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Parents and teachers press board to pause third‑campus plan, citing safety and fiscal concerns
Summary
Multiple parents and school‑community speakers urged the board to delay or reconsider plans tied to a proposed third campus (San Antonio/Sanorita site), pointing to declining enrollment data, contested cost estimates, parking and safety worries, and requests for prompt, transparent follow‑up.
Multiple parents and district staff urged the Los Altos School District board on Monday to pause or reevaluate plans associated with a proposed third campus and related site decisions, citing concerns about declining enrollment, costs and neighborhood safety.
Community speakers during the public‑comment period asked for a follow‑up meeting with clear timelines and concrete next steps. One parent said the district’s recent communications lacked "specific timelines or dates for next steps" and requested a community meeting "ahead of spring break or right after" so parents could track progress. Another commenter cited enrollment declines and questioned the need for a new campus when existing sites require modernization.
Speakers raised fiscal details and cost projections in public comment. One audience member referred to an earlier purchase price and to construction estimates, saying the district could face additional bond requests and long‑term costs; another cited figures for site purchase and projected building costs and called for fiscal restraint. Multiple parents questioned the safety of a proposed San Antonio shopping‑center campus for a BCS cohort, pointing to neighborhood crime listings and parking constraints near the site.
Board members and staff repeatedly invited stakeholders to meet individually, emphasized ongoing outreach and said the district has met with the BCS cohort to invite student input on construction plans. A trustee emphasized the need to balance neighborhood impacts and the fact that sites are home to multiple communities. The board reiterated that staff would follow up and encouraged parents to continue engagement.
Why it matters: The comments reflect sharp local concern about an expensive facilities project that would affect students, families and neighbors. Speakers asked for more timely and specific district communications and for opportunities to see how feedback is being translated into decisions.
The transcript shows no formal vote on site selection at this meeting; public comment was advisory and the board indicated staff would return with additional information and follow‑up meetings.
