San Carlos School District Community Safety Forum.

Public Meeting on School Security.

As I discussed in an earlier post on the blog, the openness of our San Carlos schools campuses is a mixed blessing, since the aesthetics and convenience are somewhat offset by the inherent security risk.  Apparently others feel the same way, because the school district has gotten inquiries about what they’re doing to enhance security in the wake of the Newtown school tragedy.

If you have concerns about the safety of the various San Carlos schools , then you should be aware of the meeting that’s being hosted by the San Carlos School District and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department to address this very topic.  This community forum will be held on Monday, February 11th at the San Carlos Library.

Here’s the email that was sent out to the San Carlos community from the school superintendent today:

Dear Staff, Parents and Community Members,

Some of you have called or emailed the school district recently with concerns regarding the safety of adults and students in our school buildings in light of the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut. The district administrative team has been revising and updating the current emergency plan and security protocols for each of our schools. We appreciate and welcome your comments, concerns, and input. The San Carlos School District, San Mateo Sheriff’s Department, and the San Carlos Youth Center will host a Community Safety Forum on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at San Carlos Library Conference Room. The meeting will focus on school safety, violence prevention, traffic safety, internet/media education, current prevention, training and activation strategies within the District and Community.  There will be an opportunity for the public to speak about safety with our school administrators, counselors, recreation leaders, and Police Chief Greg Rothaus.  If you would like to know more about safety and security in San Carlos, please plan to attend this event.

Thank you for your continued support of San Carlos School District and our community.

Sincerely,

Craig Baker, Ed. D.Superintendent

 
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Reflecting on School Security.

A Different Mindset.

The Monday morning school drop-off came with an unwanted twinge of apprehension and vulnerability for many parents across the country today in the aftermath of the horrific events that transpired last week in Connecticut.    I know I certainly felt a little bit different as I dropped my kids off at school this morning, after spending much of the weekend watching the news coverage of this unfathomable tragedy.

Our complacent sense of security and invincibility has been shaken a bit, even here in San Carlos.   The long-held mindset of “Something like that would never happen here“, is understandably replaced by “Could something like that happen here?“  for many parents.  And although naysayers will point to the statistical improbability of such an event happening at one of our schools — there are, after all, over 100,000 public and private schools in the United States that serve grades K-12 — the answer to that question is yes, something like that could absolutely happen right here in our back yard, or for that matter anywhere else on the Peninsula.

You only need to look at the wide-open layout of virtually every school throughout the area to realize this.

Designed in Another Era.

The physical vulnerability of our schools is no fault of the school district.  Our schools were designed and built in an era when many residents didn’t even lock their own doors at home, let alone worry about a violent act being carried out by the school.  The idea of designing a school to be a bastion of security was an unwarranted concern when these schools were built, and it’s a tragedy in itself that we even have to think of our schools this way now.

Just one of the many things that distinguishes the school system in San Carlos from others is by the abundance of parental involvement, whether it’s helping out in the classroom, driving on field trips, or volunteering for special events at the school.   It’s a wonderful characteristic of our school district that isn’t necessarily reflected in the fundraising and bond measures that grab the headlines.  But this relatively unfettered access to our campuses for parents to come and go as needed also poses a undeniable security risk.

Simply requiring people to sign-in at the office does not disguise the unfortunate reality that anyone could literally step off the street and walk the halls of our schools without having to open a single door.    And we’re not alone in that respect.  Most schools up and down the Peninsula share this same basic flaw.

Looking Ahead.

The underlying motivation behind Measure H was to increase the capacity and to upgrade the capabilities of our elementary and middle schools.  As the San Carlos School District evaluates how to they are going to allocate this $72M of  funds, enhancing school security probably will hopefully be part of the discussion.  It’s unrealistic to think that we can make any institution completely safe from this type of violence – even the security measures that were in place at Sandy Hook Elementary School were breached relatively quickly.  But they did provide valuable notice to the impending disaster, and those few precious seconds of time very likely saved many lives.

It’s sad that some of this valuable money needs to be spent in an area that adds zero value to the learning process.  But it’s a pretty strong statement about the state of affairs in our society right now.
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San Carlos Measure H Appears Headed to Victory.

Early Results Point to Passage.

If the early poll results are any indication, San Carlos Measure H appears headed to a comfortable victory at the polls.   The $72M school bond measure needed a super-majority of 55% for passage, but by the 8:30PM report on the San Mateo County Election Results page, Measure H was enjoying a very comfortable 65% lead.

Barring any unprecedented swing in the same-day vote count, Measure H appears headed to an easy victory.

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San Carlos Schools Post Impressive Gains in API Scores.

All Schools Post Gains.

Last week, the California Department of Education updated their Accountability Progress Reporting (APR) metric for the 2011-12 period.  The API scores posted in this report were the result of testing that was conducted across the district during the Spring of 2012.  The new API scores for all San Carlos elementary and middle schools are posted in the table below.

Without exception, every school in the San Carlos School District posted gains from the 2011 Base metric.   Gains ranged from 3 basis points at White Oak Elementary, to a whopping 17 point gain at Central Middle School.    The District as a whole posted an impressive gain of 12 basis points over the previous year, which is an incredible achievement.

I know that the District is quick to disclaim that too much focus can be placed on API scores, so I will save Seth from at least one comment to this post .  Yes, API scores are only one of many important factors in judging the proficiency of a particular school or a school district.  There are many other factors that make San Carlos schools what they are — parental involvement, funding, teachers, etc..

But I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that these scores are the first thing that most home buyers look for when they determine which city (or even which neighborhood within a given city) they will focus their house hunting efforts on.   That will never change.

So congratulations to the San Carlos School District for an impressive showing by all of their excellent schools.

“N/A” means a number is not applicable or not available due to missing data.
” * ” means this API is calculated for a small school or LEA, defined as having between 11 and 99 valid Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program test scores included in the API. The API is asterisked if the school or LEA was small in either 2011 or 2012. APIs based on small numbers of students are less reliable and therefore should be carefully interpreted.
“A” means the school scored at or above the statewide performance target of 800 in 2012.
“B” means the school did not have a valid 2011 Base API and will not have any growth or target information.
“C” means the school had significant demographic changes and will not have any growth or target information.
“D” means this is either an LEA or a special education school. Target information is not applicable to LEAs or special education schools.
Targets Met – In the “Met Growth Target” columns, the growth targets reflect state accountability requirements and do not match the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. The AYP requirement for the API is a 2012 Growth API of 740, or a one-point increase from the 2011 Base API to 2012 Growth API for a school or LEA.
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Measure H Polarizes San Carlos Voters.

$72M School Bond Measure.

Three weeks from today, San Carlos voters will head to the polls where they will once again be asked to vote to approve a bond measure which will raise funds for the San Carlos School District.  Measure H, if it passes by the required supermajority of 55%, will authorize the school district to issue up to $72 million in bonds to fund improvements deemed necessary to “improve, repair, and equip San Carlos elementary and middle school facilities”.

The principal and interest on these bonds will be covered by a levy on all taxable property in San Carlos.  That levy equates to about $30 per every $100,000 of assessed value of that property, and will be recorded against the property for at least the next 30 years.  As we discussed in this post, the average homeowners can expect to see an extra few hundred dollars tacked onto their property tax bill over the next 3 decades if the measure passes.

Strong Opinions on Both Sides.

As this election draws nearer, it’s very apparent that there are strong opinions both for and against this measure.  On one side, there’s the very well organized and vocal pro-Measure H contingent who have been stuffing the mailboxes and working the phone banks with equal efficiency and determination.

But there’s also a significant portion of the San Carlos voting population that has yet to be convinced that they should vote in favor of yet another school bond measure while there are still two others currently on their tax bill.    This is likely a common under-current for families with no children, and perhaps those on fixed incomes who will find it difficult to absorb another few hundred dollar hit to their bottom line every year.

There’s absolutely no refuting the direct relationship between a strong public school district and the health of its respective real estate market.  The reputation of the San Carlos School District remains one of the top reasons (if not THE top reason) why home buyers insist on establishing their roots inside the district boundaries — even when their house buying dollar will go further in other neighboring communities.   And that constant demand has kept house prices in San Carlos stable (and high) while prices in communities without a strong school district have fluctuated with rising and falling market.

A Tight Race.

But despite this obvious correlation, there’s a certain percentage of San Carlos homeowners who may not feel that another school bond measure is in the cards for them.    And in order for supporters of the measure to ensure that they get their required 55% vote, they may need some of that aforementioned group to change their minds.     The results of the highly UN-scientific poll that has been running on the site seem to support this:

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If this slice of voter sentiment is even remotely accurate, it’s apparent that the race for Measure H will be a tight one, and that every vote will indeed matter.
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5th Annual Mustang Stampede – October 14.

5K Fun Run/Walk.

The Central Middle School PTA has announced that sign-ups are now being accepted for the 5th Annual Mustang Stampede 5K run/walk.   The date of this year’s event will be held on Sunday October 14th, with check-in beginning at 8:00 AM and the race starting promptly at 9:00 AM.   Started 5 years ago as a fundraising event for San Carlos’ Central Middle School, this event has gained in popularity and attendance every year.  It’s the only major fundraising event for the PTA of Central Middle School, so they really rely on donations and participation to make it a success.

For those of you who are not runners, you can walk the 5K course and even take the baby stroller along.   And if you can’t attend at all, there’s always the option to sponsor a particular runner, or to just make a donation to the event.  You can register in advance or make your donation online for this year’s edition:  2012 Mustang Stampede Registration.

Pancake Breakfast, T-Shirts, Prizes.

Just to make sure that you put all of those calories right back on, there will be a pancake breakfast right after the race!  Also, as in the past, your registration fee includes a t-shirt.  There will also be a random drawing for some prizes as well.   So get some exercise, socialize, and help your middle school all in one morning!
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Updated Link for San Carlos School Boundaries.

Interactive Map.

It’s the number one question that buyers ask when they’re looking at a particular home:  “What school boundary is this home in?”  (It used to be “Why are they selling the house?”)  Over the years, the boundaries of the San Carlos School District have remained relatively stable.  But two years ago, the District had to take the unprecedented step of redrawing a few of the boundaries in an effort to stem the chronic over-enrollment at both White Oaks and Arundel Elementary Schools  Once the boundaries were decided, the new boundaries were outlined on a pdf file that you could download from the district website.

But the District now utilizes a handy interactive map that is created by My School Locator that allows you to simply type the address in, and up pops both the elementary and middle school that the particular address is zoned for.   Here is the link:  San Carlos School Boundaries.   You’ll definitely want to bookmark that one.

Sequoia Union High School District has had an interactive service on their website for quite some time which accomplishes the same function (without the mapping feature.)  But they recently changed the location of it on their website without providing a forwarding address.  Here is the new link for Sequoia’s boundary search:  Sequoia Union High School Boundary Search.

Don’t Assume.

The same caveat is in effect with any and all discussions regarding boundaries – don’t assume that you’re guaranteed to attend the particular elementary school that your new home is zoned for, especially if you’re moving in after the school year has started.  As the demographic of San Carlos continues to shift toward younger families with school-age children, more stress is being placed on the enrollment process and this means that the District has to make tough decisions to ensure that the enrollment is as balanced as possible.

When in doubt, call the District offices at 650-508-7333.
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It’s Official: San Carlos School District to Put Bond Measure on November Ballot.

$72M for School Improvement.

After months of deliberation, public meetings, and consensus assessment, the San Carlos School District Board voted unanimously yesterday to place a ballot measure in the November election to raise another $72M for the school district.  This money is a big chunk of the estimated $100M the district needs to fund badly needed improvements in their facilities and to expand the capacity to handle its swelling enrollment.

Unlike previous school bonds that have been approved in the past, this measure will not tax each homeowner equally.   According to the bond resolution, homeowners will annually pay $30 for every $100,000 of assessed value if their property.  So those with more expensive homes will pay more, and those with smaller homes will pay a little less.  (I guess it’s time to pay a little more attention to the numbers on those pesky property tax assessment statements, right?)

If I’m doing my higher level math correctly, that means the average 3BR/2BA home in White Oaks that has been sold recently (or assessed) at around $900,000 will be docked about $270 per year.    A $1.5M home will pay closer to $450.   Interestingly, homeowners who have their assessments capped at much lower figures due to Prop 13 will pay much less.   Indeed, the school district used an average value for ALL of the approximately 10,000 parcels in San Carlos to be closer to $450,000-$500,000 according to trustee Seth Rosenblatt, which likely takes into account those homes that are still protected by Prop 13, as well as other lower-value parcels.

In order to raise the nearly $72M, this assessment will need to be collected from parcel owners every year for about 30 years.

55% Approval Required.

The yet-to-be-named San Carlos Bond School Measure will require a 55% approval from registered voters to pass.   I ran a poll on the site a few months back when the bond measure was anticipated to be closer to $52M, and here’s how you voted then:

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How will you vote now that you know more of the details of the bond measure?  There’s a new poll at the top of the site — register your vote today..
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