By The Santa Clara County Board of Education's Sept. 3 decision to approve the Bullis Charter School proposal surprised many Los Altos School District supporters. After all, what charter organizers really wanted was the Bullis-Purissima School site that the district closed earlier this year. Hardly a reason for a charter school, some thought.

The irony is, district officials have offered to put charter students back at Covington School, where Bullis children are already attending. Since the district claims the charter directive is not site-specific, the charter school can be put anywhere there’s space, and Covington, the largest school, seems to fit the bill.

The difference however, is that charter supporters will be in charge of the education program and day-to-day operations. District officials claim they lose $5,000 for every child transferred to the charter school.

That all said, the bottom line is this: the charter school is not going away. For whatever the reason - neighborhood school aspirations, revenge for the Bullis closing - charter parents are determined to see this through.

So we offer this: In the spirit of both sides, who presumably are going forward in the best interests of the kids, why not join forces as allies and not adversaries? Why not unite with the goal of providing even better education than the already high level to which the district is accustomed?

Surely, the detailed proposal for the charter school has some innovative, promising programs that could enhance the district as a whole. Many of the charter parents are successful innovators in the business world and have consulted with top educators to put together their plan.

The district, in turn, can recognize and acknowledge the mistakes made leading to the closure of Bullis and offer some options in the spirit of cooperation: One suggestion would be making Bullis the first priority for campus renovations when and if the district goes to the public for its second bond measure to finish what the district failed to do under the goals of 1998’s Measure H. This time, ensure the promise is kept. Pledge that every effort be made to re-open Bullis-Purissima School in the near future.

And, since the neighborhood school concept is so important to charter parents, offer to rename Covington Bullis, or Bullis-Covington if need be. What’s in the name? Apparently a lot, to some folks.

But our bottom line is, a united rather than divided community means the best for our kids.