The Branson School honor code promises an environment of honesty and integrity.
On March 3, Ross voters will be asked to consider the honesty of school administrators who say increasing the enrollment at the small private high school is the only way it can afford the well-regarded program that draws students from around the Bay Area.
If Measure F passes, Branson can prepare a plan for the Town Council that would allow the school to expand its enrollment beyond the 320-student cap by as many as 100 more students for the small, picturesque campus along the narrow, windy roads of Ross.
According to Branson administrators, expansion is needed for survival. Opponents say it’s an unnecessary move framed by dishonesty.
Head of School Chris Mazzola and the group calling itself Ross Residents for Branson say the nonprofit needs to bump the average class size of 12 students to 16 students to be able to afford programs and raise teacher salaries. No new buildings would be needed for the increase.
Measure F has drawn some impressive opposition. Four former mayors — Kelley Reid, Tom Byrnes, Charles Goodman and Peter Barry — lined up in opposition, saying Branson should complete the town planning process before submitting its expansion plans to voters.
They also see no reason for lifting the current cap in place since voters imposed it in 1978.
Byrnes said Branson has in recent years become “an overpowering force,” especially when it comes to traffic on Ross’ narrow streets.
“They have ambitions beyond our little town,” he told the IJ editorial board.
Branson administrators acknowledge a growing endowment and small surplus of funds in some of the years during the past decade, but disputes one claim that it has stashed $19 million. By rule, the school can only tap a small portion of the endowment each year and any recent savings were used to build a new dining facility and art building while increasing the endowment, its leaders say. Mazzola said that a close look shows the school has had an operating-revenue deficit in four of the last six years.
Branson may not be able to stay in Ross if enrollment is not allowed to grow and some say the property could be turned into 16 homesites, which would generate property taxes for the city and the school district.
Measure F comes in the wake of Branson’s failed attempt to move to the Strawberry seminary property and grow to 1,000 students. There, neighbors protested the plan, mostly complaining about the traffic the school would generate.
That experience heightened administrators’ already sensitive outlook on the traffic Branson causes. They plan to add to the shuttle bus fleet and continue to require students who drive to commit to carpools. They insist studies show traffic will not increase.
The mayors say that it would be unfair to members of the Town Council to increase the cap on Branson enrollment to 420 and then expect them to oversee a rigorous planning process.
However, that’s the job of the council members. They have been elected to do some of the heavy lifting of democracy.
We’re not convinced it is a question of fairness.
Measure F doesn’t swing the door wide open for Branson to expand to sizes like Marin Catholic (780 students) or Marin Academy (437). Even to add one more student than its 320 limit, Branson must first complete the planning process, which in Ross is traditionally rigorous.
Town residents will have ample say in that process.
The process also is going to be an expensive investment of time and energy for the school.
Measure F is not a mandate. It clearly allows the school to begin the planning process, one that might even lead to reinforcing its current 320-student cap.
We believe that Branson’s administration deserves that chance to submit its plans. We recommend a yes vote on Measure F.
