Parcel tax renewal comes amid Hills redistricting, Bullis reopening efforts

By Traci Newell, Town Crier Staff Writer

photos by joe hu/town crier Los Altos School District Superintendent Tim Justus calls on voters to support Measure H.

Los Altos School District supporters are bringing their annual $597 parcel tax back to the ballot for renewal Nov. 7. The measure is vital to, as their slogan states, “Keep Los Altos Schools Strong.”

“The parcel tax allows the school district that opportunity to do additional programs for children that general-fund dollars we get from the state won’t allow us to,” said Superintendent Tim Justus. “Parcel tax dollars allow a district to be creative and offer programs to students that allow it to be a sort of step above a basic program.”

The political landscape has changed significantly from the previous parcel tax campaign, in November 2002. Just a few months after passage, the district board voted to close Bullis-Purissima Elementary School, setting off a public outcry over closure of the last public elementary school in Los Altos Hills. Despite plans to reopen Bullis-Purissima and improved relations with the town’s school supporters, Measure H backers are concerned that resentment over Bullis’ closing might hurt efforts to renew the parcel tax.

Twenty percent of the district’s funding is currently provided by money received from the parcel

tax, equating to $7.2 million annually.

The parcel tax money goes toward keeping class sizes small at each grade level, hiring and retaining teachers, maintaining and strengthening academic programs and providing junior high students with electives in music, foreign languages and technology. By law, the tax must be renewed every four years. Because district officials are asking for a renewal and not a tax increase, Measure H needs a simple majority to pass.

Each year the parcel tax money is reviewed by the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Finance, an independent body charged with overseeing the district’s finances.

The ballot measure was originally passed in 1989 and allows the district to tax property owners a per parcel assessment, currently set at $597 a parcel per year, to raise money for schools. The original measure requested $168 per parcel, and has increased twice to its current total. The original measure and the following tax increases required a two-thirds majority.

Homeowners ages 65 and older can apply for a tax exemption. Approximately 2,000 people thus far have taken advantage of the exemption. Exemption forms are available at the district office.

The current parcel tax expires June 30. The parcel tax renewal would go into effect July 1. Justus said the district wanted to put the parcel tax to vote early so the district would have the opportunity to run another campaign if the renewal did not pass the first time on the ballot.

The volunteer organization Keep Los Altos Schools Strong (KLASS) is spearheading the campaign for the parcel tax. KLASS comprises parents, teachers, principals, board members and district staff to assist in the campaign effort.

Historically, parcel tax support has come from a broad range of residents. Currently, district parents make up only 16 percent of registered voters in Los Altos.

“I think that people, whether they have children in the district or not, realize the ties to strong schools and property values,” said Katie Matice, KLASS chairwoman. “People are drawn to this region because of the good public schooling.”

This past spring, KLASS conducted a survey asking residents if they would support the parcel tax. Supporters said the result was about 80 percent in favor. In Los Altos Hills, about 68 percent were in favor.

The Bullis factor

There is currently no organized effort to defeat the parcel tax renewal and no ballot language was submitted against Measure H. However, there are residents, particularly in Los Altos Hills, still disappointed by the district’s actions over the past four years.

Due to unforeseen construction costs by the school district, the board voted to close Bullis-Purissima School in February 2003, shortly after the district renovated and reopened Covington School.

Board President Margot Harrigan said the district started drawing up plans for Phase I construction in 1997-1998. She said the board realized renovating all the campuses would total more than the school district was bondable for. The plan the district chose was to begin at the junior highs and then move on to renovations at the elementary schools.

After construction began at the junior highs, district officials were surprised to see their general obligation bond money running out due to rising construction costs.

“The spiraling expenses of construction were unexpected,” Harrigan said. “It was shocking; we were all stunned.”

In 2002, when the construction for Covington was already under way, a parcel tax increase, from $264 to $597, went to the ballot. Shortly after it passed, district officials were faced with having to close one of the smaller campuses.

“Covington had the capacity for Bullis-Purissima students and extra,” Harrigan said. “The only other options were Springer and Loyola, and those students would’ve had to be put in other school sites.”

Managing finances

Some residents, still feeling the sting of the Bullis-Purissima school closure, said the district did not correctly manage its money during Phase I construction.

“I’m surprised there hasn’t been more debate regarding the district’s finances,” said John Swan, a Los Altos Hills resident with two children in Los Altos School District schools.

Los Altos Hills residents have since elected to pursue formation of their own K-8 school district. Redistricting, could mean financial losses for the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, Palo Alto Unified School District and Los Altos School District.

Reopening Bullis

Despite the redistricting effort, Los Altos School District officials plan to reopen Bullis-Purissima as a seventh elementary school in the district. District architect Gelfand and Partners has drawn up initial plans and has met with a design committee, partially comprising former Bullis-Purissima staff, to draw up a revised copy of plans.

Swan said he would like to see a breakdown, or an audit of the parcel tax money. He said he requested an audit of the Phase I construction project and was denied.

Randy Kenyon, associate Superintendent for business services, said an audit of Swan’s specifications would cost the district an extra $10,000 to $15,000.

“Their credibility is shot until they show they can fiscally manage the money,” Swan said. “It is like motherhood and apple pie talking about education, but this is really a fiscal matter that needs to be solved.”

Despite some lingering resentment toward the school district, board members remain optimistic Measure H will pass.

“These decisions are tough, but to purposely vote against something that would benefit your children doesn’t make sense,” Harrigan said. “Defeating Measure H will not solve anything - it will make matters worse.”