Woodland -- Dear Woodland Joint Unified School District Board Members,

We are writing on behalf of the Spring Lake community to urge the board to address critical concerns regarding the district’s obligations under the Turn of the Century (TOC) Agreement. As you know, this agreement allows the district to collect significantly higher developer fees in Spring Lake than in other areas, in exchange for a commitment to build two elementary schools with a capacity of at least 650 students each.

Despite these commitments, the district has not outlined any clear plans to meet this obligation. When we raised these concerns in October 2023, we requested clarification on the district’s interpretation of the TOC Agreement. Instead of providing transparency, the district refused to discuss its responsibilities, with Superintendent Ortega-Lampkin stating that her priority is to "protect the district" — a stance that prevents open discussion of this critical issue.

At the same time, the district claims that statutory reporting requirements do not apply to Fund 28, which holds $14.6 million collected from Spring Lake developer fees. These funds were intended to ensure adequate school capacity for Spring Lake families, yet no concrete plan exists to fulfill this promise. Meanwhile, the only elementary school in the area—Spring Lake Elementary—has a capacity of just 375 students, while other nearby schools, such as Tafoya and Prairie, are already overcrowded and as a result struggling with inadequate facilities.

We request that the board provide clear answers to the following questions:

1. What is the board’s vision for Southeast Woodland? This area will eventually house 15,000 people. How can one elementary school for 375 students possibly be enough?

2. Is the district in a period of declining or increasing enrollment? District administrators consistently claim declining enrollment, yet the April 2024 Fee Justification Study states there will be significant growth in enrollment, especially for the elementary level.

3. What is the district’s interpretation of its obligation under the TOC Agreement? How does the board plan to fulfill the promise of adequate schools for Spring Lake students?

4. What is the plan for the $20+ million in developer fees? (Fund 28 $14.6M and Fund 35 $5.5M) These funds were collected specifically to build two large elementary schools, yet only one small school has been built.

5. What will happen to the Tech Park land? This may be the last opportunity to secure a school site in this area. What is the board’s plan to act before it’s too late?

We ask the board to go beyond basic financial reporting and commit to the following actions:

• Transparency: Provide a comprehensive report on Fund 28, including collections and future plans.

• Clarity: Clearly outline the district’s obligations under the TOC Agreement, which allows you to collect these fees.

• Planning: Develop a concrete roadmap for using these funds to provide sufficient school capacity.

• Securing a school site: Commit to purchasing the reserved land in the Tech Park development before the opportunity is lost.

The decisions made by this board will shape the future of education in our community for decades to come. We urge you to provide transparency, accountability, and a commitment to fulfilling the promises made to Spring Lake families.

We look forward to your response and expect meaningful discussion and action on these concerns before or at the February 4, 2025, board meeting.

Sincerely,

The W.A.C.

Sign our open letter by emailing us at thewoodlandac@gmail.com