Family Friendly Agenda

By Craig A.T. Jones

I want to see a Los Altos Hills that is as welcoming to young families as it is to older residents. We need the programs in public education and parks and recreation to make this a reality.

I have been working on the problem of closing elementary schools for the past 2 years, first as the head of a group of parents trying to prevent the closure of Bullis, then as Chair of the Bullis Charter School. I support the great work of the Public Education Committee. I have concluded that I oppose any redistricting option that causes either Palo Alto Unified residents or Los Altos School District residents to give up their beloved schools, especially Gunn and Egan. I am in favor of increasing educational options, not reducing them. Therefore the only two viable options are to convince Los Altos School District to reopen Bullis for the 2005-2006 year or bring the Bullis Charter School to Los Altos Hills or both. Based upon all of my and many other volunteers experience, it is highly unlikely LASD will agree to reopen Bullis in the next 5 years, but we will continue try.

I also support the great work of the Parks and Recreation Committee. The volunteers have launched an excellent program which deserves our support. We need more sports and outdoor programs for our kids, so parents don't have to wait in line in Los Altos for oversubscribed programs.

Finally we have a great asset in Westwind Barn and another great group of volunteers in Friends of Westwind and we should have a City Council that is supportive of their efforts including the historical preservation of the Barn.