Dear City Council Members,
As a parent and taxpayer in the Menlo Park City School District and as a former volunteer for Menlo Park schools, I am encouraging
you all to support Councilmember Mueller’s suggestion that the city give $1 million of its ERAF surplus to MPCSD as mitigation for
the cost - estimated at $663,000 annually - of the increased school enrollment expected from the Stanford housing development. My
kids are out of the MP schools and into the Sequioa Union District Schools but I still support this opportunity for MP schools.
Parents have worked tirelessly every year to raise money to support our schools on an annual basis. Donors and exiting parents
have supported the schools and built up some endowment as well. Our entire community benefits when our schools are strong and when
our children receive the amazing education that our schools have become known for. It will only get harder to raise money as the
population expands and as Stanford Housing puts more kids in our schools (especially because we don’t receive additional revenue
for additional students) without increasing the tax base.
$1 Million won’t solve any problems or put us farther ahead but it will help to make sure the job of raising enough money more
manageable.
Please help us with a $1 million gift so that when the new students arrive, as they surely will, the district will be equipped
with the resources to educate them. We all appreciate the value that an excellent school district adds to our vibrant community,
and with your foresight and help, we can maintain the quality that we all expect.
Sincerely,
Neela Gentile
Parent of Student at M-A
Neela Benjamin Gentile
Partners In Progress
neela@partnersinprogress.us [neela@partnersinprogress.us]
Mobile 415.279.6864
