School Board Approves Bullis Split at Blach, Egan

Apparently swayed by the tight time-frame and the number of hurdles outside of its jurisdiction, the board on Monday night turned away from its alternative proposal to "co-share" the site with the .

The board instead, voted to add more space and facilities to  that would house Bullis Charter School (BCS) students at the district's two junior high schools. 

"It’s the right next step for us to take," said school board President Mark Goines of the unanimous voice vote. "But remember, it’s only a one-year solution."

Indeed, the decision was characterized as a temporary solution made from a set of unsatisfactory choices. The point was made clear by a to overcome at Covington—parking, traffic, environmental impact reports, noise, emergency procedures, to name only a few—from community members who about the possibility of a "super campus" of Covington and the K-6 grades of Bullis Charter School. Under that scenario, the Bullis 7-8 grades would remain at .

For its state-mandated April 1 final offer, however, the  to house Bullis Charter School's K-6 grade students at Egan, where the entire K-8 grades are currently located. The 7-8 grade facilities would be located at . 

The proposal differs from the board's , expanding Bullis' space to 40 percent of the Egan campus this time, and adding childcare facilities. It also would double the portables it would place on the Blach School campus from two to four on 1.5 acres. Specialized teaching space would be shared. Bullis students at different grade levels would not be tightly restricted in moving between the two campuses.

Some of the additions came in apparent conformance to received by mail on the same day as the school board meeting, from Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Patricia K. Lucas. That judgment marked the end of the lawsuit over 2009-10 BCS facilities offer in which Bullis ultimately prevailed. (The district's statement is attached to this article)

The Bullis Charter School board did not have an immediate reaction to the LASD board’s vote on the facilities offer, and won’t receive the final offer until April 1.

BCS Board Chairman Ken Moore did address the school's expectations in a press release reacting to the Superior Court judgment that was sent by BCS' public relations firm Tuesday. (The press release is attached to this article)

"This is time now for the Los Altos School District board members to ensure that all public school students in our community are given access to equivalent facilities."

BCS has contended that Prop. 39—the state mandate for school districts to provide facilities to charter schools—has also meant that the facilities must be contiguous, on one school site or an adjacent site. At the start of Monday's meeting, however, Goines said that the specific orders in the court judgment against LASD indicated the law does not provide an ironclad mandate for a single site or adjacent site.

On Monday night, after Covington avoided having to scramble to accommodate the co-location plan, parents allowed themselves the moment to exhale.

“It’s a very good and fair compromise,” said one relieved Covington dad who said he wanted to stay anonymous because of the sensitivity of the subject. “This alternative would probably be the least destructive to the community.”

It was clear, however, that the Covington co-location solution could very likely return.

The district needs a longterm solution, Goines said. In essence, there are ten schools that have to share the nine facilities, and a tenth site was needed.

"We can reevaluate next year. ... It may be that if we can’t find a tenth site, that co-sharing at Covington would be that solution.”

Doug Smith, vice-president on the board, said he wants to flesh out the Covington option some more for future consideration.

“While I know there are a lot of (concerned) parents from Covington, I’m very concerned about the Egan-Blach proposal," Smith said. "... The BCS footprint on Egan continues to grow. I am very concerned about what it might look like this year or next year,” said Smith, adding that he thought they might be able to squeeze out one more year at Egan.

The newest LASD board member and a Covington parent, Steve Taglio, admitted he “had a tantrum” about the Covington alternative at first, but said he concluded, “I think we can make it work.” The district would need to provide funding to pay for some of the things that would make it work, he added, whether it was busing or parking or other arrangements.

Taglio’s main concerns for the Covington option, however, were the time constraints in addressing all the issues in time for the new school year in August.

More than 120 parents and community members filled the Covington multipurpose room during the BCS facilities talks, and more than a quarter of them left after the vote. Many stood outside, discussing their relief—and concern for the future.

“It’s truly just breathing space," said Sudnya Shroff, a Covington mom. " It’s just that it’s not going to happen tomorrow (but) it’s only a one-year solution."

“I would support a bond measure because it seems like the only solution would be that tenth site,  Shroff said. "I am just not sure it would pass."