WHAT IS THE LVJUSD BOARD NOT TELLING YOU

By Richard D. "Rick" Swiers

After the school closures and making the district entirely neighborhood elementary schools, an imbalance in enrollments has been created in directed violation of LVJUSD Regulation 3221 which states the optimum enrollment level for elementary schools is 650.

Altamont Creek = 617

Arroyo Seco = 768

Croce = 736

Jackson = 631

Marylin = 537

Michell = 429

Portola = 479

Rancho Las P = 556

Smith =665

Sunset =776

While Regulation 3221 gives some flexibility under certain circumstances, three schools are substantially over 650 students and 3 schools are substantially under 650 students. The board has three options: 1) ignore the regulation,2) change the regulation or 3) redraw the neighborhood boundaries.

There are some questions you should be asking yourself:

-Why haven't you been told about this issue?
-How will the decision be made?
-Since the high enrollment and low enrollment schools are not all in contiguous neighborhoods, what will be the effect on schools near the optimum level?
-How will parents, teachers and students be part of the decision?
-Will the process cause the divisiveness and trauma like the school closure process?
-Why wasn't the public informed of the likelihood of this issue during the school closure process?
-Ask an Almond or Arroyo parent if, based on their experience, they feel you will get a fair hearing from the incumbents.

Parents and teachers should be involved now in helping the board find the best possible answer for this imbalance of enrollment. This needs to be a community based solution.

You deserve complete communication, full disclosure, a fair hearing where your input is valued and acted upon and compassion when difficult decisions affect your family. I pledge to you that, if elected, I will ensure the public gets the communication disclosure and support during difficult decisions that you have failed to get from the incumbents.