By Tim Seyfert

Los Altos Hills City Council voted unanimously April 17 to adopt a resolution in support of turning the Bullis-Purissima site into a charter school, despite strong opposition from the Los Altos School district.

Though the final say rests with the district, scheduled to make a decision about the charter school May 16, many residents hope the endorsement will sway the district to keep the town’s only public school alive.

“It’s not a council issue, it’s a district issue; but having the support of our elected officials is important to show that this is what the town wants,” said Craig Jones, organizer of the Bullis Charter School.

After a lengthy public hearing weighing both sides of the issue, audience members applauded loudly when all five council members enthusiastically agreed to adopt the resolution, which states “the development of a charter elementary school … is in the best interest of the town.”

“To me, this is an easy decision,” said Councilman Dean Warshawsky. “I’m for having a public school in Los Altos Hills.”

“I’m particularly appalled that a town of 8,000 people, with its affluence and sophistication, would have no public school,” added Mayor Bob Fenwick. “It seems that a charter school would be the way to fix this.”

Last week wasn’t the first time council has backed the effort to save Bullis. Earlier this year, they adopted a similar resolution to support the school’s staying open. The town also put up $5,000 in January to help Jones and his group hire a consultant to fight the school’s initial closing.

Despite the council’s support, the district argues that it stands to lose a substantial amount of funds from the charter school, mostly from rental income that could have been accumulated if the Bullis site was put to other uses.

“We believe the charter has a serious financial impact on the district,” said Dick Hasenflug, chairman of the district’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Finance.

Hasenflug said the charter could cost the district more than $200,000 its first year of operation.

Still, council members sided with Jones, who insisted a charter school would not be a financial drain on the district because the 200 students would actually increase state funding by $100 per-student.

“I don’t think the hardship to the district would be as tragic as (the district) says,” said Councilman Mike O’Malley. “We’re up here to accomplish the interests of the town and that’s what I think a charter school does.”