October 5, 2007

Evergreen SchoolScene

Evergreen School Board to consider stricter proof
of residence

The Evergreen School District’s board of trustees has put an item on its Oct. 18 agenda to discuss the concerns of some parents that the district requires a stricter proof of residence for the district’s schools.

“The board has heard the concerns of parents and will take action of some kind,” said Kathy Gomez, district director of Educational Services. “The board is certainly aware of the concerns of families at impacted schools and wants to ensure the children attending these schools attend within their correct legal address,” she added.

Gomez declined to speculate on what types of proof would be required. She noted, however, that the parents at the September board meeting suggested what they might consider proper proof of residence and that property tax bills, tax returns or W2 forms and leases are things that are to be considered.

Parents protested the need for boundary realignments at the Sept. 20 school board meeting. More than 250 people attended to hear a group of parents tell the board that the district is not strict enough on its proof of residence. They also presented petitions to the board with 900 signatures asking for stricter proof. Currently the district requires a utility bill and driver’s license as proof. More than 13,000 students attend 15 elementary and three middle schools in the district.

The parents, many of whom live in the impacted Matsumoto school area, are upset because overcrowding has forced the district to send some Matsumoto students to Evergreen Elementary School. They claim that some students are attending Matsumoto without living in the designated area.

In addition, they claimed that the boundary realignment committee process was shrouded in secrecy, and needs to be more open. District officials claimed they did not want parents besieging committee members and making the process harder.

“We've known for a couple of years that we have an enrollment imbalance in the southeast corner of the district, specifically at Chaboya, Clark, and Matsumoto Schools,” Superintendent Clif Black told the Times. “We had hoped to incorporate a brand new school east of Matsumoto to both serve the potential new homes, and alleviate overcrowding at Clark and Matsumoto. With the City Council's decision not to allow additional housing in the very near future, it's now incumbent on the district to level enrollments by other means, specifically boundary realignment.”

The boundary realignment committee met on Thursday, Oct. 4 and will finish their work on Oct. 11. Committee members, and the school they represent are: Dilly Bhoot, Cadwallader; Jim Crawford; Brian Fernandez, Matsumoto; Bob Gill; Kathy Gomez; Pattie Guerra, Holly Oak; John Helveston; Jonathon Kerrick, At-large; Mimi Kwan, LeyVa; Susan Lee, Montgomery and Dove Hill; Brett Lotz, Norwood Creek; Brian Martes,Cedar Grove; Dorene McClung, Laurelwood; Ram Vakkalagadda; Amy Weiss, J.F. Smith; and Jim Zito, Carolyn Clark and Quimby Oak.

The Oct. 18 school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at J.F. Smith School, 2220 Woodbury Lane.

—By Carol Rosen