Dear Community Members,

Thank you for such overwhelming support and attention to this important endeavor to retain our music directors and rectify the work environment at Saratoga High School and district wide. A community is only as strong as its members. With over 2,000 signatories to the petition, we have made some progress, and there is still some ways to go. In the meantime, we are able to offer some updates:  

• Over 60 parents/community members attended the District Board meeting held on December 13, 2022 and where the petition was officially shared with the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent
• The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend the public comments period, giving about 12 parents - including alumni parents - an opportunity to directly address the board to communicate their concerns and request that our goals be addressed in a timely manner 
• Several more sent emails and letters to the Board of Trustees, amplifying community unity in search of the right solution
• On December 16, 2022 over 20 parents attended the monthly Friday Family Time meeting held by Principal Louie and Counselor Brian Safine. The Director of Human Resources Paul Belzer was also in attendance

While full resolution of the matter is yet to be achieved, the information received at Friday’s meeting, coupled with a communication released by the Superintendent on December 15, covers a few important and significant facts:

1. Acknowledgement of the community efforts to date and that the Administration is in receipt of our communications, goals and requests. In addition, they also expressed an appreciation for community opinion and involvement
2. In full agreement that our educators are vital and valued assets in their ability to serve our students and the community
3. District leadership will have their channels of communication open to inform concrete updates and expect the independent investigation to roughly conclude by end of January
4. Active and pending resignations were retracted for the time being
   Until further developments, Principal Louie will be the primary point of contact for administrative and logistical matters related to the Music Department’s ability to deliver on their mission
5. The independent investigation will also focus on root, systemic causes that led to the resignations of the Directors

While we fully appreciate this monumental step in the right direction, the community still intends to actively and amicably work with the administration to ensure that the root problems that caused this current crisis are addressed in a timely manner, so that we can retain our educators for the long-term, and ensure that these issues do not repeat themselves district wide again. We will continue to work towards establishing frequent and honest dialog with district leadership and senior administration, and expect current and future requests for in-person audiences to be heeded in a timely manner.

Thank you for your valued attention and support and we can only hope our board members and superintendent read all your comments left herein. They so eloquently share how the music program and its Directors have had such an impactful, and life-long positive impact in our community. If they are truly tasked to represent us, your voices and support have clearly marked their path to do so.

Respectfully,

Los Gatos-Saratoga Community

Additional Information : 

Should you have a legitimate complaint against any senior administrator or district staff member past or present you may file your complaint using the Uniform Complaint form. For your convenience we have included links related to this end.

Uniform Complaint Form:

https://4.files.edl.io/8545/10/28/21/202855-f8854a91-0082-4dc8-bf85-ce41eafb37cf.pdf

LGUSD Board Policy & Administrative Regulation 1312,3(a):

https://4.files.edl.io/ddf6/07/13/18/191403-c3f66051-e800-4ae7-bd3c-103862516f52.pdf

Uniform Complaint Procedure:

https://4.files.edl.io/d2f7/10/20/22/164130-0e2107cc-5a89-4c0e-892b-2a76c5897e2e.pdf

Completed forms should be sent to:

            LGSUHSD District Headquarters

           17421 Farley Rd W, Los Gatos, CA 95030.

Open Letter from Community Member and SHS Music Parent

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P-95TkNWwjDvS5tf_ev0OPcy0Qsgq-ogu3ecXuvQkKg/edit

Next steps:

Since we welcome the independent investigation, and in the spirit of true partnership, we are in the process of drafting our parameters and expectations of said investigation. 

Timeline of community action: 

12/06/2022 Requested an in-person audience with District Leadership. Still waiting to secure a meeting time/date.
12/09/2022 Petition was launched.
12/13/2022 Community members attended the LGSUHSD Board Meeting.
12/15/2022 Community members attended the SHS School Site Council
12/16/2022 Community members attended the SHS Friday Family Time Meeting with SHS Principal
12/18/2022 Released first petition update.