Middle School in Almaden Valley is a performing arts magnet that attracts more than 141 Willow Glen students, of which 80 students are white. Why are we encouraging white students to leave Willow Glen and go to Almaden Valley schools?

Third, nearly half of the students at Willow Glen Middle and High schools come from outside our neighborhood. They have been redirected from other campuses and must take the bus. They and their families do not live in the neighborhood, so they don't have a connection or a sense of belonging. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to find parent volunteers for our Parents' Club and Booster Club.

When a community loses its critical mass of families/students to choice programs, then a very small number of parents are available to lead parent-run activities and fundraising.

Finally, I disagree with Dr. Grate's interpretation of the Choice survey, in which 74 percent of white parents and 86 percent of Latino parents say they support the district's choice process. Dr. Grate, the district's evaluator, claims that if the district were to restrict or eliminate choice, roughly 25 percent of all parents would "probably or definitely" leave the district. This is already happening in Willow Glen, which loses the largest number of students to private schools, and this exodus has been accelerating. This trend and demographic shift explain why Willow Glen secondary schools are now 27 percent white and 73 percent minority, when 10 years ago they were 70 percent white and 30 percent minority. Under the court order, Willow Glen High is still designated a majority school, which means we have more white students than minority students! Willow Glen High School is now more racially isolated than Lincoln High School, which receives magnet money to end racial isolation.

A return to neighborhood schools would be in the best interest of all. The desegregation dollars could be distributed to needy Hispanic students and not to high-income or high-achieving students, especially those who reside outside of the district and are heavily recruited by magnet schools. After 17 years and $400 million of desegregation funds, Willow Glen High School is now more racially isolated than it has ever been, and the achievement gap (difference between white and Hispanic test scores) remains unchanged throughout the district.

Carol Myers
Member of the San Jose Unified School District Board of Education

Campaign against Measure E a success

I want to thank our many members who worked hard and contributed so much in the recent campaign against Measure E. I also want to thank the tens of thousands of residents of the West Valley-Mission Community College District who evaluated the "Yes on E" and "No on E" campaigns, and voted to defeat this excessive bond measure. One of the college district trustees, Don Wolfe, told the Mercury News that "the voters were duped;" what a shame that Wolfe and the district don't have more respect for the democratic process and more faith in the voters of our area.

As many of you know, this victory was particularly hard earned. Unbelievably, we were outspent by 8 to 1, according to the Mercury News, and the final tally may be worse than that. The vast majority of the "Yes on E" funds came from large contributions from vendors and contractors doing business with the college district. Then the "Yes on E" campaign used in excess of $150,000 of district funds. Those were your tax dollars at work trying to hijack the election. The "Yes on E" campaign also stole between 350 and 500 of our campaign signs and their ballot statements and campaign literature included statements that were clearly and demonstrably false.

Make no mistake: This was pure grass-roots politics against big money, special interests and corrupt practices. We raised less than $45,000, while they spent more than $300,000. They got $25,000 from Salomon Smith Barney, the bond underwriter, who would have been paid from the bond proceeds if this measure had passed. We got a check early in the campaign for $7 from a lady who wrote that it was all she could afford but that she felt strongly about the issue. They hired a professional campaign consultant for more than $50,000. We had a group of neighbors sitting around a kitchen table trying to figure out how to run the campaign.

In the end, we defeated Measure E in nine of the 10 geographic jurisdictions (Sunnyvale, Los Gatos, San Jose, etc.) encompassed by the college district. Our deepest thanks to everyone for a fantastic effort and an inspirational victory.

Victor Monia
President, West Valley Homeowners Association
Saratoga

Correction

The March 13 cover story in the Willow Glen Resident about Sunset Magazine's Idea House in Willow Glen incorrectly stated that people can log onto www.sunset.com to sign up for a tour of the home. The Open House information will be posted on Sunset's website in the coming weeks. People may also call 800. 786.7375 for more information.

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