Window of opportunity closing for Bullis
Charlie Amsden
It appears as though Los Altos School District and Bullis Charter School have battled to a standoff. Bullis supporters desperately want the Bullis-Purissima School site, but the school district won’t give it to them, since it’s not “reasonably equivalent” to the other facilities in the district. At this point, the district doesn’t have the funding for Bullis-Purissima renovation, and the very existence of the charter school will make it difficult to pass a facilities bond measure to finance the work.
Reopening Bullis-Purissima as a public school must be based on the need for additional capacity. Anything less will amount to the school district’s subsidizing public facilities for the town of Los Altos Hills. To the extent that Bullis Charter School diverts students from the main school district student population, it hinders the primary justification for reopening the Bullis-Purissima site as a noncharter public school.
Bullis-Purissima was closed because the district couldn’t afford the operational costs and financial inefficiency of a small school. Assuming there’s a proven need for additional capacity, the district must still obtain funding for its operation. To the extent that the charter school is draining money from the district, it’s hindering the district from affording the operating costs of another facility.
On several levels, Bullis Charter School seems to be hindering the reopening of a public school in Los Altos Hills. District demographic projections show district enrollment levelling off in about five years. After that time, it may drop as we move past the “echo-boom” generation. Should enrollment drop, it may be difficult to justify reopening Bullis-Purissima, even if the capital and operating budget can be identified. There seems to be a window of opportunity. Close Bullis Charter School now so Los Altos Hills can have a public school, or it may never happen.
Extended kindergarten drawbacks
Kris Moore
In response to the Los Altos School District’s plan to offer extended kindergarten at the shuttered Bullis site, I think parents should keep a few things in mind.
While I understand the desire for parents to gain free time and save money on day care, it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the child. Along with academic instruction, kindergarten is an introduction to the workings of a school and a time to gain a sense of belonging in the overall school environment. Kindergartners at the empty Bullis site will likely be deprived of a dedicated principal, instructors in physical education, art, music and drama, a library, and second-grade buddies.
Kindergarten shouldn’t feel like an isolated longer day preschool, it should be a transition to a whole elementary school which cares about its first year students.
Kindergarten is also a time when long-lasting parental friendships are made and volunteer committees and PTA relationships are formed. If the Los Altos School District wants to offer extended-care kindergarten, it should offer it exclusively at their six existing, fully functioning elementary schools.
City responsible for sewage backup
Lewis Lanier
and Linda Lloyd
We are writing in response to your article “LA resident fights city to pay sewer overflow costs” (April 6), which describes a catastrophic backup of the city sewage system into Tom Burns’ home on Frontero Avenue. We have been homeowners on Frontero Avenue since 1983. In particular, we take exception to the statement by Joseph Howard, the city’s attorney, “In Los Altos, every home that is connected to the city sewer is supposed to have a backflow device according to the city plumbing code.”
For the record, Frontero Avenue is in the unincorporated area of Santa Clara County, not in the city of Los Altos, although sewage and water services are provided by the city.
When we remodeled our home in 1991 and called the city to inquire about obtaining building permits, we were told, “Your permits are issued by the county, not the city.” A licensed contractor performed all of our remodeling, but we were never advised about the requirement for a backflow valve for the plumbing. In fact, we didn’t know what a backflow valve was before hearing about the sewage that flooded Burns’ home.
After learning that three homes in our neighborhood had suffered sewage backups, last month we decided that it would be prudent to install a backflow valve on our property. We contracted a licensed plumber and had a valve installed. Again, Santa Clara County, and not the city of Los Altos, issued all permits.
Upon signing the permit for the plumbing work done at our house, the inspector for Santa Clara County asked us why we were having a backflow valve installed, because it was neither required nor necessary.
We believe it is irresponsible to blame Burns for failing to install plumbing equipment that even today residents are being told isn’t necessary. The city of Los Altos should take responsibility for problems caused by its aging sewage system and reimburse Burns for his damages.
Community invited to pet parade
Howard A. Bischoff
president,
On behalf of the Los Altos Kiwanis Club, I would like to officially invite you and your family to join us at 10 a.m., Saturday, for the 58th annual Kiwanis Pet Parade.
This year is a special one for us. First of all, we are honoring Marge Gratiot on her retirement as the head of the Los Altos School District.
For more than 30 years Gratiot has put our children first, and as a service organization that primarily helps children, we salute her dedication by making her the grand marshal.
Second, we are honored to have with us this year Kiwanis District Gov. Larry McLelland and his wife, Yolie, who is also an educator.
This is the first time in memory that the Kiwanis governor of California, Nevada and Hawaii will join us for the Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade.
So, whether you are going to march in the parade or just watch it, please enjoy our gift to the community. And after the parade, don’t forget to take advantage of the many fine shops downtown and also visit the Rotary Fine Art Show in Lincoln Park.
