10 ■ The <strong>Almanac</strong> ■ September 19, 2007
By Marjorie Mader <strong>Almanac</strong> Staff Writer Revised plans for Oak Knoll School’s additions will move to the design phase after Menlo Park City School District trustees unanimously approved the revised plans <strong>at</strong> their Sept. 11 meeting. The district’s facility-planning team will develop architectural plans for the proposed multipurpose building and the separ<strong>at</strong>e two-story classroom complex for fourth- and fifth-graders, both of which open onto a courtyard. When completed, the plans will be forwarded to the Department of St<strong>at</strong>e Architecture for approval. The district also will proceed with the environmental review of the project. Ahmad Sheikholeslami, the district’s facility and project manager, said the district will conduct a comprehensive traffic study, working with traffic engineers and the city of Menlo Park to improve traffic circul<strong>at</strong>ion and accommod<strong>at</strong>ions for bike and pedestrian safety. Traffic issues were the key concerns when the revised facilities plans for the K-5 school were presented <strong>at</strong> an Aug. 29 community meeting. “I think the positive and constructive input and interaction th<strong>at</strong> came through the public process has assisted the district in developing the best plan,” said Mr. Sheikholeslami. “It’s a balance of accommod<strong>at</strong>ing different uses and the constraints of a limited site.” Some of the changes include providing more detail in the pedes- N E W S Board moves Oak Knoll School project to design phase ■ Team will continue to work on improving traffic circul<strong>at</strong>ion, safety for cars, bikes, pedestrians, buses. trian-bike area. The plan provides parking for up to 250 bikes in an accessible area th<strong>at</strong> would be shaded by trees. There will be ample sidewalks and p<strong>at</strong>hways to the school. The present pedestrian crosswalk would move 125 feet toward Oak Avenue. Although there had been a flurry of e-mails circul<strong>at</strong>ing about traffic issues from people concerned about bicycle safety prior to the Sept. 11 meeting, only two people from the public spoke. A number of concerned parents reportedly had talked previously with board President Terry Thygesen and Mr. Sheikholeslami. “I am encouraged (to learn) the plan is not set in stone and there’s room for working out the (traffic) details,” said the mother of a firstgrader <strong>at</strong> Oak Knoll and a bicyclist. “I hope the plan will be done thoroughly to accommod<strong>at</strong>e drivers, bikers and pedestrians.” Found<strong>at</strong>ion reaches $2 million milestone By Marjorie Mader <strong>Almanac</strong> Staff Writer There’s a $2 million reason for the Menlo Park-Atherton Educ<strong>at</strong>ion Found<strong>at</strong>ion to celebr<strong>at</strong>e. The found<strong>at</strong>ion has reached its $2 million goal for the “Endowment for Excellence in Teaching.” The endowment is designed to fund professional development programs th<strong>at</strong> will <strong>at</strong>tract, develop and retain exceptional teachers in the district’s Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll elementary schools and Hillview Middle School. “Reaching this $2 million mark demonstr<strong>at</strong>es the commitment the community has for excellence in our local schools, and specifically for the support of our faculty in their continuing educ<strong>at</strong>ion and development,” said Mark Box, the found<strong>at</strong>ion’s co-president. About four years ago, found<strong>at</strong>ion supporters envisioned establishing an endowment to help meet longer-term, str<strong>at</strong>egic needs of the school district. Established in 2005, the endowment backers set a goal of raising $2 million. Earnings from the endowment would fund programs for teachers <strong>at</strong> the r<strong>at</strong>e of 5 percent of the endowment, or $100,000, each year. To celebr<strong>at</strong>e this milestone, a garden reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 27, in Atherton to honor endowment charter donors and contributors. Leading the endowment’s fundraising are Charlot Singleton (chair), Carol Fields, Peg Phelps, Ted Schlein and Lynne Young. The investment committee includes: Lynne Young (chair), David Breiner, Bob Burlinson, Doug Carlson, Jeff Child, Deborah Fitz, Russ Hall, Grand Lee, Alex Neville, Steve Peterson, Peg Phelps and Sue Sutherland. Serving on the advisory committee are Dr. June Flora (chair), Terri Bailard, Floyd Gonella, Dr. Ann Lieberman, Dr. Raymond Pecheone, Jo Sauer Mitchell, Ken Ranella, Charlot Singleton and Terry Thygesen. Other funds The found<strong>at</strong>ion is off to a busy year on its mission to raise other funds for district programs. Its record annual grant of $2 million, presented last June to the school district, is funding technology, library, science and teacher development programs in the schools. The $2 million represents 7.5 percent of the school district’s budget. This year’s annual campaign is under way and will culmin<strong>at</strong>e with “Don<strong>at</strong>ion Day” on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Families may drop off their contributions in the symbolic red schoolhouse boxes when they bring their children to the schools. Volunteers will be on hand <strong>at</strong> each school to meet car pools and answer questions. A ■ SCHOOLS Rich Rollins, an Oak Knoll neighbor for 25 years, expressed his displeasure th<strong>at</strong> the school board did not endorse a petition to the City Council, signed by 40 residents last spring, to install traffic calming measures on Oak Knoll Avenue. Now, he said, the school is planning to dump more traffic on Oak Avenue and asking residents’ cooper<strong>at</strong>ion. In response, Trustee Laura Rich said trustees didn’t have enough inform<strong>at</strong>ion then to make an informed decision. Trustee Jeff Child said he had been observing the biking and traffic situ<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> Oak Knoll. “The worst behavior,” he noted, “was from drivers of cars approaching school from Oak Avenue and making a right turn onto Oak Knoll Lane and dropping off students” in PHILLIPS BROOKS continued from page 5 ing an easement from me; they’re not getting through me.” Real est<strong>at</strong>e agents have approached her more than once, she added, telling her th<strong>at</strong> an individual wanted to buy her property for a home. “They’re never getting a school there, not after the way it was misrepresented to me,” she said. “It was really very sneaky, the whole thing. They did this whole thing very sneakily.” The <strong>Almanac</strong> was unable to verify Ms. Bennicas’ characteriz<strong>at</strong>ion of the school’s intentions. Alex Von Feldt lives with her family on Creek Park Drive, across the creek in Portola Valley and just west of the site. “I’m worried about the impact of such an intense development on the creek as well as Arastradero Preserve,” she told the <strong>Almanac</strong>. “I don’t know how they (would) plan to get the traffic in and out without Trinity School Encouraging preschool to Grade 5 children from all backgrounds to love learning. We foster rigorous academics grounded in child-centered content. Trinity upholds the values and traditions of the Episcopal Church and honors the role of family in educ<strong>at</strong>ing children. Open House October 25 RSVP 650.854.0288 x100 The legacy of a Trinity educ<strong>at</strong>ion is a curious mind and a discerning heart. 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park www.trinity-mp.org the area where parking and stopping is prohibited during drop-off hours. A lot of kids riding bikes are coming to school then, and the cars are on the right side of the road where the children are supposed to ride, he said. He said he’d like the school and city to figure out the best way to provide efficient and safe oper<strong>at</strong>ions for everyone — bikers, parkers/walkers, and people who use the drop-off lane. Oak Knoll’s revised plan was developed in response to concerns from neighbors and directives from trustees. It is part of the district’s str<strong>at</strong>egic planning process to expand facilities <strong>at</strong> all four schools to meet the needs of a growing enrollment. Funding comes from the $91.1 million bond measure, supported by voters in June 2006. For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion about the district’s facility planning process, go to www.mpcsd.org. A affecting the neighbors.” Five years ago, the potential impacts to flora, fauna and a wetland nixed a Phillips Brooks campus on 14 acres of a wooded 92-acre parcel on Lawler Ranch Road in Woodside, just west of Interst<strong>at</strong>e 280 <strong>at</strong> Sand Hill Road. Council weighs in Given the potential impacts on Portola Valley, Town Councilman Steve Toben won a unanimous council vote to make the Phillips Brooks m<strong>at</strong>ter an “emergency addition” to the Sept. 12 meeting agenda so th<strong>at</strong> council members could discuss it. The council advised Ms. Bennicas th<strong>at</strong> she has its support. “We’re going to mount a good argument in Santa Clara County and we’re going to be talking with the <strong>leader</strong>ship in Santa Clara County,” Mr. Toben said. “We’re as aroused by this news (as you are). ... They didn’t come to the town; they didn’t come to the neighbors.” A September 19, 2007 ■ The <strong>Almanac</strong> ■ 11
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