LASD junior high action appropriate

We think it’s good that the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees has voted to allow parents a choice of sending their children to either Egan or Blach junior high schools, no matter where they reside in the district.

Redrawn attendance lines for the elementary schools (which accommodate the opening of the new Gardner Bullis School in Los Altos Hills) had children and families move from one school to the next. The possibility existed for siblings and friends to be separated yet again upon transfer to a junior high school. The new open enrollment ensures families that their children will experience fewer school transitions in their student careers, thereby keeping them with groups of friends longer. The decision does not compromise the size of the enrollment at either junior high, which is important.

Of course, we think it would be strange if someone who lived next door to Blach, for instance, opted to send their students to Egan. But for families on or near the boundary lines, the decision makes perfect sense.

We would not like to see the scales tipped to where one school has a clear advantage, say, with gifted students or disproportional parental financial support. So we’re glad to hear the district will monitor the effects of this decision in the months and years to come. Both schools currently enjoy excellent reputations and we would like them to stay that way.

The board and district are showing sensitivity through their recent decision. We only hope the long-term effects are beneficial to the schools themselves as well as the parents and students.

Questions on Bullis expansion delay

We appreciate the recent decision by the Bullis Charter School board to postpone middle-school expansion plans for a year while supporters iron out a few issues that have developed in the wake of the expansion approval.

The board of the K-6 school was ready to add seventh and eighth grades, beginning next year. However, a significant number of charter parents were apparently opposed. An online petition that included 77 names was briefly posted, then removed when our reporter called to inquire.

Charter board president Ken Moore indicated the board is responding to parents’ as well as Los Altos School District concerns by postponing the middle school expansion. School officials said they had pushed for it in the first place based on parent feedback.

We are supportive of the charter school program. But several questions come to mind. Among them: Why won’t parents who signed the petition explain themselves? Why the refusal, even by board members (excluding Ken Moore), to comment on this issue? Was this really the right decision for the charter school? Stay tuned.

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