The following letter was written and released to show that the parent leadership of the Los Altos School District is united in its passion against the forced closure of a high performing school to suit the needs of a boutique charter school.
March 17, 2012
Los Altos School District
Families and Community Members,
As Los Altos School District PTA
Presidents, we are charged with determining the best methods for serving our
schools. Much of the time we focus on the needs of our individual campuses,
supporting academic activities and programs, maintaining and improving site
facilities, and upgrading and advancing technology. But there is also the need
to look at the bigger picture and act together to support the community as a
whole.
In light of the continuing
situation with Bullis Charter School (BCS) and the Los Altos School District
(LASD), we feel compelled to write to our memberships and school communities to
assure you that we stand in solidarity as a district. We do not believe that a
charter school should cause any of our high performing district schools to be
relocated or closed. We are united in our commitment to support equal access to
quality education for all of our students.
The Los Altos School District
enjoys a truly exceptional community that values and supports public school
education. A hallmark of the district is the equal treatment of all students.
Each district school receives the same per-pupil funding from state, city, and
local sources. Our educational
foundation—Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF)—distributes its funds
equally throughout the district in the best interest of all K-8 students. Even
school PTAs contribute significant funds to the district on a per-pupil basis
in lockstep with one another, such that all students attending schools throughout
the district have equal access to the same high quality education.
Our schools continue to be
successful because of the top-rated programs and curriculum, experienced and
talented teachers, and active parent communities. The PTAs and LAEF are committed to working
together to preserve and protect these qualities that define LASD, and we are
committed to working together to preserve and protect all of our district
schools. We ask that you work with your
PTA leaders to stand together as a district to prevent the closure of any LASD
school.
Our entire district will be
impacted by any long-term site solution for Bullis Charter School. As such, the PTAs and LAEF are committed to
working together to assist with any changes associated with the outcome of
negotiations, mediation, or court rulings. It is imperative to work together
for the good of the entire district and the Los Altos community as a whole.
As the events unfold, the PTAs
will update the community on action items relevant to this situation. Thank you all for your continued support of
the Los Altos School District PTAs and LAEF.
Sincerely,
Kristan Erickson and Tanya Maluf,
Co-Presidents, Almond PTA
Elizabeth Maciag and Cheryl
Bystrom, Co-Presidents, Blach PTA
Chad Starkey and Sumaira Nabeel,
Co-Presidents, Covington PTA
Kimberly Gavenman and Linda
Baxley, Co-Presidents, Egan PTA
Wendy Grant and Nikki Selden,
Co-Presidents, Gardner Bullis PTA
Sheila McGovern, President, and Isabel Damian, EVP,
Individualized Education PTA
Audrey Crowley, President, and Jacqueline Jeffries, EVP,
Loyola PTA
Robert Dinneen, President, and Tara Williamson, EVP, Oak PTA
Michelle Sturiale and Molly Black, Co-Presidents, Santa Rita
PTA
Kelly Toshach and Brooke Schiller, Co-Presidents, Springer
PTA
Kristine Bardman and Joe Seither, Co-Presidents, Los Altos Educational Foundation
