Schools
Los Altos School Elections Headed for Even Years?
Citing costs, and a dwindling number of public bodies holding odd-year elections, the school supe says switching could save $206,000 for LASD.
Like a series of dominoes falling, one local government body after another has switched from odd-year to even-year elections in recent years. With Monday night's board meeting, Los Altos School District (LASD) may be headed that way, too.
The school board will consider approving a proposal to move its elections to even years, falling in step with several other communities that have decided to hold their elections when the federal and state general elections are held.
The City Council moved to even-year elections in 2008, as did the Mountain View Los Altos High School District. LASD is acting now, however, because of recent developments.
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Beginning Nov. 3, 2010, Palo Alto voters overwhelmingly approved Measure S, mandating the city council to move its election to even years. Within two months, Palo Alto Union School District voted 4-1 in early January to join the City Council, despite misgivings that candidates would be overshadowed by the state and federal ballot. The Foothill DeAnza Community College District (FHDA) reopened consideration of even-year elections.
"That will leave us as the sole agency in an odd-year election cycle," Los Altos School Superintendent Jeff Baier told the board early last month. "The high school district is on even years, the city is even, and the college district may now moving to even election years." The city of Mountain View is on even-year elections as well.
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The reason to change now is cost, Baier said.
When LASD shares the election with the FHDA, it split the $206,000 cost in half, paying $103,000 to the county registrar's office.
On the other hand, if LASD switches to even years, the cost to hold an election drops to $65,000, because LASD could share those expenses with those other jurisdictions.
If the LASD board votes to go to even years, terms would be extended by one year to get the board elections onto an even-year cycle.
Once the board makes its decision, it will submit that proposal to the county supervisors, who would have to act within two months. LASD would have to bear the costs of notification to its voters.
To see what else is on the school board agenda for Monday night, click on the pdf above and to the right,
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