Forming a bond
Community member Chris Miller was reappointed to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee at Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District to serve his third two-year term.
The committee provides a check on the school board, ensuring transparency and accountability in the expenditure of bond funds, which are used for the improvement of school facilities.
The committee currently has only three members is actively looking for additional members. Anyone interested in serving on the committee must meet one of the following requirements:
parent or guardian of child enrolled in the district
both a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the district and active in a parent-teacher association
active member in an organization representing the business community located in the district
active member in a senior citizens’ organization
active member in a taxpayers’ association
community member over 18 years old
The committee typically meets two to three times a year, and meetings are scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a weekday. To apply, visit https://bit.ly/46NYJ8m.
South Bay college boasts payoff
West Valley College ranked among the top 25 schools in California for economic returns for recent graduates, according to a report evaluating the return on investment for community and career colleges in the state. The Saratoga-based college ranked No. 11 overall.
The study examined over 300 community colleges and certificate-granting institutions and analyzed the how quickly students can recoup the cost of their education. It found that most West Valley College students recover their net educational costs in under six months. The report was released by College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group, a research and consulting agency focused on college access, value and economic mobility.
“West Valley College is a place where opportunity is real and within reach,” said President Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza in a press release. “By keeping education affordable, accessible and aligned with workforce needs, we help students achieve meaningful careers and upward mobility.”
The statewide report evaluated institutions across 12 of California’s economic regions and analyzed federal data from 1.2 million students attending public, nonprofit and for-profit two-year colleges. The study determined that public community colleges deliver a better return on investment than private institutions. According to the report, 40% of public institutions allow students to recoup costs within a year, compared to just 5% of private institutions.