At their May 23 Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) Board Meeting, they welcomed a new Superintendent and decided to welcome a “new” elementary school.
New Superintendent Welcomed
SCUSD is saying farewell to current Superintendent Dr. Stan Rose. Dr. Rose is retiring on June 30 and SCUSD has been on the search for his replacement. At the meeting, the Board voted unanimously to name Dr. Stella M. Kemp as the new SCUSD Superintendent effective July 1. Dr. Kemp currently serves as the Superintendent of San Bruno Park School District and has 30 years of experience in public education.
“I am extremely grateful for the honor to serve as the new Superintendent and a member of the governance team of this fine school district,” said Dr. Kemp. “I look forward to our work together.”
New Patrick Henry School For Laurelwood Community
The Board voted six to one to build a new elementary school at the Patrick Henry site to replace Laurelwood Elementary School.
The Board heard a presentation with recommendations for Laurelwood’s reconfiguration at their last meeting. The committee recommended that the District build a new school for 800 students at Patrick Henry and replace Laurelwood. The Laurelwood campus would remain a district property to be repurposed.
Board Member Andrew Ratermann was the sole no vote due to his view that there was not enough input, specifically from the District, since the committee who presented the recommendation was mostly comprised of community members from the Laurelwood community.
“I didn’t see enough input from the District and interests on a global bases, with the entire District,” said Ratermann.
School Board Member Mark Richardson and Board President Dr. Michele Ryan, who were both on the committee, said that the committee’s process was exhaustive, thoughtful and well done.
“We don’t need all the other extra input,” said Dr. Ryan. “Because we are taking what is Laurelwood School now, and just building them a different school — the same boundaries and the same students — we’re just building them a school to fit the population.”
The new school is set to be open in August 2022.
Bond Sales
The District conducted three competitive bond sales on March 27 to issue bonds authorized under Measure BB-2018 ($360 million) & Measure H-2014 ($46 million). They did so to take advantage of lower interest rates to refinance outstanding bonds sold under Measure B-1997.
In a presentation by Government Financial Strategies, representatives showed the Board the results of the sale. According to the presentation, the sales mean lower taxes and more funds for facilities.
Other Business
After passionate testimony from 4-H participants at their last meeting, the Board voted as part of their consent items to extend the property lease agreement with the University of California Regents for the Homesteaders 4-H Club site at Curtis Elementary. The current lease is expiring on June 30, but the Board voted to extend the lease for one year and to discuss amendment of the terms and conditions of the lease for future years.
Also from last meeting, the Board approved opening up a district Summer Centralized Proof of Residency Center at Wilcox High School from July 23 to Aug. 2. Estimated cost of center is $30,000.
The SCUSD Board meets next on June 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Please, please, please don’t take our soccer fields!