Charter lawsuit: Stop the bleeding
The Los Altos School District won a battle last week in its legal fight with the Bullis Charter School for control of the Bullis-Purissima School site. But it is losing the war.
A Superior Court judge ruled Sept. 9 the district provided the charter school facilities equal to those throughout the district and therefore did not have to surrender Bullis-Purissima. Unfortunately, it has cost this top-ranked school district $200,000 in legal fees to fight the lawsuit to this point. And charter school representatives say they plan to appeal.
The money being spent on attorneys is great for the attorneys, but a waste for the rest of us. Surely both sides can see this and agree to discuss this case outside the doors of the courtroom.
If the charter school proponents really have the best interests of children at heart, they should stop the legal war that ultimately hurts district children and start working on compromises with the district.
New Superintendent Tim Justus appears open to discussion. Surely charter proponents are, too.
There’s good news on the horizon regarding public education in Los Alto Hills. Enrollment is going up, and some in the know are expecting a return of K-6 classes at Bullis-Purissima within a few years. And isn’t this the objective from which the charter school sprang in the first place?
The charter school has been a big success and there is simply too much momentum to stop the school in its tracks when K-6 classes return. However, we believe the charter can coexist - and without the lawsuits.
Let’s stop the waste of money that could be better spent on children instead of attorneys.
Platt a nice guy who finished first
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Lew Platt showed that one could be both a successful CEO and a nice guy.
Platt was universally praised last week as word of his passing spread. Platt, who called Los Altos home for many years, died Sept. 8 at age 64.
Los Altos Hills resident Bob Wayman, HP’s CFO, echoed the thoughts of many who knew Platt when he recalled: “Lew was the ultimate team leader, and to him the HP team included every single employee around the globe. Lew successfully led us through a period of rapid growth and great market turmoil. Professionally, his drive and focus were enormous assets for us. And personally, people he worked with, whether they were an employee, a customer or a community leader, were left with one overriding impression, ‘What a great human being.’ “
Platt’s low-key style and inclusiveness seem a far cry from the arrogance and power lust that typify some Silicon Valley CEOs. His legacy reminds us that nice guys also finish first.
