Dear Editor, I would like to make a statement regarding recent
developments concerning Coyote Valley.
Dear Editor,
I would like to make a statement regarding recent developments concerning Coyote Valley. San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzalez has recently advocated changing the “trigger points” to allow the building of homes in selected areas of Coyote Valley before the available jobs are in place to support the people who would be moving into these new homes. It is now more urgent than ever that the Morgan Hill School Board take decisive action with respect to Coyote Valley.
Specifically, I request that this Board send a letter to the Santa Clara County Committee on Reorganization, addressed to Ms. Suzanne Carig, requesting that public meetings be initiated regarding the establishment of a new Coyote Valley School District. If the Committee approves the request, they will begin a series of public meetings to allow this matter to be discussed openly in a public forum in order that the people may hear and comment upon the pros and cons of establishing such a district.
If no changes are made, the people of Morgan Hill will be responsible for educating the children who will live in Coyote Valley, which lies within the City of San Jose. Furthermore, the population of Coyote Valley will be greater than the combined population of Morgan Hill and San Martin. If this board allows that to happen, then you should at least change the name “Morgan Hill” to “Coyote Valley” to more accurately reflect where the center of population will truly be located.
I say, let the people decide. Let us have an official Santa Clara County sanctioned public forum to discuss the future of the Morgan Hill Unified School District and whether or not we should be responsible for educating the children of Coyote Valley residents. If approved by the County Committee, the outcome of these public meetings would allow the people to decide for themselves at a future election. Let the people decide their own future and what direction they want to take.
On the other hand, if this board will not take any action, then an alternative is to obtain about 600 or 700 signatures on a petition which would go directly to the Santa Clara County Committee. However, it would be much easier for this board to send a letter to the county committee now and begin the process of public hearings as soon as possible.
Again, I say, for a question of this magnitude let the people decide.
Robert Benich, Morgan Hill
