The
“conditional yes vote” former School Board trustee and Morgan
Hill business owner Russ Danielson gave to the latest draft of the
proposed Coyote Valley specific plan was clearly not what current
trustees had in mind, and they let him know it.
The “conditional yes vote” former School Board trustee and Morgan Hill business owner Russ Danielson gave to the latest draft of the proposed Coyote Valley specific plan was clearly not what current trustees had in mind, and they let him know it.
“I understand your conditional approval vote, but speaking for myself, I find there’s so many things that make me uncomfortable about this plan, things I’ve mentioned,” Trustee Peter Mandel told Danielson at least week’s board meeting.
“There is nothing about the plan so far that I find terribly responsive to concerns we’ve expressed,” Mandel said. “I’m concerned about the vote that you took, concerned about the position you took. I think we need to have a consistent message … I think it sends mixed signals to council to express concerns, then vote in favor of the plan.”
Danielson said the vote to proceed with the preliminary plan was unanimous.
The task force met and took the vote on Jan. 10.
“I gave them a conditional yes vote; I was the only one to give a conditional vote,” Danielson told trustees.
“I was clear it was this time only … I understand they are working very hard to get answers and address all our concerns on schools.”
The proposed Coyote Valley development falls within MHSD boundaries, which extend from San Martin in the south to Bernal Road in south San Jose at the north.
The School Board has expressed concerns about the task force’s vision for schools in the development; specifically, the acreage that would be allotted for school sites – 100 acres total in this draft of the plan – as well as the number of schools needed to accommodate the 80,000 people, 50,000 jobs, 25,000 homes when the development is completed
The current draft of the plan, Danielson said, gives only a general reference to school needs. In April the task force will look at more specifics of the plan. If the final plan does not adequately address district needs, Danielson said he would vote no at the time.
“We are at a critical point, at an exciting point right now, starting to address those issues,” said Danielson. “We’re getting signals from the city (San Jose), with Ms. Walsh (Susan, of the San Jose Planning Department) being here tonight, with the mayor saying publicly and on the record that we need to arrange for meetings.”
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, according to Danielson, said during the Jan. 10 meeting that perhaps members of the task force and MHSD officials could meet “off-line” to discuss the district’s concerns.
Mandel said he believes the board should discuss Danielson’s next vote, which could come in April, before he votes.
“I would suggest or request that during the board meeting prior to that (task force meeting in April), we should discuss a recommendation, the board and yourself together,” he said. “We can discuss the direction we want you to take.”
Danielson, a San Jose resident, was appointed to the task force by Gonzales when he was serving as a trustee.
The plan, Danielson said, gives only a general reference to school needs. In April the task force will look at more specifics of the plan. If the final plan does not adequately address district needs, Danielson said he would vote no at the time.
Danielson said that the task force seems in recent months to be listening more to concerns about school needs raised by the district, Morgan Hill city officials and himself.
“I told the city, ‘The ball’s in your court now,’” he said. “I threw down gauntlet for them and again, I think we are seeing some positive signs.”
Walsh was present at the Jan. 24 meeting, she said, to answer trustees’ questions but also to propose a school focus group. She asked trustees if they would co-host the focus group with San Jose, bringing in superintendents from other districts to participate.
The focus group would look at different configurations for schools.
“What about developers,” Trustee Mike Hickey asked. “I recommend highly having at least one or two of those on the committee … Most of the questions I have come down to where the money is coming from.”
Board President Shellé Thomas said funding the construction of the schools is one of the most important issues to the district.
The School Board commissioned a report from School Services on the financial impact of Coyote Valley on the district. Trustees had discussed the possibility of having a new district formed or have that area taken over by another district.
The next CVSP Task Force Meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 7, at 151 W. Mission St., Room 202 A and B (Health Building), just west of City Hall, at 5:30pm
