Measure G not a cure-all

Though rumors had been exchanged among parents the district might close two of its smallest schools, Cipriani Elementary and Central Elementary, Keuschner said that is one of about 37 cost-cutting measures the district could take.

The district could make Sandpiper a multi-track year-round school, classify more schools as magnet schools or try to change attendance boundaries, he said.

The $96-a-year Measure G parcel tax means some music, reading and science classes will continue, but cuts will still have to be made.

Student distribution across the district also tangles matters.

Sandpiper Elementary in Redwood Shores has about 530 students while schools on the west side of the district like Central and Cipriani elementary schools have about 300 or fewer.

The challenge in the coming years, Keuscher said, would be to somehow encourage more parents to send children to the western ones.

"Other districts have a large, flat geographical area. For us, we have freeways and El Camino Real and Ralston Avenue dividing our community," he said.

The Measure G vote was certified earlier this week but could still be recounted if a voter requests it by Dec. 5.

David Tom, San Mateo County elections director, said it would cost up to $600 a day to manually recount the ballots, and whoever requested it would have to foot the bill.

A Belmont-Redwood Shores School District working group will discuss its finances 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Ralston Middle School, 2675 Ralston Ave. in Belmont.