Wednesday Night Community Forum For Bullis, Blach Community Is Set

Written by L.A. Chung

Working under end-of-the-year time constraints, the Los Altos School District and the Bullis Charter School have agreed upon 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 22 for a community forum for parents to learn how space will be shared at Blach Intermediate School, and raise any concerns.

It may have been nearly impossible to pull together a meeting of Bullis and LASD boards this spring, but staff, combined with willingness of both boards, successfully worked to get this community forum date set over a scant five days.

Last week, the president of the Los Altos School board contacted the Bullis Charter School District board about holding an open community forum where parents could ask questions and get answers.

"Back in March, as we planned the final offer, we were very aware of the fact that BCS and LASD would be sharing space in an unprecedented way," LASD President Doug Smith wrote the BCS board, in offering a May 23 community forum date.

"We knew that both LASD parents and BCS parents would likely have questions about the logistics," he wrote, acknowledging the longstanding tensions, but recognizing that "we are moving into a time when we will need to have meaningful cooperation" about the actual sharing of blacktop and other space among Bullis and Blach children.

"The forum was not for "legal Q and A," nor would the district be dealing with "questions about methodology, or how we constructed the offer," Smith said.
"This is a chance for folks to understand the practical aspects of how we will share the space."

Bullis board member Joe Hurd, who has often been the point person for  communications between the two boards of late, corresponded about how to accomplish Bullis participation, despite the May 23 date, which also happened to be its open house night. 

"I've had a word with Wanny, who reports that she also received a nice
invitation from Sandra this morning," Hurd wrote two days later, referring to BCS principal Wanny Hersey and Blach principal Sandra McGonagle. "But do you think it would be possible for the two schools to collaborate on a date/time that is mutually convenient?

Both sides then worked toward a such a date.

"The end of the school year is a busy time for everyone, but it is definitely our preference that BCS families and staff be able to participate. We will circle back quickly," Smith wrote

Staff, in parallel communication, agreed that May 22 could work for both groups, despite the short notice.

"Rather short notice on both sides," Hurd wrote. "We will do our best to ensure that we have parents in attendance."

Smith had said, during a March meeting to decide the facilities offer, the two school communities would do best if they met and openly discussed logistics and concerns because the Blach site configuration meant that students would be sharing space in a manner that was unlike the set-up at Egan Jr. High School.

The District has held community forums like this in the past, and have found them to be helpful in answering the community's questions.  Hopefully by helping people understand the logistics, it will create an atmosphere of cooperation this fall.