For the last several years the Los Altos School District (LASD) has been rated the best elementary school system in the entire state of California. In their recent parcel tax campaign, one of Palo Alto’s messages was that they shouldn’t be second to Los Altos.
Indeed, we really have a lot to be proud of, particularly the hard work of the parents and the financial support of all the LASD residents, which include all of Los Altos Hills, all of Los Altos, and a significant portion of Mountain View.
This enviable school district has come under attack due to the closing in 2003 of the Bullis school in Los Altos Hills. Much has happened since that time: filing of lawsuits, formation of a charter school, making of various accusations, and the growth of mistrust on all sides.
We certainly do not know enough facts to take a firm position on the issue of that school closing or to take an informed position on many of the resulting issues. Indeed, at this point we do not know the nuances of their respective current negotiations, or the potential impact of all this on the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District. Nevertheless, we do have a position that we would like to share with all area residents.
We sincerely request that both sides of this dispute make the most of the current negotiations to determine whether a mutually acceptable resolution can be reached. Los Altos has long enjoyed a close relationship with Los Altos Hills. They have many joint activities and events. As emotionally involved as this issue has become, let us all look to the good of our common and individual communities.
Ronald D. Packard, Mayor of Los Altos
and
Nick Galiotto, Mayor of Mountain View
Red Cross can bring quake classes to you
Editor:Thanks for promoting our upcoming earthquake preparedness classes. In addition to the classes offered at your local Red Cross chapter house, our volunteers can bring the training right to Mountain View. We want our communities to be prepared for “The Big One.”
We are eager to present to neighborhood groups, faith communities, service clubs and parent groups. We offer the training in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese. We tailor our presentations to meet the needs of the audience and amount of time available, and can make presentations any day of the week.
Call volunteer leader Becca Blitz at (650) 688-0449 to arrange presentations for your families, neighborhoods, businesses or other community groups. In addition to life-saving information and training, we can bring disaster relief supplies for sale or for order. To order supplies, visit our Web site: www.paarc.org.
Trish Bubenik, executive director
American Red Cross
Palo Alto Area Chapter
Act now to save Grant Road farm
Editor:As we teach our children, doing the right thing is frequently not the easiest thing. And yet, all too frequently in our society we also tend to overcomplicate the easiest decisions.
Such is the case with the parcel of land up for sale at Grant and Levin roads. It should be a no-brainer what needs to happen here. To not save a small portion of this property for the Farm to continue to thrive and bring lasting joy and memories to all generations, would be an unacceptable loss to the community and our neighbors who visit the Farm season after season.
I would like to encourage all of us to call or write each of our city council members, as well as to contact Summerhill Properties, and voice what action needs to happen here. At the end of the day don’t we all want to know we made a difference?
Melody Taylor
Post Street
Rosy budget doesn’t sound so rosy
Editor:On the front page of last week’s Voice (“Rosy budget equals fewer potholes”), city manager Kevin Duggan suggests that Mountain View needs to hire more than seven workers to staff street maintenance and the IT department.
Yet, in the same article, Mr. Duggan also says that the ballooning cost of health benefits for retired city workers “is getting dramatically more difficult to manage.” In the following paragraph, we learn that the city has $30 million in unfounded liability that is only going to grow. That doesn’t sound all that rosy.
I’d recommend that before hiring new permanent workers, the city should resolve its liabilities shortfalls. An alternative would be to use contract workers for more city services. Additionally, they should more carefully examine the current employee benefit program’s long-term effect on the city. I can only imagine that it was previous “rosy” revenues that got the city into its debt-laden situation in the first place.
Dan Waylonis
Stierlin Road
