Santa Cruz committee denies Millikens' petition to move parcel into Loma Prieta school district

The Santa Cruz County Committee on School District Organization voted Oct. 17 to deny a petition from Gary and Pamela Milliken to transfer their single parcel at 24200 Mountain Charlie Road into the Loma Prieta School District. Committee counsel and members framed the action as a finding that the committee could not make all of the required statutory findings under the applicable Education Code criteria.

Petitioner Gary Milliken told the committee he and his wife have lived on the parcel for 25 years and that the parcel forms a small "notch" that leaves their house separated from surrounding properties that are in the Loma Prieta District. "We have lived at 24200 Mountain Charlie Road for 25 years," Milliken said, describing maps and photos he brought to the hearing. Pamela Milliken, a former school counselor, said the change would better align a future child’s social and emergency connections with neighboring students. Committee members questioned whether the absence of any current school-aged child at the address and concerns over potential precedent weighed against approval.

During deliberations, members referenced criterion 8 of the statutory factors — whether a reorganization is ‘‘primarily designed for purposes other than to significantly increase property values’’ — among others, and the committee asked counsel to draft motion language. Committee member Sue Roth moved to deny, the motion was seconded by Williams, and the clerk conducted a roll-call vote. The motion "carried with all voting," and Chair Bruce Van Allen closed the hearing. The denial is a final county committee determination and, if it had been tentatively approved, would have required review by the Santa Clara County committee and possibly the state.