This type of housing project proposal on the school district property will be a nightmare to those who live in the downtown area. It will add to the horrible traffic burden which already exists on 1st street and surrounding residential streets (including cut through speeding traffic), and also have the potential of overflow parking in the neighborhoods adjacent to this project.

The downtown infrastructure can’t support this type of project. What happened to the idea of adding housing near Bart which is not only close to transit but freeway access?

If they are selling the land that Village HS is on will they be closing the school permanently? That alone could get my vote for this project. Those kids do so much damage to homes and yards in the area it would be a blessing to have the school closed.

No, My opinion, Village would also move to the business park.

my opinion a portion of the DO land will be sold and those proceeds will rebuilt a new Village HS on the remaining property. Only option that doesn't require voter approval.

Sorry about the error. This makes less sense.

having a HS in a business park (office building) makes no sense as well. DOA

I’m not certain it makes no sense, but selling only part of the DO and then moving students to portables or some other configuration doesn’t make sense either. What kind of housing could be built next to this school?

Village was/is a caring environment with great teachers. The students deserve something better, something to be proud of, no matter how they ended up there. Being in better surroundings in the business park is better than portables. We shouldn’t have any students in portables.

To My Opinion:

Really? You maybe should get to know what really happens at Village. These are kids who need extra help, and get it from a very caring staff. Many that graduate from Village would not be able to graduate from Amador or Foothill, yet they walk away with a diploma. "It would be a blessing if the school closed"? Shame on you. Move to another area if you think these kids are so destructive. And since it appears that you have no idea if these are Village students causing "so much damage", maybe call the cops when damage is happening?

I am a teacher at another school and over the years numerous students of mine have later ended up at Village getting the help they need. This school is an absolute asset to this district and city. I am disappointed in your narrow viewpoint and assumption of vandalism.

> Being in better surroundings in the business park is better than portables. We shouldn’t >have any students in portables.

Yeah, no. the logistics alone would kill that idea dead. Think about PE? 'Ok kids go run around the cars in the parking lot.

Um, you may have misunderstood the 'portables' idea it would only be temporary while a 'new' Village HS is built on the remaining property not sold.

btw, take a look at a bunch of schools; most edge right up to properties; it's not unheard of.

because, really if Village stays the ONLY way to fix it is to knock it down and start over.

>> Those kids do so much damage to homes and yards in the area it would be a blessing to >>have the school closed.

Say what? Which houses have been damaged. the only one even close are on Abbie. And maybe a dozen or so kids exit (or enter) the school that way.

Keep in mind every school district has a continuation HS; close Village PUSD must open another one.

There is a new possible attempt at a bond and what could be included are $$$ to, maybe, add a small high school of 400ish students to be housed with Village. I’m not in favor of a small high school being built before an elementary school.

Kathleen, elementary numbers are down at most schools in the district. This could be caused by students at virtual schools, the extremely high price of housing, I'm not sure. But unless I have my facts wrong, we have declining enrollment in K-5, which makes me think there is no need for another elementary school.

There is a $35mm bet riding on that question—a question I don’t believe has been answered publicly—where are those 700 students? There could be inter district transfers, transfers to private schools, etc. It’s not difficult to know, and I’m guessing they do know. What if they come back? It isn’t like the community is shrinking. Donlon and Lydiksen are far too large, and larger than policy states (700). And what about inter district transfers into our district. If you are accepted in kindergarten, you have a seat through fifth grade. So, let’s say that student is at Lydiksen and a new family moves in across from the school with a kindergartner—school/class is full and you are now moved to another school, without transportation. All things I have said before. Point being, things will change and we will grow and we won’t be prepared. A small high school is not what we need.

Houses aren’t selling to retirees. Every house turning has younger families moving in. So if the data on enrollment is real then the district has a far greater problem on trust and quality of education.

Exactly. And certainly an argument for doing things better than a small high school to draw those students back.

I am not a proponent of another elementary school. The costs alone for staff - before you even hire one teacher - probably exceeds 500k. If numbers go up in the next few years, then yes, consider that. Until then, change the boundaries to balance things out, getting more kids away from Donlon, Fairlands, and Valley View (the three schools that are currently the largest) and into Alisal, Hearst, and Vintage Hills (the three smallest schools).

Easier said, unless there is grandfathering—allowing students to stay until they finish; starting enrollment at new school with incoming TK each year.

Before this City discusses any further building in any form, let's discuss the water problems we are facing!