Hiring a private investigator to verify proper enrollment as the answer to a significant increase to student population is too narrowly focused. The Palo Alto Online's article on "Schools hit 20-year high, but numbers puzzling" describes a similar situation in Palo Alto. (Web Link The article suggests one possibility of students previously enrolled in private institutions now being enrolled in public schools because of the tight economic situation. Our trustees may want to do a bit more homework (such as networking with adjoining districts) to see a bigger picture before choosing an investigative method that would miss seeing the potentially wider range of root causes.

I must argue that it is not only it's the business aspect that is impacting this matter; but the fact that in today's economy, many families are being squeezed out of their homes and many are forced to have multiple families in one home. This is very typcial in my findings; in addition, it is also very true that many documents are falsified and some families go so far as to have "affidavits" signed to testify that the student is living within the district. Again, I have found that these are affidavits of "convenience"; I have found many students to be out of district under affidavits. Due to recent and new Notary laws; I would strongly recommend affidavits be thoroughly investigated to verify authenticity. I would strongly recommend that staff thoroughly validate any and all documents received. In addition, I have found that community involvement is key in solving a lot of out of district students. A system should be in place to have the anonymity of the reporting parting secured.

The closing of Slater was terribly short sited! PACT was on that campus, was then moved to Castro, and will now be moved again. This is unfair to all the kids that were on the Slater campus. It is even more unfair that the schools are so overcrowded! Parents warned the district that this would happen, and only 3 years later and look where we are!
PACT is a great program and will do great things with their own school campus, however, this is essentially an opening of a new school, after a closing of one 3 years ago.