By The Los Altos School District, faced with the possibility of the political and tactical nightmare of having to close a school, may in fact, be able to keep all schools open due to a workable new plan.

The proposal on the table now calls for three schools instead of two under construction next year, Oak, Santa Rita and Loyola, with camp schools at Blach, Egan and Covington. This buys the district time to re-examine their facilities issues in terms of enrollment forecasts and projected costs of operating seven schools. The district board is scheduled to vote on the plan at its Dec. 9 meeting.

Continuing with a plan to renovate all schools keeps a promise to the voters under the $95 million bond measure passed in 1998. Even though Loyola and Bullis-Purissima had been targeted as potential closures because of their current facilities problems, it makes sense from four major standpoints to keep them open.

First, the passage of the parcel tax increase ensures the district will be financially stable for the next four years. During that time, there is a distinct possibility of transferring from a revenue limit to a basic aid district, which would result in greater state revenues and allow the district, not only to keep all schools open, but fulfill the original goal of the bond measure to operate small schools.

Secondly, the district would not gain anything by closing a school and either selling the property or renting it out. Superintendent Marge Gratiot noted the district wouldn’t get significant lease income unless facilities were leased over a 15-20-year period. And rental income would not be nearly as great as a newly renovated facility. Those leasing would most likely be child-care centers requiring updated safety standards which renovated facilities provide.

Thirdly, school communities in Los Altos are strong and it would be unfortunate to break these communities up with a school closure and subsequent re-drawing of district school boundaries. This upheaval with all its emotional fallout, could be avoided altogether with this latest district plan that promises to buy time for at least one year.

Fourth, the plan to use three camp schools including Covington also saves a year’s cost of renting portable classrooms at Blach and Egan camp schools (if Bullis students go to Covington during their school’s construction).

The district plan is a good one, speeding up the construction plan, saving money and buying time. Now, if the economy can rebound and more homes are bought and re-assessed, Los Altos may at last qualify for basic aid in a few years and receive the adequate funding we believe it deserves.