By Kathleen Acuff

The independent oversight group that advises the Los Altos School District on financial matters acquired several knowledgeable new members last week, adding to the diversity of the 19-member committee.

Former Sun Microsystems server and processor chief John Shoemaker joined the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF), along with Tammy Logan, a senior engineer at Cisco and active district parent who withdrew from the high-priced race for the school board this fall. Both Logan and Shoemaker are at-large members.

Founding CACF chairman Dick Hasenpflug came out of a few weeks’ retirement to rejoin the committee as the representative for Keep Los Altos Schools Strong (KLASS), a registered political action committee.

Doug Aherns formally resigned last week, and the Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously appointed Francis La Poll, a tax and estate attorney who was an aspirant for the LASD board this fall, to replace him. The town’s Public Education Committee recommended La Poll, who recently moved from Los Altos to Los Altos Hills. He was the only town resident to express interest in joining the school district’s financial advisory committee. La Poll served on the CACF from 1996 to 2003.

Last Wednesday’s CACF meeting was Vice Chairman Mark Goines’ last before his installation as a school board member. His four-year term begins Monday. Mike Maciag takes his place as the Los Altos Educational Foundation’s representative to the CACF.

The CACF plans to present its full financial report to the school board 7 p.m. Jan. 23 in the district board room, 201 Covington Road.