Numerous avenues exist to separate Morgan Hill
’s School District from Coyote Valley, but trustees aren’t
convinced it’s the best action for local students
Whether or not future students in the proposed Coyote Valley development in south San Jose are a part of the Morgan Hill Unified School District is a question that is not easily resolved, and School Board trustees can play a large role in making the decision, though some say they should not.
“I don’t want it to be a political football, going back and forth as boards change over the years,” said School Board President Shellé Thomas. “If that is the case, it is more about being elected and less about serving the needs of our students today. For the sake of really answering the question once and for all, it has to be more than a board decision.”
The proposed development would ultimately contain 25,000 new homes, 50,000 new jobs and 80,000 residents.
If a new school district – a Coyote Valley School District – is to be formed, as some trustees and some community members have advocated, there is a specific process to be followed. According to Suzanne Carrig, senior research analyst for the Center for Educational Planning, Santa Clara County Office of Education, there are several different ways to begin the process.
“It would depend on how people want to proceed, but of course the School Board can initiate the process,” she said Wednesday. “Any citizen within the area can also initiate it, if somebody wanted to reorganize.”
The process may be initiated by a petition signed by owners of the “uninhabited territory,” or by a petition signed by the governing board or by a petition signed by 25 percent of the registered voters of the area. Or, the process can be started by a petition signed by 10 percent of the registered voters of the entire school district.
Any of the above petitions would be submitted to the county Committee on School Districts.
Public hearings would be held in Morgan Hill, Coyote Valley and San Jose to gather public opinion. Next, a study would be conducted by the county to determine whether the situation meets nine criteria set by the State Education Code.
In the case of the formation of a new unified district, the county committee would make a recommendation, after the study, to the State Board of Education, which would take action, and then an election.
But Thomas said the board is not ready to make a decision.
“In so many ways it’s premature,” she said. “We are still dealing with the future … Call me indecisive or call me prudent, but there is so much more information we still need. Right now, we are fulfilling our fiduciary responsibility. We are planning, we are meeting with the subcommittee to ensure future students of that area, whether part of our district or not, will have their educational needs met.”
During their last regular meeting Sept. 12, trustees discussed their individual views on Coyote Valley, with three trustees speaking out in favor of keeping the portion of the district, and two trustees advocating the creation of a Coyote Valley district. Thomas and Trustee Don Moody said they are undecided.
“I wish it was that cut and dried,” Thomas said Friday. “I want to reach the right point in time when it is appropriate for us to reach some kind of decision. But what is clear to me is that we have not heard from the community. We have heard from Bob Benich (a Morgan Hill resident, member of the Planning Commission and county Committee on School District Organization, who requested the item be placed on an agenda), but we have not heard recently from others in the community.
“I don’t want to be swayed by the vocal minority, but at the same time, we need to hear from the community. Right now, we are trying to cut the best deal possible. And I think the conversation is good. But the community is who we need to hear from. We, as board members, will come, and we will go, but the community will have to live with or live without Coyote Valley.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
