I’m writing to correct two errors in your Dec. 7 article regarding the recent joint City-LCUSD meeting where both entities reaffirmed their support for the proposed school district Territory Transfer. The errors are in the section of the article under the heading Sagebrush Endorsement, both in the statement “The resolution lets students living in the Sagebrush area attend LCUSD schools” and “more than 265 of the approximate 530 students in the territory are currently permitted to attend LCUSD, according to the agenda.”
The first correction is the estimated number of students currently living in Sagebrush. As noted in both the city and LCUSD resolutions, the approximate number of students in Sagebrush is 350, not 530. We note that a significant majority of Sagebrush students now attend LCUSD on permits.
Secondly, the resolution does not create an automatic right for Sagebrush students to enroll in LCUSD, but serves only to reaffirm both the city’s and LCUSD’s full support for the proposed territory transfer. The automatic right for Sagebrush students to attend LCUSD schools is precisely the intent of the Petition for a Territory Transfer that was put forward in 2016 by UniteLCF! on behalf of the Sagebrush residents. Today, as in the past, Sagebrush students must first apply to LCUSD for an attendance permit during a very limited application period. Then, if accepted, the student must apply to be released by GUSD. This is the uncertain and burdensome process the Petition is seeking to address. Our goal is to fully and permanently unite Sagebrush with the greater La Cañada Flintridge community and local public schools. Petitioners hope to see the State Board of Education grant final approval of the Transfer Petition in 2024 as the article states. If the State Board rules in our favor in an upcoming hearing, the Petition will be placed on a subsequent election ballot and the voters will make the final decision.
A territory transfer has been sought by Sagebrush residents for nearly 50 years and UniteLCF! has strived to provide accurate and clear details regarding the need for a permanent transfer and why this is such an important issue to Sagebrush residents and families.
On behalf of the Petition committee and our community we appreciate the unanimous support shown by all the elected officials of both the City Council and the School Board.
Nalini Lasiewicz
UniteLCF! volunteer
La Cañada Flintridge
First published in the December 14 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
