Good-faith effort by school district

While the Los Altos Hills City Council prepares at Thursday’s council meeting to pursue forming its own school district, the Los Altos School District is doing the right thing in its pursuit of schools facilities solutions that will not only include Los Altos Hills students but all district students.

Granted, the redistricting threat seemed to spur district officials into more productive discussions than would have likely taken place. But the current six options discussed by school board members at last week’s meeting resulted directly from a study by the district’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Finance.

The end game here is not only bringing public education back to Los Altos Hills but dealing with district growth as a whole. Bullis Charter School, although formed in the wake of the Bullis site’s 2003 closure, may or may not be part of the Bullis site. Among the options discussed are a district-run K-6 campus returning to Bullis. The board and administrators are carefully reviewing enrollment projections and available funding to determine the best option. The district is seeking a solution without having to redraw attendance boundaries - clearly another contentious issue the district does not need.

The district needs to pursue a solution at its own pace, not under a deadline imposed by the Los Altos Hills council. We understand that trust has been a big concern for town residents. But the district is making a good-faith effort to bring the Bullis site back into operation.

The town council would do well to recognize this and abandon redistricting efforts that would ultimately prove a divisive and fruitless battle.

Hidden Villa needs community’s help

What’s up with Hidden Villa? The respected environmental education institution in Los Altos Hills has hit hard financial times, laying off staff and looking to cut back a summer camp program that celebrated 60 years in April.

This is unfortunate, especially after years of very strong community support for its noble programs.

Hidden Villa supporters have been fairly quiet about this issue until recently. From our perspective, a thorough airing of the organization’s finances would trigger additional support and help Hidden Villa’s recovery. Now is the time for supporters to make the loudest appeals to the community, not downplay the shortfalls. Hidden Villa needs our help, now more than ever.