Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 05/12/1999 All articles from this issue

Allaying fears over boundary changes

printer friendly version

Editorial

Los Altos School District Superintendent Marge Gratiot thought closing a school would be hard. But she's finding opening one is just as difficult.

Thanks in part to the passage of Measure H, a $94.7 million bond last November, the district plans to reopen Covington School by fall of 2001. Covington was closed back in 1980.

Far from final, however, with emphasis on far, is how students from the surrounding schools will be distributed to fill Covington.

Understandably, anxious parents have a wide range of questions. Almond School, for example, still faces overcrowding with the influx of students from new Mountain View developments, the Crossings and the just-approved Skyview apartment towers. Parents at Almond, and at schools throughout the district, are worried about their kids being bumped from their closest school to one further away. Residents also are concerned about traffic problems as a result of the boundary changes.

Not everyone is going to be happy with the way district boundaries are redrawn. But, based on the track record of this district, we are confident that the greatest number of parents and kids will benefit in the end.

The district can't be faulted for a lack of public input. The boundary committee is bursting with members, as the district allowed anyone interested to join. District officials also have placed ads in the local paper apprising people of upcoming meetings and developments. Parents can attend meetings and write letters.

We think the process is going well thus far. The school district continues its reputation of reaching decisions by consensus, and, given the importance of this issue, the process will be extensive. Monday's board meeting, at which five boundary scenarios were scheduled for discussion, is just one step in that process. The boundary committee, which is working with a professional demographer and Gratiot, will continue to refine options. Members are keeping in mind the best interests of the district as a whole, with no favoritism toward any one particular school.

Gratiot expects the board to narrow the field to one or two options by next fall, with a decision possible by the end of 1999. However, she said the board is in no hurry to make a decision.

What will ultimately emerge are schools with smaller enrollments - the goal is at least 100 fewer students at each school. It also stands to reason that traffic concerns will be addressed, in most cases, because fewer students at each school means less traffic.

Smaller schools, less traffic, and ultimately an educational program that will benefit as a result - who can argue with that? In the meantime, "Be involved in the process," Gratiot advises anxious parents. Check with the school district for the next boundary committee meeting.