By Sara Ballenger

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees voted at its May 13 meeting to delay the opening of Covington School for one year. The decision comes one month after voters failed to pass a parcel tax increase that would have added $4.4 million to the district’s budget.

The board agreed last week to ask voters to raise the parcel tax a second time this fall during the Nov. 5 general election. The board was scheduled to decide how much to raise the parcel tax Monday night after the Town Crier’s press deadline.

Springer School, which currently has 637 students, will use the Covington campus as a “camp school” or temporary campus for one year, leaving the Blach Camp School unoccupied.

It is not yet clear whether the district will leave the Blach Camp School vacant or attempt to rent it out for one year. Almond School will proceed to the Egan Camp School as scheduled.

“The decision seems to make short- and long-term sense. On a short-term status, the movement of the school with the population of 640 students saves the agony of traffic that could potentially be very problematic at the Blach Camp School,” said Springer Principal Bob Celeste.

Blach Intermediate School Principal Arthur Harris agreed.

“I was looking forward to working with Bob Celeste and the Springer staff.

“But obviously it will be easier for us next year not having to deal with the anticipated traffic concerns,” he said.

Celeste is excited for the Springer community to move into Covington, and for the remodeling on Springer’s campus to get under way.

“Moving to Covington allows the community to continue its relationship while developing the new school for student use.

“The total community will also be able to plan and support the development of the new Springer campus. It will be a very busy and exciting year,” Celeste said.

The district is contemplating the idea of renting out the Blach Camp School, a collection of portable classrooms funded through the construction budget.

Money for the construction budget comes from a 1998 bond measure, separate from the general fund which is facing a $4.4 million deficit for the 2002-03 school year.

“If short-term uses that do not adversely impact the neighborhood can be arranged, this could mitigate the very serious financial problems we are facing,” Harris said.

“I would certainly support finding appropriate tenants.”