$400,000 in health grants for schools

The Sequoia Healthcare District will distribute more than $400,000 in grants for health-related programs in public schools.

The 18 recipients of grant money include the parent training program at Menlo-Atherton High School, mental health counseling services at M-A and Woodside high schools, Peninsula Conflict Resolution, as well as school gardening programs at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills, Collective Roots in East Palo Alto, and the University of California Cooperative Extension.

The healthcare district offers financial support to many public school districts, including Las Lomitas, Menlo Park City, Portola Valley and Woodside elementary school districts, and the Sequoia Union High School District, the district said in a statement.

The district also assists seniors in communities that include Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside.

The district is funded with property tax revenues from Woodside, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and other communities in San Mateo County.

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Posted by Jack Hickey
a resident of Woodside: Emerald Hills
on Aug 17, 2011 at 10:33 am

The Sequoia Healthcare District is engaging in activities not approved by voters. Established in a 1946 ballot measure as the Sequoia Hospital District, the District no longer owns the hospital.
The 2000/2001 Civil Grand Jury Web Link recommended that "The Sequoia Healthcare District should reduce property taxes for district taxpayers unless in a future election district voters approve expenditures for purposes not approved by district voters in the 1946 measure establishing the district or in 1996 Measure H."
The expenditure of $400,000 in health grants for schools and other philanthropic expenditures is exactly what the Grand Jury stated was for purposes not approved by district voters.

In the press release behind this story, issued by Don Shoecraft, $4,700/month PR guy for the Sequoia Healthcare District, it was stated that "Cash-strapped public schools have all but eliminated these and similar programs as budget reductions have pared all public school budgets."

These Grants are a direct subsidy to school districts for previously existing programs. If the Sequoia Healthcare District were dissolved, property tax money could flow directly to the school districts without added bureaucratic costs.

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Posted by Michael G. Stogner
a resident of another community
on Aug 17, 2011 at 12:06 pm

Jack Hickey is correct.

Notice the Grand Jury report is filed under 2001-02 instead of 2000-01 like it should be. Someone altered this right before the election. The only reason this Special District is still in place is because 5 people declined to do what the Grand Jury recommended.

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Posted by Good for Kids
a resident of another community
on Aug 17, 2011 at 5:27 pm

What are you guys - twins?

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Posted by Michael G. Stogner
a resident of another community
on Aug 17, 2011 at 5:42 pm

Good for kids ...thats funny...just not so good for the Taxpayers

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