Whisman Needs a Neighborhood School

Contact the author of the petition

Help the cause to re-open a neighborhood school

2015-05-31 18:30:15

If you haven't seen the website for supporting a neighborhood school for the Whisman/Slater neighborhoods, please check this out:

https://sites.google.com/site/reopenslater/home

People are organizing and the energy is high. Now is the time to get involved---the June 4 board meeting will be critical for our area if we are to delay or change the boards decisions to scratch a school in our neighborhood off the plans. Please support the cause by any or all of the following:

--distribute flyers TODAY to get more people involved (sign up)

--attend the June 4 MVWSD Board Meeting and wear green in support of this cause

--write to the trustees and voice your concerns (trustees@mvwsd.org)

--tell your neighbors, join the mailing list, stay involved

Thank you!

Jessica Gandhi, NWNA


Re-Open Whisman

new google group to join for future announcements

2015-05-24 01:06:41

In order to get more school board support for a Whisman/Slater school and to allow different people to manage the Google Group, I'd like to encourage everyone on this list to join the ReopenSlater google group. From there, we will be alerting you of upcoming school board meetings as well as community meetings to discuss what we can do to lobby the school board to reopen a school in the former Whisman school district.

 

Re-Open Whisman

No support = no solution for Whisman/Slater

2015-05-15 18:47:39

In case you haven't seen today's Mountain View Voice article:

http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2015/05/15/task-force-dumps-new-school-plan

The news is not looking good for our quadrant of the city. Over 170 people signed this petition saying they wanted a school in the Whisman/Slater neighborhood.

Many of those people attended the board meeting in April of last year to speak out and convince the school board that it was the right thing.

But since then, there has been little to no voice from this part of town to continue to support this idea. And with the boundary decisions affecting the whole city, there have been plenty of other parts of our town speaking up to protect their schools.

If you still feel strongly about a school for the Whisman/Slater area, it's not too late to speak up, but if nobody does it looks like we have no skin in the game.

I leave it in your hands--those of you with young children that will benefit from a neighborhood school. Stand up for what you want---if that is what you want.

Good luck.


Re-Open Whisman

A letter to the MVWSD board

2015-03-19 17:47:51

Perhaps you've been following the news lately and seen the uproar which is being caused in this city over the school boundary considerations and facilities plans for the elementary schools. Tonight is another MVWSD Board meeting where the discussion of the boundaries will be a hot topic.

Why should you care? Because our request for a neighborhood school is at the forefront of the commotion. The district is in essence pitting our neighborhood against the rest of the city because if we get what we have hoped for---a walkable neighborhood school, another school may close, programs may be compromised, children will be displaced from their current schools and many people are very unhappy. But this should not be the only solution.

If you truly stand by the desire to have a school in the Whisman neighborhood, you need to be heard. Those of us who started this campaign almost two years ago are no longer able to carry the flame on this agenda. The families who have young children to attend this school need to step up and keep this alive or sadly we will lose all we have worked for.

I urge you to attend the board, Boundary Advisory Task Force and Board Facility Committee meetings. Write to the Trustees, BATF and BFC committee members. Help be a solution to this problem by supporting boundary and facility options that will allow ALL neighborhoods a walkable school and keep existing Choice programs in tact. The current options they are considering should not be the only way.

Here is a message I just wrote to the Trustees of the MVWSD. Please, if you want a school for our neighborhood, take a stand now and don't let our voices get lost in the noise.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Trustees,
Today I write to you as one who wears many hats. And therefore am feeling the pain and anxiety of two sides of the boundary/school facilities battle (because that's what it's become).
 
I write to you as a parent of two Stevenson PACT students, as a member of the school site council, as a former chair of the Foundation Board. I write to you as a homeowner in the Whisman neighborhood, as the President of the North Whisman Neighborhood Association, as a member of the North Whisman CERT team. I write to you as a former member of the Measure G Oversight Committee. And finally, I write to you as a citizen of Mountain View, a member of this community that is being torn apart at the seams through the rushed process of the boundary/facilities decision process which is being sensationalized and fueled through the media.
 
Almost 2 years ago the Whisman and Slater neighborhoods came together to urge the MVWSD to reopen one of our neighborhood schools. We worked very hard. We raised awareness, we garnered support, we were acknowledged by the community and the school board. We felt happy that we had helped to rebuild community in our part of town that has lacked the cornerstone of what helps to define a neighborhood: a school.
 
Now, fast forward to the present and we are suddenly pitted against the rest of the community because if a school opens in our neighborhood we are taking away from the rest of the cities children by the closure of a school or the loss of the fundamental building blocks of a Choice Program (PACT). I have tried to stay away from the message boards on the MV Voice website because it pains me to read the anger and hate that abounds from this city against what we have fought so dearly for.
 
As a Stevenson PACT parent I don't want to see our school force out another neighborhood school. We suffer enough from people's misconceptions of our program. We don't want to incite more anger and hatred amongst our neighbors. I also don't want to see our school forced to give up on the foundations of our success: a dedicated facility, a full-time principal and our status as a Choice program for the entire community. We have come so far since the move to Stevenson. A move away from these three priorities will truly set us back and damage what we have worked so hard to build.
 
Why is it that the Whisman/Slater neighborhood must bring pain upon the rest of the schools? Why can't the board find a solution that will appease the entire city? I URGE you to please consider options that can satisfy all schools. I have seen the solution offered by Julie Muir, my neighbor, member of the District Facilities Committee and parent of students at DI and Crittenden. It is really good. It deserves attention and consideration. I don't believe the options given to the Boundary Advisory Task Force by the district should be the only options.
 
This is a time for opportunity. This is a time for change. Our city is growing, our schools need to as well. Please don't let this process tear apart our city, our communities, our schools.
 
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and due diligence to this process. I truly hope for a happy outcome to this situation for all parties.
 
Jessica Gandhi
 

Re-Open Whisman

Keep Whisman area school on the plan

2014-11-17 20:22:58

For those of you keeping up with the School Board goings on, you know it is a very controversial time. The board make-up is looking to change, the superintendent is on his way out and the newest "big agenda" is how to address the Castro school overcrowding issue.

This Thursday, Nov 20 the school board will discuss the recommendation of the Castro school task force to create 2 schools (one for the neighborhood, one for DI) on that campus.

Why is that of concern to us?

It concerns the residents of the Whisman area if this means that they will no longer consider opening another school in our area (ie: they decide to only open one new school, and it's at the Castro campus, not the Whisman area).

What can we do?

We can attend the Board Meeting this Thursday to ask the board to keep the Whisman neighborhood on the project list for a new school. To honor their previous commitment to address our areas needs through opening a school for this growing population. We need to remain in their minds and not let our previous efforts slip away. Board Agenda

Board meeting timeslots to talk:

  • 7:20pm: To address the concern of Castro School getting two schools if that means taking away one from Whisman area
  • 8:40pm: To address the Board on a non-agendized item--remind the board to honor their previous commitment to the Whisman area to research the right school option for our area and reopen one of the schools.

Are you willing to help?

It can't be done by one or two people. This issue needs more committed bodies to keep it alive. Please contact me directly at jessicasgandhi@yahoo.com if you are willing to actively participate.

 

Thank you,

Jessica Gandhi


Re-Open Whisman

Whisman/Slater School on the MVWSD School Board agenda SAT

2014-10-02 19:13:20

Whisman Supporters,

Please note, the special Board Meeting being held this Saturday shows the Whisman/Slater School topic as their last agenda item. It is important we continue to show our support for this issue especially as time has passed with little traction and new pressing issues are coming up within the school board. We don't want all of our efforts to slip away. Please show your support to the board to let them know we still want a school in our neighborhood by attending this meeting and/or writing the trustees a letter to keep this moving in the right direction.

 

Mountain View Whisman School District

Education for the World Ahead

Board of Trustees  ̶  Board Retreat

 

 

750-A San Pierre Way

October 4, 2014

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

 

(Live streaming available at www.mvwsd.org)

 

 

Demonstrate, daily, a relentless commitment to the success of every child.

Academic Excellence     «     Strong Community     «    Broad Worldview

 

 

As a courtesy to others, please turn off your cell phone upon entering.
 
Under Approval of Agenda, item order may be changed.  All times are approximate.

 

 

        I.     CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 8:00

               A.  Pledge

               B.  Roll Call

               C.  Approval of Agenda

 

      II.     REVIEW AND DISCUSSION                                                                                                     

   A.  Goals Report

 

   B.  21st Century Education

 

   C.  Family Engagement

 

   D.  District Dashboard

 

   E.   Board Facilities Committee Topics & Reporting

 

   F.   Whisman/Slater Neighborhood School

 

     III.     COMMUNITY COMMENTS

This is the time reserved for community members to address the Board on items that are not on the agenda.  The Board and Administration welcome this opportunity to listen; however, in compliance with the Brown Act, the Board is not permitted to take action on non-agenda items. 
 
Speakers are requested to complete a speaker card and state their name for the record.
 
If there are additional comments after 10 minutes have elapsed, this item may be continued after all the action and discussion items are completed.
 

     IV.     ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                12:00


Re-Open Whisman

First School Board mtg tonight--demographic study on agenda

2014-08-21 18:59:33

Welcome back from the summer hiatus. This is to inform you that tonight (Thurs, Aug 21) is the first School Board Meeting of the new year and the discussion of a new demographic study contract is on the agenda.

Meeting Details: Thurs, Aug 21, 7-10pm; located in the MVWSD Board Room 750-A San Pierre Way

Over the summer I heard there have been conversations within the district questioning whether or not it does make sense to reopen a school in the Whisman area--apparently the administration is still not convinced that the local population warrants a school in our quadrant (even though last spring the direction had been to move forward with this assumption).

This is why it is EXTREMELY important for those that care about having a school in the Whisman area continue to be involved and let the district know this needs to happen.

Please plan to come tonight to speak up for the neighborhood and make sure the district does not backslide on their commitment to our neighborhood and the progress we made so recently to get a school reopened.

I unfortunately am not able to attend so I really hope people can get out there and be heard. Also, remember that sending letters to the Board of Trustees (trustees@mvwsd.org) is also important and can help if you can't be there in person.

Let's keep this issue ALIVE!

Thank you,

Jessica Gandhi, President, North Whisman Neighborhood Association


Re-Open Whisman

School Facility Mtg TONIGHT (5/27)

2014-05-27 17:02:21

The Board Facilities Committee is meeting this evening at the District Office Board Room at 7pm to discuss the plan for the Elementary School facilities in Mountain View. The Whisman/Slater area school issue will be included in this discussion. For anyone who is interested in hearing or speaking up on this issue, I recommend attending this evenings meeting. It is still important for our voices to be heard in this issue as nothing has been decided yet on the fate of our neighborhood getting a school.

Thank you,
Jessica Gandhi

NWNA


Re-Open Whisman

Next MVWSD Board Mtg to discuss Whisman/Slater School options

2014-04-27 15:26:06

Hello Whisman Supporters,

We have learned that the topic of reopening a Whisman area school will be on this week's Board Meeting agenda at the MVWSD Board Meeting on Thursday, May 1, 8:40pm (yes, we are the last item on the agenda)


The school board meeting last week to present our ideas on re-opening a neighborhood school in the Whisman/Slater area was a success and a start in the right direction. The next step in this process will take place this Thursday, May 1 when the School Board will hold a discussion during their regular board meeting on this topic. See the agenda link -- item on the last page: http://mvwsd.org/images/Board_Agenda2013-14/fullagenda-20140501.pdf.

The discussion will take place at the District Board Room, 760-A San Pierre Way at 8:40pm.

If you are interested to hear what the school board has to say about our ideas and other ideas they have been thinking about, this would be a good meeting to attend. There will be time for community input as well, so we encourage anyone who wants their voice to be heard about the options for a local school to please come and give your input.


Thank you,
Jessica Gandhi
North Whisman Neighborhood Association


Re-Open Whisman

Thank you Supporters!

2014-04-18 05:22:39

A hearty thank you goes out to all who came tonight to show their support for the re-opening of a school in the Whisman/Slater neighborhood.

With over 60 people in attendance, an impressive presentation and plenty of community speakers getting up and showing their support, we left with the school board instructing the district to study and survey the community on the possibilities for our neighborhood. The first hurdle has been crossed.

Those of us who have been working on pulling this together feel very optimistic after this evenings meeting and we feel that the outpouring of support from this community was instrumental in swaying the district our way.

Thank you and we'll keep you posted on new developments or future meetings as they arise. If you would not like to receive these emails in the future, please let me know.

--Jessica Gandhi

 


Re-Open Whisman



Share this petition

Help this petition to reach more signatures.

How to promote a petition?

  • Share the petition on your Facebook wall and in groups related to the topic of your petition.
  • Contact your friends
    1. Write a message where you explain why you have signed this petition, since people are more likely to sign it if they understand how important the topic is.
    2. Copy and paste the web address of the petition into your message.
    3. Send the message using email, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Skype, Instagram and LinkedIn.