May 6, 2025
In 2024-25 the district will be changing its elementary school mental health provider from Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) to Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS). CHAC has been acquired by Pacific Clinics and the proposed contracts from Pacific Clinics cost more than previous years for reduced levels of service. In contrast, ACS offered more competitive pricing and service levels will remain comparable to what students received in ’23-24. There will be 7 clinicians providing 18 days of support for all 7 elementary schools. Santa Rita and Almond will each receive 2 additional days of support from Spanish bilingual clinicians.
EMC Research and TeamCivX presented polling results for a potential bond measure this fall. Among sampled voters, they were able to reach the 55% threshold required to pass a bond measure. Some of the most convincing reasons to support the measure were to upgrade aging facilities, to replace old portable classrooms, and to alleviate overcrowding and traffic at the junior high campuses.
The board voted 4-1 in favor of awarding a Design-Build Contract for the 10th site to Blach Construction. Vice President Vladimir Ivanovic voted against the contract and has been the dissenting voice regarding the 10th site for several months. The contract stipulates that the initial design fee is not to exceed $4,329,976. If the bond measure does not pass, the district may terminate the contract and pay only for the services that Blach has performed.
A new food vendor contract with The LunchMaster was approved by the board. This vendor was selected after conducting taste tests, considering 3 different proposals, and receiving strong references from both San Carlos and Menlo Park school districts for The LunchMaster.
May 20, 2025
Special Education Director Jennifer Keicher presented an update on allyship programs at each school site to connect students in general education and special education. Playing board games together, peer tutoring/mentoring, and lunchtime activities are among the successful methods used to build relationships.
Trustees Jessica Speiser and Vaishali Sirkay presented an update on the status of facilities discussions with Bullis Charter School (BCS). The BCS board asked the Los Altos School District (LASD) board to sign a confidentiality agreement without citing a specific reason. The LASD trustees did not sign the agreement because they felt it would conflict with their obligation to conduct business openly. In response, BCS canceled the next scheduled meeting and conversation has come to a halt. If LASD and BCS are unable to reach a facilities agreement in time, then the facilities allocation process outlined in Proposition 39 would begin this fall. (Proposition 39, passed by the voters in 2000, requires school districts to provide reasonably equivalent facilities to charter schools operating in the district.)
Mr. Walukiewicz, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, presented an expenditure plan for Proposition 28 funds. While Prop 28 is known as the “Arts and Music in Schools Act,” the ongoing funds can also be spent on new instruction and supplies in computer science. The district plans to allocate $385,880 to hiring 2 additional computer science teachers who can help the district expand its current computer science program which is offered to all students in grades TK-8.
Stella Kam, Observer