Misinformation ran rampant online regarding the fate of little league fields leading up to the Santa Clara Unified Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9. This is not the first time a Board agenda went live and caused premature panic.
Facility Master Plans Controversy
For two and a half years the District has been developing plans alongside school communities spanning over 110 meetings to modernize its sites and created a 30-year Districtwide Facilities Master Plan, said Michal Healy, Director of Facility Development and Planning. This Facilities Master Plan is one of three documents required by the State for the District to get reimbursement for future construction projects. The staff and Board tried to set the record straight that the Facility Master Plans are conceptual, not set in stone, but people weren’t convinced.
Though the plans include 23 schools, the Haman Elementary School portion drew criticism from Santa Clara Westside Little League which rents the sports fields on the campus. Phase 1 of the plan includes a new multipurpose building and a new parking lot with dedicated pick-up and drop-off to improve access to campus. Both were identified as major facility needs. To implement Phase 1, they would demolish the old multipurpose building and one of three sports fields called the “farm field.”
The Board members understood where the misunderstandings were coming from and insisted that these plans were just a starting point and were definitely going to change over the next few decades. When they eventually get funding, the actual construction plans will go through an even more rigorous process with more opportunities for community input. There isn’t even funding for these projects. In fact, Mark Schiel, Deputy Superintendent of Operations / Chief Business Official, said that these projects would not even happen in the next five years.
Haman Principal Kim Wakefield said she supports the Master Plan. She added that it wasn’t the intention to cause division and that she values the partnership with Westside Little League. Over 80 people were watching online for this item plus the in-person audience. The public had a lot to say with an hour of public comment. Most of the attendees spoke on behalf of Westside and were frustrated that they weren’t included in these plans. Neighbors were also upset at the potential loss of green space. Board Member Andy Ratermann agreed there should have been more outreach to all those affected.
Linda Pascoal, President of Santa Clara Westside Little League, said their Safety Officer reached out in July with concerns about the little league’s future at Haman. Though they did receive a response stating staff would reach out to them, according to Pascoal, that never happened.
“What is the reason for not wanting to collaborate with us?” asked Pascoal. “We’re a big positive part of the community we both serve as evidenced by everyone here tonight and all the messages you received. We do see the messaging you’re now putting out but feel as though it’s simply damage control in response to the mass community outrage. If there are later plans for community input, why have you directly told us that most of our suggestions you shot down would be a waste of resources on a field you plan to demolish? It’s a shame you won’t honestly and transparently admit that to the community.”
Many still weren’t comforted with Board Members’ word that the plans are bound to change long before these plans ever break ground. So, after a failed motion to delay approving the plans, Schiel suggested they add language to the Haman plan. He suggested they add a statement: “The needs of Westside Little League and the Haman neighborhood must be further determined and considered prior to moving forward with further construction modernization projects at Haman Elementary.” A motion to add this language passed unanimously.
Another part of the agenda item was Educational Specifications, a living document that outlines the essential design components of a school facility, serving as a guide for architects to ensure that future projects align with the District’s educational objectives, according to Healy. Board Member Vickie Fairchild was thankful to Healy for including all student populations in the document, including special needs students, and made a motion to approve the Educational Specifications which passed unanimously.
Next step is a five-year Facility Master Plan which is another new state requirement and another step for construction project reimbursement from the State.
Dual Language Immersion Expansion
Last year, the Scott Lane Elementary School Dual Language Immersion (DLI) students came to the Board to express their desire to continue the program. At this meeting, they returned for the highly anticipated decision.
The DLI Committee requested that the Board approve program expansion to Buchser Middle School, beginning with the sixth grade in 2025 – 2026 and expanding over the subsequent two years to seventh and eighth grade, said Brad Stam, Chief Academic and Innovation Officer. Once the program reaches eighth grade, the program will have over 100 students. The expansion already has the support of Buchser Principal Justin Ponzio as it is also a unique offering for them.
The passionate young students spoke in both English and Spanish as they detailed their love for their precious DLI program. Etón Carlo, 10, moved from Mexico to California five years ago. He and his family picked Scott Lane because they offered support in his native language.
“Thanks to this program I can now read, write, and speak fluently in both English and Spanish,” Etón Carlo said proudly. “I believe being bilingual is very important. It helps me stay connected to my family and cultural roots while also giving me the opportunities to fully integrate me into my new community here in California.”
The Board was enthusiastic about expanding DLI and approved it unanimously.
Other Business
The Board approved the appointment of Beti Loomis as the new Administrative Secretary for the Academics and Innovation Division. They also appointed Laura Rich as the new Vice Principal at Cabrillo Middle School.
The independent auditors report for the 2023 – 2024 school year looked great except for a “very minor discrepancy” that referred to the School Accountability Report Cards. Schiel said they are already making sure it doesn’t happen again.
Erin O’Neill, the new MetroED Superintendent, gave the annual report for Silicon Valley Career Technical Education late in the evening. Santa Clara Unified currently has 87 students enrolled and are utilizing all the programs. The District does pay for 100 seats so Ratermann asked for more information so they can better utilize all their seats.
The Santa Clara Unified Board meets next for a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16. The Board’s next regular meeting is on Thursday, Jan. 23. Meetings are live-streamed on the District’s YouTube page, and agendas are posted on their website.