My name is Alex Starr, and I am speaking for the League of Women Voters.

Voters indicated their approval of Ohlone’s plans to update and renovate the Main Campus and to purchase land and construct the Newark Satellite Camput by passing the March 2002 bond.  The bond listed broad program and construction goals that are needed to deliver quality education and service to our growing population.

The League of Women Voters suggests that before the Ohlone Board gives direction to the architects for any drawings, the public needs to be invited and encouraged to participate in the planning of the new facilities.  The taxpayers who will fund the improvements need to be active in the planning process, and the Ohlone Board should actively solicit their input.

The League participated in discussions that FUSD held before the details were determined for the expenditure of their Facilities Bond money.  A neutral facilitator was hired to lead the discussions, and many useful ideas were presented to the FUSD Board and were subsequently incorporated into their plans.

The League recommends that the Ohlone Board listen to public input before architects begin their work on site plans for the 81 acre Satellite Campus.  The collective expertise of your constituents may surface useful ideas on the use of the acreage that is above the 25 acres originally needed to construct the satellite.   Alternative parking solutions, green construction ideas and alternatives to the planned buildings on the Main Campus may also be explored.

We urge this Board to foster this dialoque so that informed direction can be given to the architects before any money is expended on architectural drawings.

Thank you.