At the Feb. 2 Cupertino City Council meeting, Superintendent Steve Rowley illustrated how the council's decisions on city development would impact local high schools

"We're seeing very, very dramatic growth in the district," he said, referring to a 400-student spurt coming through in a time when the district isn't bringing in new revenue. "Demographically, this is the largest class we've seen in some time."

Fremont Union High School District is a basic aid district. And these districts have lost significant funding this school year. The state cut the $120 per student that basic aid schools historically receive. Now these districts only receive money through property taxes paid by residential and commercial properties within the district, and even that amount has been reduced this year.

Currently, the district receives $6,120 in property tax income for each pupil and $7,984 in total income for each pupil the difference comprised by state lottery trends and local sources such as interest and rent revenue. Rowley said these figures make Fremont Union the poorest among neighboring basic aid districts.

For Fremont Union, this means that any potential development in Cupertino—residential or commercial—can bring in more property taxes. But if the development includes housing units, the cost of new students from those units could possibly offset any financial benefit.

Rowley used the example of a current housing development from which $5,035 in property taxes goes to the school district. But that same development also supplies Fremont Union high schools with 55 students, and at a district cost of $6,000 for each regular student, the district is operating at a loss for those students. A special-education student costs the district $15,000.

The district is neutral on growth issues in Cupertino, but Rowley said that the proposed Oaks development could bring in $54,000 in property taxes. The district's student generation model indicates that if the mixed-use plan went forward, five students would enter local high schools, which could lessen the potential economic benefits. "Commercial growth is really a good thing, and student residential growth is not such a good thing for us," he said.

Rowley also addressed overcrowding in the schools. Figures show that Fremont High School is over capacity by 29 students and Monta Vista is over by one student. Cupertino, Lynbrook and Homestead high schools are all operating below capacity right now, but projections made using proven formulas show available room falling over the next few years.

Rowley said district projections from seven to eight years ago have been accurate within a few students for each school.

The state considers 27 students per regular classroom and 11 students per special-education classroom as capacity. All Fremont Union schools had been closed to intradistrict transfers due to modernization projects, but at the board meeting on Feb. 3, Homestead and Lynbrook were reopened for intradistrict transfers because they are the only schools with substantial room. Next year, Cupertino High School is projected to have a student body number right at capacity.

After hearing Rowley's presentation, city council members questioned the flexibility of borders within the district.

"Read my lips, no new boundaries," Rowley said jokingly. He added that the board would have to have a "dramatic and compelling" reason to change boundaries as they are now, especially since Fremont Union doesn't provide transportation for its students.

The district is currently working within the daily schedule and the available space at each high school. "These are strict [capacity] guidelines that we're following," Rowley said. "These push us to greater efficiency if we're pressed. We're not going to use cafeterias." Options include eliminating study halls and using odd times during the school day for core classes, which could prove inconvenient for students.

But schools like Homestead, which was recently refurbished, have a simpler task of dealing with solutions than do the overcrowded schools because they have space for 518 additional students. "Homestead has an easier time with seven periods than Monta Vista [does]," Rowley said.

The presentation was intended to educate the city council on potential impacts of development decisions, and while several members said they were already aware of concerns, the raw numbers painted a more complete picture.

"We're not going to approve a very large residential development, because we're cognizant of these things," said Mayor Sandy James.