Obituaries Our system is contentious, but that's ok. A personnel policy has been chosen, we'll see how it shakes out. Challenge their version of "equity" and you become a racist, and can be dismissed, or attacked as well. Don't cheat the lottery school communities of this experience. It seems to be Mr. Austins modus operandi, and it isn't just regarding math. If a student completes AP Chem their junior year and they want to take organic chemistry (a class considered foundational for someone interested in pursuing an MD), they must go outside the district for that. Austin announced on Tuesday that the district will start a new employee assistance program with mental health services beginning July 1. Yet not all of the group members are parents, and many don't live in Palo Alto. Instructions on how to access the Zoom meeting can be found at the start of each meeting agenda. Superintendent's Update - Palo Alto Unified School District Home About Us Updates Superintendent's Update Superintendent's Update Why PAUSD? Public schools are by their nature democratized. Paly principal, Kim Diorio allowed the student who sexually assaulted a person to continue attending Paly classes on his watch. I was not allowed to meet with the complainant, because the principal claimed that the complainant feared retaliation on my part even though I had no record of such actions. "I am confident in standing by the integrity of the petition. He previously said a third-party investigator would review the JLS incident starting on June 9 to find out how the district could improve its responses. Davis and an M.A. Ravenswood City School District 2120 Euclid Ave. East Palo Alto, CA 94303 . I believe in traditional family values, and part of those traditional family values [is] talking to my kids. I ran four years ago, really to focus on issues of mental health and equity and achievement, Dharap said. The disruptions in classes have made it difficult to teach students, and teacher morale is low, they said. For public school leadership to question the efficacy of proliferate technology invites career and political suicide, especially in Silicon Valley. Editorial board recommendation Editorial: DiBrienza, Collins, Ladomirak for school board - Oct. 9Out of a strong field, we recommend Jennifer DiBrienza, Todd Collins and Jesse Ladomirak for the Palo Alto school board.This page will be updated with more content in the coming weeks.Find more of our 2020 election coverage here. Throughout the year, we all have highs and lows, and as we reach April and May, we often see a dip in morale and behavior. That sounds like a pretty fabulous parachute (on top of a public employee pension). When Jordan reopened in 1991, the students voted to have the jaguar become the mascot. Four candidates are competing for two open seats on the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education: newcomers Ingrid Campos, Nicole Chiu-Wang and Shana Segal and incumbent Shounak Dharap. in Education from U.C. Facts matter. A&E As of 2015[update], cluster suicide has remained a problem in the district's high schools. The Post spoke with all four candidates about their experience and policy positions, focusing on mental health and wellness, equity and communication. Please understand that as usual that I am not telling anyone what to think or pushing any particular policy or outcome, but I am pointing out that it's something to think about. until 1982, at which point it merged with (and moved locations to) the former Sequoya school and renamed Palo Verde (see above). The board decision was by consensus. Each year the Board of Education members liaise toschools and committees in order to build relationships, hear from staff, students, and families, and to act as a conduit for information to and from the schools, Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE), and the PTA Council. Make personnel recommendations and changes in consultation with the Board. His opponents said this decision prevents students with disabilities from accessing the district's "choice" schools, which run special programs.Austin has said, however, that the classes are being relocated to two other elementary schools for the sake of the students: At the new schools, grades will be split in two tranches K-2 and grades 3-5 for more age-appropriate, targeted learning rather than all lumped together.He has also angered parents and students who want a multivariable calculus class with a Foothill College instructor to be taught during regular bell times rather than after school and for credit to be applied to the students' high school grade-point averages. Gee, by the board's standards, my pay should have been doubled and my statue displayed at 25 Churchill. The fact is, your side won. As we approach the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the patterns and cycles that we experience. The district was recently rocked by an assault on two teachers by a student in a special education class at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, which resulted in serious injuries. A group of six parents wrote a letter in support of Austin, however, pointing to many strides in the district that have been student-centered, including comprehensive mental health services, improved mathematics programs, after-school on-campus child care that is accessible to students of all income levels and an equity-in-literacy program that is showing positive results. To maintain the order of speakers and accurately capture comments, please submit a virtual speaker card in advance. 0 : You really don't get it. Participate in professional development and commit the time and energy necessary to be an informed and effective leader. Sacramento, CA 95814, Contact Us | FAQ During his tenure he saw the district expand from 5,500 students to 14,000, adding 17 new schools, and is credited with the establishment of De Anza College and Foothill College, two local community colleges. News That's really the lesson of Churchill- who you so aptly quoted. Is there a mental health crisis in the schools that do offer the course that can be attributed to MVC? Superintendent; Departments. Many of these signees are probably concerned about other issues as well (e.g. Menlo Park, CA. Credible voices have sounded the too much tech alarm. Turn your Palo Alto PTA into the powerful political organization it was in Palo Alto not that long ago. The word "community" gets tossed around quite a bit in PAUSD. I think everyone in the community needs to understand the terrain. Screen time at home coupled with more screen time at school means those vulnerable to constant exposure are bound to struggle. Democracy moves slowly. She was a Palo Alto High School student at the time, surrounded in many ways by turmoil. Palo Alto native, graduate announces bid for school board - July 7Katie Causey, a Palo Alto native, Palo Alto Unified graduate and nonprofit employee, announced on Tuesday that she's running for a seat on the school board in November.Todd Collins Todd Collins: Candidate profile - Oct. 7Todd Collins, current president of the Palo Alto Board of Education, believes the school district is more stable, better managed and effective than in recent history but that there is still progress to be made on key issues. Incumbent Todd Collins, parent Jesse Ladomirak detail campaigns for school board - Aug. 11The race for three open seats on the Palo Alto Unified school board continues to expand with board President Todd Collins and Jesse Ladomirak, a parent and co-owner of a remodeling company in San Francisco.Jennifer DiBrienza Jennifer DiBrienza: Candidate profile - Oct. 7Jennifer DiBrienza's four years on the school board have been marked by enormous turmoil. But the equity piece, which is intertwined, is were helping the students within that class who are struggling and were also providing more for students who are struggling.. In recent weeks, we have faced a series of challenging incidents in our schools. If you are part of a group that has "lost" any sort of policy battle, keep going. from the University of San Francisco School of Law and works as an associate attorney at the Arns Law Firm. "There is no way to know how many people submitted multiple names," or if the names of whole families or people outside of the district were included, he said.Rowena Chiu, one of the petition organizers, in an email response said that spot checks of the petition names found few duplicates among people with the same, common last names. So while I understand that some have signed the petition for other reasons, it's hard for me to find fault with members of the public who think otherwise. Because the information is voluntarily self-reported, The school mascot is the tiger. We need to be talking to everyone and hearing from everyone, making them feel like they are a part of this process as opposed to being dictated to, and told what will help them, Chiu-Wang said. Time to read: about 5 minutes. We may have some of our ethnicities within the Asian American community consistently scoring at the top when you look at standardized tests, and some communities are consistently scoring at the bottom, Chiu-Wang said. Inform the Board prior to critical information becoming public; apprise all Board members in a timely manner of any major incident or when they may be called on to answer or explain. [Portion removed.] The child is about to be a senior and is currently enrolled in summer school that began on July 6. Prepare preliminary goals annually for the Boards consideration. Govern within Board-adopted policies and administrative regulations. Extremely disappointing and sad! Even if ALL the anonymous signatures were because of MVC (quite unlikely), that would still be less than half of the total signatures (240/590 = 41%). Embarcadero Media I think we have to address the cultural issues behind mental health and wellness, Chiu-Wang said. While all other candidates are in support of removing class lanes which separate students into classes taught at different levels of rigor and depth to decrease the achievement gap, Campos said she thinks PAUSD should keep class lanes. Buffeted for the past several years by some critics who charged that his. The petitioners went through great length to attach themselves to issues that would deflect from their real goal of accelerated math, despite all the known stress that causes on campus. Elections are held in even-numbered years, and terms are staggered so that two or three seats are open at each election. PAUSD is not a low-income area, and MVC is not an unmet basic need. The six candidates vying for three open seats on the school board faced off in a virtual debate on Sept. 30, discussing their views on reopening schools, transparency, student mental health and more. Recognize decisions are made only at properly scheduled meetings. Current pay is at least $344k per annum (per Transparent California.com), so a separation could cost the taxpayers close to $1,000,000. [13] Attempts have since been made to try to improve the emotional health of students attending the schools. Board Agendas, Minutes, and Meeting Materials. Ensure opportunities for the diverse range of views in the community to inform Board deliberations, and evaluate the Districts performance. Families are welcomed and encouraged to view any Palo Alto UnifiedSchool District policies. Working directly with the Board of Education to set the direction for PAUSD through creating policy, identifying priority areas, and allocating resources. Like, really seriously. Below are general protocols and those that are specific for the Board and for the Superintendent. Everyone knew it was a done deal with this board. The latest, an ad from the state for "CA Community schools": I think a lot of work has been done, certainly, for both mental health and equity and issues of racism, Chiu-Wang said. Those who did sign did so of their own volition because they share our concerns about the superintendent," she said. She also said she wants to make information easily accessible to parents and believes in making evidence-based decisions. To improve communication throughout the PAUSD community, Dharap said the district should hire a public information officer. As Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government out there, except for all the rest". California's community schools. Consensus doesn't mean that the entire board gave him a satisfactory! Meet the candidatesKatie Causey Katie Causey: Candidate profile - Oct. 7Katie Causey has wanted to run for a seat on the school board since she was 15 years old. Sports Finally, the decision to eliminate special ed. The general order of regular agenda items is as follows: Due to the short notice often associated with posting special meetings and study sessions, there is no Open Forum at these meetings. Guest Opinion: Responsible track record deserves 'yes' on Measure O - Oct. 2. Community Member . Looking at the BIC job description, that seems like only one among many areas they are involved in. Avoid bringing a matter to a public meeting that is a surprise to a Board member or cabinet member. Henry M. Gunn High School is one of two public high schools in Palo Alto. . In their own words: Where the candidates stand on the issues - Oct. 7. Campaign financing Newcomer Jesse Ladomirak holds fundraising lead in school board race - Oct. 23Challenger Jesse Ladomirak continues to lead fundraising in the school board race, receiving about $7,700 during the most recent reporting period, according to campaign finance reports. Ladomirak ahead in school-board campaign fundraising, trailed by incumbents - Sept. 25Newcomer Jesse Ladomirak has a lead in campaign contributions in the Palo Alto Unified school board race, having raised just over $20,000 to date, while incumbents Todd Collins and Jennifer DiBrienza are trailing with about $17,000 each.Newcomers Katie Causey and Karna Nisewaner have each raised about $8,000 to date, according to campaign finance reports. - And finally, we have "the opposition probably isn't even a stakeholder/doesn't live in Palo Alto." I dont have any concept of what needs to be changed until Ive attended board meetings and I looked at the agenda, Campos said. The mantra was 21st Century Skills. What that means in practice is taking a hard look at the system and figuring out what areas can be changed, tweaked, rebuilt, to provide that same opportunity for everybody.. [5], Founded in 1953, the school was originally named after Ray Lyman Wilbur, one of the early presidents of Stanford University. This is what I received after 27 years of blood, sweat, and tears with stellar evaluations to back up my methods. (Yoochan An) Four candidates are competing for two open seats on the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education: newcomers Ingrid Campos, Nicole Chiu-Wang and Shana Segal and incumbent Shounak Dharap. Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. We also believe that it is futile to monitor and respond to every post or nuance that is shared with us. The decision making process that the board wants the Supe to use going forward is this: Few examples have come to light publicly, a situation that some of his opponents say is due to fear of retaliation.In a follow-up text message on June 23, Austin said the petition was unverified and, since it was online, had no signatures. This dip can be tough for everyone, but it is important to recognize that this cycle is predictable and normal. to 1966) - razed for development. Jesse Ladomirak looks at the current makeup of the school board with only one board member with children attending district schools and sees a gap she wants to fill. Web Link Objectively evaluate the Superintendents performance and provide appropriate feedback. The reporter wanted to know our plans for PAUSD. Directory should not be relied upon for any purpose and should be used only to contact the LEA. - Never show a willingness to revisit a decision. Improving communication is one of Chiu-Wangs top priorities. Karna Nisewaner believes her personal and professional experiences make her a needed voice on the school board during this time. As for the nice folks explaining how they won and everyone should come join the process, and get involved etc. George Pinckney. As an example, she brought up the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, which reversed the constitutional right to an abortion. Dr. Don Austin comes to the Palo Alto Unified School District as the new Superintendent of Schools with applicable experience and a desire to help all students realize their full potential. Stay informed on important education news. By contrast, if you dare to take on big tech expect a big battle. Promotions On November 3, 2020, DiBrienza and Collins were re-elected, while Ladomirak was elected to replace the outgoing Melissa Baten Caswell. There are kids who want to take languages/courses that are not offered in the district or get canceled because of insufficient enrollment who do that and pay for it without calling for the superintendent's removal. Palo Alto voters to decide on schools parcel tax - Oct. 7. Palo Alto native, graduate announces bid for school board - July 7. This board will be tasked with, among other things, overseeing ongoing school construction projects, collaborating with the newly launched ad hoc committees and fulfilling the PAUSD promise. There is an internal student-run television news show called theTitan Broadcast Network. ENROLL. Sarcasm aside, The parent apparently refused to have the student moved to another class that fit their style, and the principal just fanned their objections to my teaching even though I was assigned the class at the last minute. Don't forget that side. "It's called 'shared leadership', driven by each community, in a groundbreaking setting Daily Post Staff Writer The father of a child with disabilities is suing the Palo Alto Unified School District because his son wasn't allowed to go mask-less at summer school, and could be held back. The Board of Trustees is the educational policy-making body for the District, doing its work in meetings of the board in public. The institutional problems still exist. But whats left is implementing the plan. For example, she said that differentiation in an English classroom could mean providing a range of different essay prompts. The enormous responsibility energizes me and requires my best daily effort. Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. That is the key to the long-term health of this democratic institution. This seems like the sort of thing that would need a vote. Are you afraid of being pregnant? The child doesnt know what shes talking about, and the overturning of Roe v. Wade should have no concern to a 14 year old.. Campos supports initiatives such as opening wellness centers at schools, but said that she doesnt understand why student health and wellness is a large focus for the board. Founded in 1898, its enrollment today is over 1700 students. MEAL. If parents and students want a leader they can push around, I suggest looking up the definition in a dictionary. The six candidates discussed numerous topics during the Weekly's Sept. 30 debate. The board never voted on the superintendents contract or its extension. Just because you "won", doesn't mean we all disappear. - Make some noises about "you were informed at a meeting you didn't attend about this". There are about 590 signatures on the superintendent petition, and about 170 of the signatures are anonymous. Applications. "I am confident in standing by the integrity of the petition. Updated: Fri, Oct 23, 2020, 10:20 am The school board, just like the city council, routinely ignores the wishes of the taxpayers who put them in office. in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University. I think the biggest thing we need to do is communicate.. How does everyone feel about this? Palo Alto Unifiedmaintains current copies of our District policies and administrative regulations in the BoardDocs eGovernance platform. So, reading the fine print, this was a performance review where another year was added onto the 3 year contract that the Supe has. - If opposition continues, appeal to "civility" and "resilience" and "be a good example to the children". They obviously are disconnected from the students, families, and teachers too. Parcel tax measure Palo Alto voters to decide on schools parcel tax - Oct. 7If approved, Measure O would extend an $836 per parcel tax for six years at the same rate. School board puts parcel tax on November ballot, expecting challenging path to approval - July 8The Palo Alto school board has decided to place a parcel tax renewal on the November ballot, partially out of concern that the measure might not pass the first time. Public comment opportunities will be available through Zoom and in person. Do you really think stakeholders, students especially, have become better off under his tenure? Thats on YOU , the parent , stop outsourcing parental duties. The board decision was made by consensus. It is a mistake and an unkind burden to separate families who can least afford the extra burden of separation. Palo Alto native, graduate announces bid for school board - July 7, Incumbent Todd Collins, parent Jesse Ladomirak detail campaigns for school board - Aug. 11, Jennifer DiBrienza: Candidate profile - Oct. 7, Palo Alto police sweep downtown block after bomb threat at Sancho's Taqueria, Planning commission backs deal for redevelopment of Fry's site, Transferring from California community colleges? While I had heard of Chat GPT, I hadn't thought much about the implications for schools. The debate was held the night after the school board voted unanimously to approve a plan to start reopening elementary schools in two weeks, which has sparked controversy and division in the school community. These actions early in the year put me in a position of not knowing why I was in "hot water" and having to be wary of every teaching choice I made given a principal ready and willing to call me out at any time. Since this is a highly political environment, I don't think you're going to get the capitulation you seek - or the opinion change. A class I had not taught in 20 years. Community Calendar Work with the Board to establish a clear vision for the school District. He listens and responds promptly and is much better than all the School Board members we have experienced, of which many I have spoken to throughout the years. All rights reserved. Uphold the legal requirement for confidentiality on all matters arising from Board Meeting Closed Sessions; and keep all conversations taking place in Closed Sessions and other areas restricted by the Brown Act absolutely confidential. She was driven to run primarily by concerns about the state of the district during the pandemic. As your Superintendent, it is my responsibility to ensure that our schools are safe and supportive environments where our students can learn and grow. If any readers know where to find such information, please help in this regard. Her older son attends transitional kindergarten in PAUSD. [27] The school mascot is the panther. If you are not registered, you can do so Elizabeth Van Auken Elementary School - still stands. No top administrator wants to be seen as falling behind in technology, whether it is an effective learning tool or not. Home & Real Estate Below are links to resources for LEA CDS coordinators for submitting corrections. Kevin Skelly (from 2008-15) was a figurehead who allowed himself to be bullied. Browse Board Policies & Administrative Regulations, document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) PAUSD. Agreed. [29], The 201819 school year had 668 students in attendance. The empty Henry M. Gunn High School campus in Palo Alto on April 3. During COVID, there were a lot of staffing issues and students werent able to access mental health supports as much as they needed, Dharap said. Communicate one-on-one with the Superintendent when an individual concern arises so issues do not fester. PAUSD librarians have created the following slides to keep the joy of reading alive. It is true that all of the superintendents have not been 'prefect', but others have been better. As we discuss the idea of accelerating academic classes in high school, it's important to keep this in mind. Communicate with individual Board members to determine if concerns exist prior to a problem developing. Beyond disappointing. | Web Policy To learn more, visit Camposs websitehere. Recognize and respect difference of perspective and style on the Board and among staff, students, parents, and the community. We do our best to communicate with families regularly and understand that our mass efforts cannot possibly keep pace with the speed of discussions over social media platforms. The school is named after Henry M. Gunn (18981988), who served as the Palo Alto superintendent from 19501961. Visitor Info, Send News Tips It's difficult to find a college/university that does not require all students to demonstrate algebra proficiency via core requirements, AP credit or placement exam. Contact Us California Department of Education Hanisi Accetta. [5], Ellen T. Fletcher Middle School, formerly Terman Middle School, is located at 655 Arastradero Road in Palo Alto. Last year, Dharap created and chaired the Board Equity Oversight Committee, which met throughout the year to develop the SWIFT plan. The school is named after Henry M. Gunn (1898-1988), who served as the Palo Alto superintendent from 1950-1961. Hundreds of upset parents cant match the power of tech vendors who try to stack school boards with sympathetic candidates. Also, seriously, people - MVC is not some super advance class that is only useful to these that will go into theoretical math PhD programs. Work with us to find out our concerns - we were dismissed, but we're not wrong. Since the Board endorsed this management style, we can prepare ourselves for this pattern to remain in effect for at least another year. Do you know what it takes to get 500 signatures for anything? Henry M. Gunn High School is one of two public high schools in Palo Alto. MVC is not foundational in the same way that basic algebra is, any more than an intro chem class is vs AP chem or even organic chem. The board decision was by consensus. Then there was Max McGee, whose philosophy was that the parents were too pushy and blamed them for student stress. Here's a roundup of our articles and videos. Evaluate its own effectiveness in conjunction with the Superintendents evaluation; review its protocols annually.
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