Los Altos School Board Votes to File Suit Against BCS

The Los Altos School Board voted 5-0 Monday night to file an action to compel the Bullis Charter School to fulfill the school district’s request for “student information.”

Board president Mark Goines reported out the decision, which was made during closed session Monday night to discuss existing and anticipated litigation. The request for student information had been made over a two-year period, Goines said later.

for the first time since mid-July, has been preparing for a Wednesday Superior Court hearing. It also authorized its counsel to file a cross action to the charter school’s original action.

The meeting’s agenda, which ranged over a wide range of business, included discussion of:

• Update on school preparation for staffing, enrollment and facilities. Assistant Superintendent for Business Randall Kenyon reported on the snapshot of enrollment figures, the number portables moved to which campuses, and facilities changes over the summer.
• Professional Development Plans. Assistant Superintendent Alyssa Gallagher reported on teacher training and staff development to improve student learning. Patch will have more on this at a later time.
• Agenda for upcoming subcommittee meeting between the school district and the Los Altos City Council. The district and the council subcommittee regularly meet, and each prepare agenda items. Discussion of follow-up from the big meeting of both full bodies that took place in May was a major item on the list. Board President Mark Goines asked for a board member to take his place on the subcommittee, which includes Trustee Doug Smith. Trustee Tamara Logan offered to serve on the subcommittee, pending further information about the role. Jim Gustafson and new transportation planning project manager Cedric Novemario answered questions about traffic safety issues at Egan Jr. High School.
• Assembling a task force on student growth. The board discussed starting a task force studying the growth of student enrollment, facilities and program. Goines suggested approaching former Mayor Lou Beck because of his insights and analysis.
• Oposing the Waiver for Rocketship No. 6. The board approved 5-0, sending a letter to the Santa Clara County Board of Education opposing a vote set for Tuesday, Aug. 14 to grant Rocketship No. 6 a waiver that exempts it from following local zoning codes to build its new facility in San Jose. Trustee Logan, who attended the Aug. 8 meeting at which other school superintendents and school board members spoke out against making a decision at that meeting because there was little notification to school disticts. The SCCBOE set a new date of Aug. 14, but few boards have been able to meet before then.
• Accepting a student teaching agreement with San Jose State University. The board voted 5-0 to accept the agreement.

During the public comment period, Bullis Charter School parent Ron Haley announced he was making a Public Records Act request for records pertaining to the facilities offer made to Bullis, any discussion of the Hillview Community Center site as a potential for a possible LASD school. Goines said later that board members receive training in open meeting laws and California Fair Political Practices Commission regulations, and gets advice from counsel.           

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