Anticipating a politically charged crowd, Lagunitas School District trustees have scheduled an Oct. 7 meeting at the San Geronimo Golf Course to hear a presentation on alternatives to the wastewater facility planned to be built jointly with the French Ranch subdivision.

Trustees are also scheduled to vote whether to abandon the contract with the French Ranch development and instead search on its own for ways to repair or replace the campus' failing septic systems.

Under pressure from Save The Valley, whose members have accused trustees of rushing into collaboration with French Ranch without consulting Valley residents or exploring alternatives, the board agreed in August to hear the presentation of an experimental sand-filter system by Lescure Engineering.

Supporters of the Advanced Integrated Wastewater Pond System contend that system was selected through community involvement and supported in a petition signed by 650 Valley residents.

However, Lescure Engineering has proposed an underground sand-filter system that they contend could irrigate school property, operate at a lower cost, and avoid the district's cooperation with an unpopular building project.

Trustee Brian Dodd said he's open to Lescure's proposal but would scrutinize their projected operating costs.

Dodd said he's also concerned about whether the proposed system, which the county considers "experimental," would be approved for a school system by county and state officials.

Noting that both the county and community members have asked the district to work with French Ranch, Dodd said he expects Lescure to suggest alternatives that involve the subdivision.

But Trustee Richard Sloan told The Light that cooperating with French Ranch was an "idealistic" concept that should be abandoned in favor of "starting from square one."

Because the contract forms an unprecedented partnership between French Ranch and the district, Sloan said, it exposes the district to unforeseen liability.

Unresolved questions include: who will own and operate the pond-based wastewater system? and how will the school's share of operating expenses be limited?

Although Dodd said both parties have agreed to suspend the contract until these questions are answered, Sloan said the contract undermines the district's appearance of openness.

Quitting the contract, Sloan said, would "help calm concerns in the Valley and put us on a point where we can talk about this on a rational basis."

The school board meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. with the Lescure Engineering proposal starting at 8 p.m.