This letter was recently delivered to the San Mateo- Foster City Elementary School District. It depicts the concerns why the City Council cannot yet address the means by which it can provide assistance to the San Mateo/Foster City Elementary School District concerning the student overcrowding issue. Given the length of the document, the attachment can be found on the City of Foster City's website at www.fostercity.org.
"April 22, 2009
Cathy Rincon, President
Board of Trustees
San Mateo-Foster City School District
1170 Chess Drive
Foster City, CA 94404
Dear Ms. Rincon:
This letter is written in response to the San Mateo – Foster City School District’s (District) request that the City of Foster City (City) indicate whether or not it would be interested in pursuing negotiations for the acquisition of City-owned land by the District for a fourth elementary school site. The City Council has been thoroughly briefed by Council Members Pam Frisella and Linda Koelling and by City staff on the discussions which occurred at the March 27, 2009 meeting between the City and District Subcommittees.
Let me begin by reiterating that the City Council continues to be deeply concerned about Foster City’s school capacity issues. As demonstrated by the City Council’s formation of a school subcommittee and assignment of staff time and resources, the City is committed to working closely and collaboratively with you in your effort to identify and study options with the goal of finding a timely and workable solution.
It is the Council’s understanding that at this time you have rejected, as viable solutions, five (5) of the six (6) long-term options you presented to focus groups earlier this year. These options included:
Option A - Increase K-3 class size from 20 to 30
Option B - Implement AM/PM Kindergarten sessions and increase class size in K to 30
Option C – Build a 4th school in Foster City (selected option)
Option D - Implement a multi-track year round calendar
Option E – Assign students to a school in San Mateo by adjusting boundaries
Option F - Attract Foster City students to Magnet Schools by providing transportation
It is our further understanding that the only option currently under consideration by the Board is the construction of a fourth school on City-owned land in Foster City. The decision to pursue this as the only viable option has been authorized despite the fact that you conducted no cost/benefit analysis of the above-referenced alternative options prior to rejecting them.
More importantly, it is our understanding that you have identified acquisition of City land and construction of a new school as the preferred option despite the fact that there is currently no funding for land acquisition or construction of a fourth elementary school.
That being said, the City Council believes it is imperative at this time that the District also explore options for using existing District school sites in Foster City rather than only pursuing further negotiations for acquisition of City land. Without this analysis, it is impossible to determine what is really feasible. The City Council urges the District to fully explore and analyze these options, before continuing negotiations to acquire City property worth millions of dollars and currently serving other important public purposes.
Therefore, in order to proceed with continued discussions, the City asks the District to undertake a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of other options presented to the focus groups. The City also requests that you examine additional options proposed by the City for use of the existing school sites in Foster City.
Attached is a list of options for which the City requests that further study be undertaken. Additionally the attachment includes the kinds of analysis and information that the City believes is essential to be developed. From the City’s perspective, this analysis and information is required for both the District and City decision-makers so that we can make a reasonable and thoughtful decision that the Foster City community will fully understand and support.
The City Council believes that the Foster City community and taxpayers expect its public officials to make decisions based on careful and thorough analysis of all options. Prior to reaching those decisions, public input is required from all stakeholders, so that the City Council and the District Board select the option that best meets the needs and interests of those we have been elected to represent.
Because of the important nature of these decisions, we have authorized City staff to work with your staff as necessary to assist with the development of conceptual site plans and estimated costs for reconfiguring the District’s four existing school campuses in ways that could help address projected school enrollments.
We believe this will result in a better mutual understanding of the pros and cons of all alternatives, not just from the District’s perspective but from a community-wide perspective. This approach represents a shared and creative problem-solving effort to achieve a successful outcome. As a part of this collaborative effort, the City asks that the District be open to discussion of operational changes that could perhaps be part of a multi-pronged solution.
It is the City’s strong belief that we should be proactively engaging the entire community by regularly advising them of the status of discussions between the City and the District. To that end, the City will be establishing a School Capacity page on its website with regularly updated links to all City and District public information and documents regarding this issue. The City will also establish and advertise a free e-mail subscription list for interested members of the public to sign up to receive regular e-mail updates about this important issue.
In closing, please be advised that the City Council has designated Council Member Art Kiesel and Council Member Koelling to represent the City Council in discussions with the subcommittee of District Trustees going forward. They will be active participants in this process and will be invited to attend all meetings. The City staff role will be to help them get the information and analysis they need to participate effectively in policy level discussions with you and colleagues on the City Council and to make recommendations to the City Council.
The City Council looks forward to working with the District Board to develop a truly collaborative effort that thoughtfully and carefully considers all options in arriving at a solution that meets the District’s needs and is in the best interest of the entire Foster City community and its taxpayers.
Signed,
John Kiramis,
Mayor
With Attachment”
The City has recently created a school capacity page on its website, www.fostercity.org, and created a free e-mail subscription list for individuals interested in receiving updates on the school capacity issue.
If you have any comments, please e-mail the City Council at citycouncil@fostercity.org.
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