SUHSD Board Meeting, February 4, 2026

001Um, >> are they staying? >> Yeah. So, there's people standing outside there. Are they going to just listen from that hallway? Just want to clarify. Otherwise, you could stand in the back. All right. So, we will call to the meeting to order tonight at 5:42 p.m. Um, so I'd like to welcome everyone here today. Um, this is a special meeting of the board of trustees um to discuss a single agenda item and as such uh we don't have non-aggendaized public comment tonight. Uh but I do want to remind you all um that if you want to remotely provide public comment during the meeting, please use the raise hand feature during the agenda item when we get started there. And then for public comments in person, please fill out a speaker card uh and hand the

002card to Laura at the dis. When the requested agenda item, there's only one comes before the board, the speaker will be called forward. Um and so board policy ordinarily limits the time to be devoted to any single agenda topic to 10 minutes. Of course, this is a special situation. Um and individual speakers are ordinarily limited to three minutes. Now, if the board decides to expand the amount of time to be allocated to this agenda item um and many speakers wish to address that item, the board may reduce or increase the total amount of time um allowed to for public comment. Uh and we could also reduce the amount of time from 3 minutes to two minutes in order to permit more speakers to comment. So, the board will announce the amount of time to be

003allocated to each speaker before public comment uh on this agenda item and we ask that all speakers keep to the time limits. Um so, at this point, I know everyone in here has had an emotional ride. Uh I as well have constantly had thoughts spinning through my heads as many of you probably have had as well. And so, um, it's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty and we want to make sure that we're hearing from everyone tonight and making a very deliberate and careful decision considering all the information we have. And with that, um, Laura, how many >> Oh, yeah. We need to do roll call first. >> Uh, Trusty Nory >> here. Trusty Cruz >> here. Trusty Thompson >> here. >> Vice President Gin >> here. Co >> here. >> We have a qu.

004>> Okay. And then can I have mo move to approve the agenda? Motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we're moving on to >> All in favor. >> Oh. All in favor? >> I. Um, and then now we're at agenda item 5.1, which is discussion and approval of the recommendations to close Tide Academy. Um, and with that, we'll start with public comment first. Uh, how many public comment cards do we have? And online I have 26 in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand now. 27 in person. and six online. >> Six online. >> Okay, just double checking the number. Okay. So 27 in person, six online and to the chair are recapping it now online at six. >> Okay. So then

005grand total is 33 public comments and I know that throughout this process the presentation has been long and we've had to reduce the amount of time uh given to public comment because this is a special board meeting and there's only one agenda item on the the agenda. Uh I propose that we give everyone three minutes their full three minutes. Um, and uh would would the rest of the board would be amendable to that? Okay. So, everyone will get the full three minutes. That does not mean you have to use the full three minutes. Okay. But I'm just saying if you have something and and the agenda item um you know we want to make sure that the public comment is centered around uh the board packet that's been shared with the public of the decision

006at hand. So we have the different options um and really focus your public comments on those options and how it might impact you and your families or if you've got different ideas. Um, so please be mindful of the time because if everyone takes their full three minutes, we'll be here for quite some time. So you do not have to use all three minutes. Um, shall we start with online? >> Yeah. >> All right. Our our first speaker is concern community. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. >> All right. I want to take a moment to applaud this board for their consistency. This school board and the school district has a demonstrated pattern of racist, classist, and abbleist policies. Just check the lawsuits. On May 8th, 2024, Trustee Gin brought a prepared speech to

007the board meeting about how we should not be using the words diversity, equity, or social justice, because he found them ambiguous or threatening. He was also essential in this board's removal of Superintendent Williams, an experienced, equity focused black woman, and replacing her with Superintendent Leech, a woman with no teaching experience. That process too lacked any transparency or accountability. We still don't know why Dr. Williams was fired. Now the board wants to close Tide Academy, a safe space rooted in equity and diversity because apparently they can't do math. This board has named that the district is losing black staff and teachers and students of color don't feel safe in the classrooms. I, for one, have no idea why that is. Thank you. Thank you our next speaker if you can unmute. >> Oh, hi. Is it

008my turn? >> Yes, go ahead. >> Okay. Um, hi. My name is Johanna Mahal. I am a taxpayer and a resident and a parent at Tide. I would just like to make comment about how this is the duty and care of the board of trustees to hold their employee, their sole employee, Superintendent Leachch, accountable for her job. number of times in the past two board meetings, she was asked to provide options other than solely looking at tide for creating a balanced budget or getting herself out of the structury structural deficit that she finds herself in. She has not presented that. She has only presented options. The only option that even comes close to her to what she was requested to do is the no option. So, I'm asking the board of trustees today as elected

009officials because you represent us and you employ her to please vote no on all three options and to vote for a no option and ask her to come back with a clear look at how and where she can make other adjust adjustments to her budget and not just single out the closure of Tide. Thank you. We We just lost her. >> Okay. >> Um, next is Adrian. A Uh, hi. Yeah, this is actually Cat Cole. Um, I have my son's name on my uh Zoom. Um, but um I have been at Tide for eight years um since it was started. Um, and at that time the board and leadership of this district, you know, a different group of people that was sitting in the same seats that you are, decided to invest millions of taxpayer

010dollars to open Tide Academy. Um, because of a belief that it would benefit students and families. Um, and I acknowledge that circumstances have changed. Um, I understand that we have to face certain realities like financial strain and declining enrollment. Um, however, I urge you do not consider the incredible financial investment that the district made in Tide as a sunk cost. Let's be creative. Let's be solutionary and figure out a way that all of the work that has been developed at Tide can can be carried forward. Those dollars have been put to work at Tide um these past years to develop unique and innovative programs that serve all different kinds of students. Um so first I want to say like you have it the power in your hands. You know you can make a motion to

011suggest your own option and vote to keep tide open. Um, however, if you do choose between the options tonight, I have one simple request, which is that, um, before voting on these options, you make a motion to change the wording. Um, and in option one and option two, delete the words planned phase out and delete the words through June 30th, 2029 and add a phrase to option three about considering a tide academy program at Woodside after the current TIDE location would close in 3 years. Leave the future open to possibility. By changing this wording, you don't commit to anything, but you leave the opportunity open for the implementation team to explore creating a Tide Academy program at Woodside that would remain as a sustainable program in the future and can incorporate some of the initiatives

012that Tide students and families love and that they depend on. And after investing so much in Tide, why not capitalize on the return that you have? let a team look into a sustainable academy model um that incorporates things like nucleus, community circles, flex time, career exploration and career mentorship, CTE pathways, um dual enrollment, a wellness center, project-based learning, um and expertly differentiated curriculum for all different types of learners. Um and after talking to many students at school today, the students want option three, but I'm sorry. Time is up. Thank you to the chair. From the original six, we had three speakers, three dropped. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I'll move to the comment cards in person. I will call you up four at a time. Our first four speakers is Diane Waco, Tony Aradnik,

013Lada Lea Lova, and Constantine. I find it astonishing that we are here voting on the closure of a school when we have yet to have any discussion with the stakeholders about ways to restructure that and re save money so that a closure would not be needed. A closure should be the last resort a school board goes to. But here we are. So among the options presented, would I send my child to Woodside? I would. Woodside is actually closer to me than Tide. and my child's priorities are to continue dual enrollment and the CTE pathways. That being said, this is only going to work if you get enough of my child's cohorts, his classmates to go as well. And that means you're going to have to focus on how to serve this very socioeconomically disadvantaged um

014rich in students with disabilities population. So that means transportation for people from the east side is going to be a huge priority. That means preserving a way to help these students with anxiety feel safe in this much larger environment is going to be a priority. And to be honest, I don't have a whole lot of faith in the district anymore that they're listening to what our students need. Um, so I don't think you can do that planning very quickly to implement in the fall. If you can, if you're actually listening and not trying to claim that we're going to get more advantages and more services at Woodside, but actually listening to what the children need, then maybe you can do it for fall. I don't know. But I don't see any reason why now that

015you have proposed uh probably closing the building and gotten all the savings there, there's no financial reason to close down the entire program and not admit freshmen and not continue it going on as the othermies at the other schools have done. Thank you. Hi, I'm Tony. I've sent you all a lot of emails recently. Um, I um I woke up this morning and I read the news. Um, I read these options and and it got me thinking. It is so easy to destroy things. It's so easy to break and disrupt and abandon. It takes no vision at all to simply tear something down. Creating and sustaining something beautiful and profound like this community is hard. It takes commitment. It takes heart. It takes an ability to see beyond yourself and the present moment. I would

016imagine that this is the type of work that drew you to run for school board. Hope and energy for the future. Helping kids grow and learn and flourish. The options before you this evening are all destruction. Targeting some of the most vulnerable communities who are at risk of losing the most like so much else these days outside of this room. We this community we are willing to do the generative future focused work to keep these kids thriving. I hope and pray that you all choose hope and hard work, too. We don't need any more good things destroyed. You brushed through the process of deciding whether to close tide. You fed us promises that the closing of Tide hasn't been decided yet. And in the end, the only options your superintendent proposed involved closing Tide. Despite

017all the feedback you've heard, the only thing that seems to have gotten through to you is TID sense of community. You've ignored the comments of the importance of TID's campus. You've ignored the comments of counselors being overwhelmed at your large schools, of kids having to wait in long lines to even see one. Your expert who presented on IEPs last week said that kids will be better accommodated at large schools, which is just blatantly false. Even if a large school has a larger amount of resources than Tide, it doesn't mean that they have enough for each student to have access to. You've spoken of transferring TID's dual enrollment program to Woodside and maybe even giving the rest of Woodside access to it, but you've outlined no plans on how to do that. I don't know how

018you think that inspires trust in your plans to transfer Tide to Woodside. Frankly, I don't know how you're expecting people to trust you at all after you close tide. Whether they're students and families currently at your schools who know you might cut something from their school next or their prospective families who are thinking about enrolling here. Closing a school in this rush and unqualified a process will not inspire trust in the district's stability, nor in the board's ability to make decisions. I've always wondered how heartbroken people who attended San Carlos High School must have been, and I guess I'm about to find out. Hello, my name is Constantine Ejenov. I've already spoken like three or four times about why Tide is so important to the students, but the board really doesn't seem to care. Everyone

019talks about how students here actually feel safe for once and how much worse it would be at a large school, but you guys haven't demonstrated any like caring for that at all. And today, uh, Superintendent Leech has completely failed Tide and the district as a whole. You had three months to prepare for this and it feels like you made all of this in a week. Like there has been no good statistics presented. People have been finding issues with these statistics and they're not getting fixed. And this is all because of a budget deficit and funding issues. Yet, as far as I'm aware, today is the first day that we're going to actually get information presented about the district's budget. So, how was that decision being made in the same day? And the whole board has

020failed this district. namely, as far as I'm aware, Rich Gin and Mary Beth Thompson, because you have failed to hold Crystal Leech accountable for not presenting the correct information and not properly preparing to close a whole school. And I hear that you want to move it to Woodside, but I don't trust that that's anything more other than shifting blame away from yourself because lots of students can't attend Woodside. And nobody wants to attend a school that doesn't even have its own campus. Tide will gradually just not have students and shut down if you go with the plan of fully moving it to Woodside. And then it's not even the district's fault or the district board's fault anymore. It's just like, oh, the school just naturally died out and it's not your fault. And that's what

021this feels like. And I have no trust in the board to put together a solid plan because so far you had three months to prepare for this. And nothing has been done. And we have no trust in the board to actually make sure our school stays safe. So please don't accept any of these options. There has not been enough time to properly prepare. And please, you guys, the board many years ago with different people again like Miss Cole said, uh they made this school for people that um for marginalized groups and stuff and there's a lot of people with autism and ADHD and stuff that struggle to communicate with others. And they finally made friends here. And now midway through their school term, they're being moved to a different school where it's already harder for

022them than other kids. But now it'll be even harder. And I don't know how how all of these kids are going to make it. And I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Our next uh is Eli, Christopher Ch, Laura Sora, and Carlos. This is not secured on correctly. Hello. Um, my name is Elias Khan and I am a senior at Tide Academy. Now, when I heard that the school board was playing on Shine Down Tide, I was absolutely in shock. one of the well most well-performing schools is getting shut down, which I find very absurd. What I found more absurd was their plan on moving Tide to Woodside. Now, during my freshman year of high school, I went to Woodside cuz that was the school that my parents wanted me to go to. And it went horrible.

023A lot of students were very unkind to me. A lot of them called me swear words, slurs, derogatory names, made fun of me for how I look and for having autism. And one of the worst things is a lot of students gave me death threats and wanted to end my life. I wanted to I went to the office and I couldn't even see the principal or the counselor because the lady at the front told me and I quote, "Deal with it." And when I heard that the school board wanted to move Tai to Woodside, I was afraid for a lot of these students because my experience was horrible. And I'm afraid that a lot of these students would also get sorry would also have death threats targeted at them because Tide is very safe. We

024had basically little to no incidents here. No one has reported getting want people to take their lives and Tide is a safe campus. Now, by moving a lot of these students from Tide to Woodside, you are essentially putting them in an environment where their safety has been stripped away from them into a new environment that they're not familiar with. I worry about these students safety because after my experience, I don't want what happened to me to happen to these students at all. You can start, Christopher. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. Uh my name is Christopher Chang and I'm one of TID's student advisory council trustees. Uh and I'd like to make something clear. Continually throughout this process, the community has been been uh offered consolation and assurances that the community and especially student input will

025be considered and accepted throughout this process. And yet what has actually happened does not reflect this mission well at all. To have the sustainment of our school not even on consideration on the agenda tonight does not feel like proper community engagement, especially given that's what we've been advocating for the entire time. And to continually silence student trustees by scheduling around our meetings or making our seats with the board uh inaccessible, it feels marketkedly unprofessional, especially as we have data and perspectives on student life and impact that directly contradicts yours. a portion of which you have already heard from our brave students here tonight. As a representative of these students, I can say that almost unanimously, we do not feel that a move to Woodside nor a full closure is an adequate solution when it comes

026to student well-being. Your analysts have told you that our students will be served adequately at other schools. But we are right here telling you personally from our own experiences that those analysts never saw the full picture because nobody knows student experience better than a student. And so we would urge you to listen to what we said. You don't even have to understand everything we put forward. I can't expect any of you to know the tide experience without actually having attended. What we do need you to do is trust and acknowledge that it exists. The tide experience, its benefits, all of it. They are real. We are more than you can see. It doesn't show up on your slideshows or analyst demographics. It shows up right here in these people. And you need to acknowledge that

027the experience we feel is real and invaluable, even if you cannot feel it yourself. Votic board members, I urge you to consider that the path that the superintendent has offered, whether or not it adequately and equitably fits the mission stated, and if it really is worth continuing with, or if you should seek alternatives. Thank you. Actions speak louder than words. Your actions have made it clear that this is a financial decision. Despite spending hours of our time on academic data, yet an early college program is not being considered. Your actions have made it clear that this is primarily about the Tide site. Despite staffing being by far the largest cost, yet a move to the Everest site is not being considered. Your actions have made it clear that you do not value the program created

028at Tide despite statements that TID is about staff, students, and relationships. Yet none of the options presented reflect an ongoing commitment to this program. Your decision will come this evening, but much damage has already been done. Staff are already pursuing other employment opportunities. Students are applying to private schools. We are being devalued. A failure to continue the program similarly similarly devalues our work. And the board will get what you have wanted but could not say. an empty building in a gentrifying neighborhood, a reduction in overstaffing, and fewer students to serve with the same funds. But you will have also lost a core of dedicated mid-career professionals and the trust of the school community. And you will be left with special education lawsuits, disgruntled families, and disillusioned voters. Actions speak louder than words. Hello everyone. The

029Tai community has been using a huge megaphone to the board in order to get our feelings across, but it seems as our voices are getting blocked off. We tried and tried and tried to knit a powerful message and execute that message through actions just to get closing options, no opening options, which is really insane considering you guys have to care for the students. Why were why were there no option to keep Tide open past 2029? Tide could have been an ongoing source of cleansing light for prospective students and its current students. Now, we might lose that tonight. I really hope you all understand with empathy the dement the detrimental effects closing tide will have on its students, staff, and everyone in its community. Thank you. Marcus Burke, Anna E, Joy Sykes, and Brian Leonard. So

030I think what I've seen from all this is that the problem wasn't really how can we save this school that student that students chose to go to and more of how can we close it down and just come up with a good reason that people won't get mad at us for. And there isn't really a good reason. Like I'm pretty sure we've all probably seen a situation where a big company makes a decision and the public knows they're wrong and you're pretty sure they know they're wrong too, but they act like it's okay and they act like everybody like should understand them and they're making a logical decision when that's not the case. I mean like there there's a lot of ways you can try to do this and this this is not it's not

031a good one you know because I feel like it's easy to like reduce students to numbers on a slideshow but students are actually you know kind of more than numbers they're actually people and um so they have personalities and interests and all those sorts of things and that can't really be reflected when you reduce them to like I don't know just digits. Um, so it's it's weird. This this whole situation is kind of ridiculous to me. It's like it's like it's like you're running a marathon and you've taken the first 20 steps and they tell you, "Nope, you can't keep up. You're not keeping up. You're done." Like we're we're at the very beginning. Like Tide has barely been open and now it's already closing. That like that really does not make sense to me.

032Another thing that really stood out was last meeting how I don't know who said it, but it was mentioned multiple times that changes were supposed to be made or hopefully made as far away from the classroom as possible. And I'm just going to let you know closing down the school is not very far away from the classroom. So, you know, I I feel like maybe for the next time you close down a small school, the next time there's like that opportunity, maybe just revisit the way you're going to do it because I think there's a lot there's many better ways to, you know, kind of cover things up and avoid people rightfully being disappointed and angry. Anna, Anna, Anna, you're up next. Anna, you're up next. Okay. Oh, science November uh 12. I have had

033a strong feeling but the district has uh set a goal to close tight academy and is playing a catch me if you can game with us. We are under very tough deadlines and um information is shared is in a small pieces at the last moment and is not always relevant. I feel what the I feel that I am being misled. I understand this but I cannot influence this situation. The merch options prop proposed by the district do not um inspire trust. They are only words and give no real guarantees that tide will remain a program and community. Can you make such an irresponsible decision without having a real plan in hand? I argue you to require the supered super sorry for my English to present a full plan with clear step and guarantees to tight

034teachers and students and only after that to discuss the possibility of its imple implemention. Please remember what 36% of the student at this school are narrow diversion. These children needs time to adapt. Any transition must be smooth and predictable. So far what you have given them in this three months of stress and dis declining declining academic performance. Can you hear me? Good evening. I sent you all a letter the other day and I'm going to read that for most of it and then add live a little so bear with me. It may go really bad but you know and I just want to say how beautiful you all look standing up here and it's really hard for me to be here but it's worth it because I get to see all of your beautiful faces.

035Um, dear board of trustees, thank you for your ongoing commitment and relentless service to our students, educators, and the community. Over the past two months, Superintendent Crystal Leech has demonstrated incredible diligence in fulfilling the request to present options for the closure of Tide Academy. I commend the superintendent and her staff for their ability to generate these detailed proposals within such a condensed time frame. However, I am writing to respectfully request that the board reject the current framework of closing tide by voting no on all three proposed options. Consistent with the California School Board Association professional government stand governance standards the board's fundamental responsibility is to set the direction set the direction for the district. I urge the board to exercise this leadership by shifting the direction from school closure to creating a balanced budget. >>

036As CSBA stands standards clarify the boards set the vision the superintendent manages the operations to achieve it. Superintendent Leech has already proven her exceptional ability to produce complex proposals under pressure. I no sarcasm here, guys. This has been incredible amount of work and I'm confident that if the board sets a new direction focused on budget stabilization rather than closure, she can leverage the work already completed to present viable financial alternatives. So what I want to say next is the adlib part. There's an opportunity here for legacy, guys. There's an opportunity here to set a district ed foundation just like San Carlos. They have a charter school. They have charter schools and they have public schools. If you decide to set the vision and have your legacy, put one of those together and get some roots

037in place so we don't weather this again. Don't close the school. Thank you. As the result seems fairly inevitable at this point, uh I'd love to talk about the process. Uh recently, other districts in similar situations actually shared the reality with their communities and involved them. The result were varied cutbacks of of a variety of sorts with community buyin. It's certainly possible given the budget situation that closing tide was inevitable, but the way that you get there like it matters. The only direct community dialogue we have had so far was the very first information session where we asked uh the superintendent if this was a budget issue. She said it was not. Quite emphatically, it was an enrollment issue. As I recall, there were seven students that we missed our target by at that time.

038That was the main a main issue. It's clearly a budget issue, and I just don't understand why you lied. You would just put ourselves in that budget issue with the raise. Like, it's just I just don't understand it. Since then, we've begged for due diligence and alternative options. And as recently as last meeting cons you were still considering the closure of tide. We wanted those options to see tonight. We have three options all of which are the closure of tide. Nothing else has been visibly considered. The only acknowledgment of why that hasn't happened. I've got I've seen from uh Miss Leech that allott options are difficult and another staff member that there are obviously other ways to cut the budget but it's not fair that quote unquote tide has gotten teachers have had all these

039small classrooms and extra money all these years superintendent engaging the community diligence before drastic action I have to believe these are in your job description you've managed to both not do that job and react with extreme condescending attitude throughout. So fine, you're going to close tide. There's still time to have this community be part of how that goes. These people here do not have a fear of the unknown. That is not the problem here. They have a fear of you and they know how their kids are and what they need. Please take the time to engage them in this process. Thank you. >> Thank you, Christine, Max Shell, and Avery C. Can you hear me? I'm Mary Jane Leonard. I have a ninth grade student at Tide. I'm going to be around a while. As

040I said in my email earlier today, I hope you will vote to move Tide to Woodside as a standalone program in the 2728 school year and let this tool continue in perpetuity, starting with incorporating freshmen next year. 72 eighth graders want to come despite all the barriers you've put up. If you do make a plan for Tide's future tonight, will you trustees personally ensure staff is held to that plan? Or will you allow it to be smoke and mirrors as this closer exploration process has been up to now? We've experienced moving goalposts, last minute changes, and a lack of transparency. After three months, we do not believe you fully understand what Tide does or what its students need. So it is difficult for us to believe that what is promised about the future of Tide

041will actually be delivered. So what concrete guard rails will you put in place to ensure fidelity to the plan you approve? Meaningful parent stakeholder involvement is essential and allowing Principal Kennel to lead the design process would go a long way toward rebuilding trust with our community. Principal Kennel delivering regular check-ins to the board during planning and implementation would be even better. We need to know that the plan and the people responsible for carrying it out are things our community can truly rely on. Good evening. Um I sent you all an email this afternoon and since I realized that some of you may not have been able to read it, I'm going to read it to you now. Um or pieces of it. Um, none of the options on tonight's agenda is acceptable because they all

042ignore the fact that Tide is an educational lifeline for the neighborhoods that surround our school and the people who live in them. Um, essentially all three options ignore the fact that our community and where we're located matters and the people who live in those neighborhoods matter and what they need matter. Um, this completely disrupts all three options will completely disrupt the well-being and stability of 200 students and 400 caregivers, requiring people to completely rewire their lives. In many cases, students will be forced to make a choice between commuting 50 to 60 minutes each day to get the kind of education that works best for them or driving 10 to 20 minutes to get an education that's not suitable for them. It really doesn't matter that there's a bus route. That's like not material when you're

043asking students to add an hour to their day to get to and from school. Lara Sandor um presented a brilliant plan to Crystal Lee last week uh which would involve um converting Tide from a school into a satellite program not unlike Middle College with a focus on early college and CTE offerings. I don't know if you saw that program or why you weren't allowed to uh see that proposal. Um, but I sent the slides to you in case you want to look at it. Um, the fact that it's not being considered or maybe that you haven't been allowed to consider her plan demonstrates a disregard for innovative equitable solutions um based in uh fiduciary responsibility and it demonstrates an inability to engage in strategic management of resources. Um Lara's idea would involve um it's a

044great idea because the students that we enroll are already kind of looking for a less conventional high school experience. Uh satellite programs don't require the same personnel. Um and we could combine our strengths with those of the independent study program and actually work as a way to integrate students from the independent study program back into the classroom solving multiple problems at once. Um, I also want to take a minute right now to talk about uh the teachers at Tide. I've written you a lot. I've written you about 25 pages focusing on students and never once have I mentioned um the teachers and and what we um have at stake. All three of these options propose moving mid-career, mostly tenure professionals who have spent years building a school in line with our philosophy, our ethics, our

045uh vision of what education should be, building curriculum that um is innovative and breaking all of that apart. It's it's extremely um rude essentially. Good evening everyone. My name is Max and I am a freshman at Tide. I would like you to consider if your children's school is closing, what would you do? This is happening to us right now. Let me share you a story. This morning we're all asking each other that what we are going to do if tide is moving to Woodside. A lot of us considered that we are not going to Woodside for various reasons. Many of us many of us worried about the transportation since going from Menel Park to Woodside during rush hour would take take us like at least half an hour to 40 minutes. I was from Melo

046Park and I am super worried that I have to wake up extra early every morning 5 days a week 52 weeks a year. Imagine, just imagine that you live in a city towards the south of the bay such as Sunny Bale, Palo Alto, Los Altos. You have to wake up at 5:30 just to be on time just because of heavy traffic, maybe earlier. Do you want to be like that? From what I heard, you are focusing on moving us to another place while keeping us together. But according to what everybody said it results that they are not going to Woodside for various reasons transportation community and a lot of other reasons. One of my friends said that tide feels safe because there there is not any violence within the school and it is true everybody

047feels loved appreciate and cared. Another thing is that not only our community created tide, the building itself also makes tide. The familiar rooms, the smell of fresh air and the style of the walls, the sun shines through the leaves, the people laughing on the grass chatting each other and the uplifting atmosphere. This place feels like paradise. Well, at least we before we heard the news. moving us to another random building will destroy these um beautiful scenes and at what cost. This building is also a key aspect of making tide a wonderful place. That place is a memory we cherished and after years we look back and laugh at the years we have spent in this place. The friends we have made, the memories we have shared. It is very beautiful. And then you guys pop

048out and say, "Oh, we are going to close you down." All the marriage get got destroyed. People are leaving because of this and we will be separated. I remember that when I first heard of this, I thought I was dreaming like literally why would a newly built school closed down that soon? Why would have why that would have cost so so much money? But after a few days, I learned that no, it is true. Wake up. This is reality. I just want you to know, please reconsider your plans, listen to our suggestions, and don't close our our school. It has changed my life. Um, hello. I'm Avery and I'm a freshman at Tide Academy. Tide has absolutely changed my life. I used to go to a larger middle school and not once did I finish

049a semester with straight A's. This past semester, I finished with straight A's, generally above 95% for each class. Each teacher supported my work and were rooting for me. And each of my classmates were lifting each other up. If I had to move high schools, I don't know if I could do half as well. From larger schools, I've heard stories of dismissive teachers and students who only talk to people in their friend groups. Moving to another school now could leave me alone and unsupportive. Uh, TID has also helped me with my anxiety. I have a problem with talking with people I don't know and un unless they speak with me first and I can barely speak in front of a class. I would shake and talk very quietly. At Tide, I don't feel that same level

050anxiety. I feel safe and supported. This is my third time talking at one of these meetings and heck, it's still scary. But at Tide, I feel safe enough to do public speaking. And with all these students and teachers that I see every day right behind me, uh, I don't feel afraid. I I mean I do, but this is this is terrifying. But the fact that the fact that I'm up here means that this school has changed me. Yes, my voice may waver, but I'm still here. All of this is thanks to Tide. Thanks to the teachers, the students, the staff, the community. Closing Tide takes all that away. If it closes, I may never find the ability to speak like this again. Additionally, I've had a knee injury for a year now. Partial tear of

051my patellar tendon. Uh, everyone at the school is understanding and kind about it. I can use the elevator if I need to. And a lot of my classmates would help me out if I needed something. Even even if we barely talk talk. Yeah, sometimes I can run around and be fine, but sometimes I'm limping around the campus, barely able to walk, putting practically all of my weight on the railings, on the stairs if I use them. And everyone is great. And when I say the school support me, supports me, I mean this figuratively and physically. Multiple of my friends will offer to help me walk. That's support right there. Also, if we were to move to Woodside, even though everyone can go there from Tide, doesn't mean everyone will. I know plenty of people who

052are at Tide for Tide and its location, not just the fact that it exists. Some people would leave the Tide community because of Woodside. Some people, including me, have Tide as practically the only reason they still live in the area. I don't want to leave these people I form meaningful connections with. If Tide were to close by trickling out, that means that the current freshman class would be absolutely unknown in senior year. I am in that freshman class and I don't think any of us want to be finishing with our our final years of high school absolutely alone while we know that we're the last class before the school of our dreams closes and well that's not very fun. Um oh yeah also I mean I'm just a freshman. I haven't paid taxes but if

053I pay taxes for this school to open just for it to close this school this soon I don't I don't know if I'd really like that. speakers Abby, Ogre, Yoshima, and Sherman Cha. Good evening board. I don't feel like we have been heard at all as a community. These three options proposed by Superintendent Leech, all three of them lead to the slow death of our community. Regardless of whether you want to accept it or not, that's what's going to happen. Each one of them proposed by Leech. Just suck the life out of our community. If we were to be let on our campus and the current freshman class to graduate, they would be alone. They would slowly watch this school die. If we're moved to Woodside, so many students would just leave the community as

054a whole. And that would not be a community that could support itself. I am not afraid of the unknown. I'm afraid of the known. And what I know is that there are drugs. There are recently two swastikas. Wait, sorry, no, never mind. Buddhist peace symbols that were engraved onto the pavement by students. That's the Woodside vibe for you, right? That is where just recently you got sued by a counselor, didn't you? Yeah. Yeah. So many lawsuits from IEPs and 504s. That's the Woodside vibe, isn't it? That is not a school that I or anyone else really wants to go to. I don't want to see my school community die. I don't want to see it slowly vanish. I want to see my school be able to live and thrive as it was supposed to. I

055can tell you from the bottom of my heart, I love every single one of these people right here with the sincerest amount of love that I can because they're here. They've been supporting me throughout my entire academic career and they will continue to support me through this entire closure. I just came from robotics. I I'm the president of the robotics club. That's how much love I have for this school. That's how much love that all of us have. We have 30 registered members. Reject every single option, please. >> That's not what we asked for. We didn't ask for ways in which our school could die. We asked for ways in which our school could live, where your sol your problems would be solved, but ours would too. Thank you so much for understanding. But if

056you don't have the day that you deserve, Good evening. You may or may not know that last week our students took a district survey. And I really try to encourage my tier three students to give feedback on surveys because I know that's data you all actually refer to. But it's hard. they doubt that their voices really matter. I shared that I go to board meetings where the results are shown on the screen. One of my students said, "But that doesn't mean they listen to us." One said, "My friend even went to one of those board meetings to talk about not closing their school and they're still going to close it." I didn't have a good response to that for why they should fill out their survey. The actual data I've seen, even from just our

057last official schoolboard meeting with state dashboard data, actually shows the small school models widely, wildly successful in our district, but you're not actually using data to close this school. You're using predictions. These predictions are being treated like fact when we know they're not, especially in Silicon Valley, California. How do I know to be skeptical of these predictions? Because your predecessors before you decided to build tide the last time we heard these predictions from the demographers report. So we trusted them before and we're trusting them again. And yet our results counteract each other. We are not products. Tide is not just an expensive popular model or version of a product you can discontinue for a few years, maybe bring back if the financials change. People aren't things. This is not a business. Your community are not

058shareholders asking for the hardest return, highest return on investment. Your already lackluster trust continues to diminish. If you ever want to open a small school again in the future, I don't know a teacher, parent, or student in this district who will trust you to keep it open. I also don't know anyone who will vote for you in 2026 midterms if you closed this school. You've said you didn't become a board member to close the school. You still don't have to. The urgency you have created is made up. You can and should vote no on all of these suggestions. Hi, I'm Sherman Tow. I'm a parent of a ninth grader at Tide and I'm also a Bell Haven resident and a taxpayer. Um, I'm I'm truly disappointed and sad at the turn of events. Uh, mainly

059because I feel that Superintendent Leech has failed us. um she has told us that it's been budget issues or first it was enrollment then it was budget and then now um even when we ask when there's community involvement and we've come here with our hearts and our souls out on the table for three months we've just wasted our time right that's what I feel because even when superintendent Nory I mean trusty Nory came up with a suggestion in November to come up with other options other than closing tide. >> Superintendent Lee did not do anything. >> None. So, I mean, she's failed us. Okay. >> She's come up with just the same thing from the start. Closed tie. Okay. I ask the five of you, don't fail us. Do not vote yes for any of

060these options. Okay? Give us a chance. If it's a budget issue, I know we could work it out. This community will work it out with you. We will we will work our asses off. We will raise enrollment. Okay? We can guarantee we we will do everything we can to raise enrollment. Okay? We will do everything we can to work on budgets. Why isn't the community involved in looking at how this budget deficit can be spread out throughout the all schools? Why is it only tied that's targeted? Why do 200 students and 400 caregivers have to deal with that as opposed to it being allocated slowly and nobody have to suffer throughout the board throughout the school district? I mean, I implore you, ask for other options. Demand other options. Vote no today on all the

061options and ask for others, please. Thank you. you. And I said, and I'm from Russia, you guys. I don't even have to listen. I just look at the face. We're so used to this blackard activism when we're being told something and listened to, but nothing happens. That was my immigration issue. That's why I immigrated to the great America, you know. So, here's the thing. Superintendent Leech said, "It's it's it's the enrollment." And I said, "It's the building. We're sitting on a very very good land. It's the building." And then Superintendent Leech said, "You know, the language is very aggressive." And I said, "It's the building, you guys. It's still the building." And then Superintendent Leachch said, "It's the budget, but it's still the building." You know what, you guys? Cuz if they wanted to work

062out the budget with us, we're the best community to work out the budget. I'm fundraising for so many organizations. What is it? 8 million. Superintendent Lynch, we would fund raise that if you would give us a chance. That wasn't ever even on the table. They didn't need the help of our community because the building. They don't care about your dreams or our kids because it's the building. We keep on talking to them as if we matter. But what matters is >> the building. That's why they can't keep our tide school open. But I'm going to tell you this guys. I have a small kid so I'm stuck with this whatever this is for some time other people are stuck to we will not just forget about how you guys played us dirty like you are

063from China or Russia or India or other third world country that does not care about its constituents and taxpayers. This is what I immigrated from right into your warm hands. It's devastating, but we will fight. Thank you everybody. >> And Hector and Johanna Good evening. I had something prepared, but I'm I'm leaving that behind. I've been really moved by people speaking tonight and um the >> what what did you do >> the problem I'm having even further >> is we just heard it the building >> but we've done our own research we've deal we've all learned so much in the last three months we've also done as much work as anybody on district staff or any of you and we know all of you have had to put that time in too we've all been

064doing double triple jobs. We know that the land is valuable. We know that it is much more um helpful to you to rent it than to sell it because if you sell it, you have to stay with the measure A small school being provided for our district. If you get rent, you can you can not have a structural deficit that you have created. But you don't you already have only submitted options that close our school and give you that building. You could do that and keep our program alive. You could listen to our ideas. We've put forward so many ideas. We've also offered to meet with Superintendent Leech. I have emailed you multiple times. I have asked for meetings. I have said I'm there to brainstorm with you. I had lots of ideas. You have

065not even responded to say you got my email or the followup or the followup. >> That isn't working with the community. And so I need the trustees to understand we've been working really hard and the district staff are not working with us and they are not giving you what you've asked for. You've asked excellent questions along the way and they get abaded and you haven't held the staff to those things. If the only option is to make that structural deficit up by leasing out our building, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. You have something that's working. I'm sure you guys heard the news from PaloAlto. Kids matter. Every kid matters. Every parent cares about this. You've heard the vulnerable stories from all the portions of our community. I am so happy the trustees

066have taken time to meet and talk with us. Thank you to each of you. you really have. We appreciate it. Keep hearing us and know that you do have the option. So, if you accept any of the options tonight, they need to be amended. Where Tide is a standalone program that will be continued forward. If you haven't heard from all these students, they're not talking for themselves and the parents aren't either. We weren't asking just for our kids to have three more years. We're asking in perpetuity. There will always be some students in the district who need a small environment and need what this school offers. You will always Okay. Um, hi everyone. Oh. Uh, my name is Hector Cornnejo. I am the PE teacher uh advisory teacher at uh TAD Academy. Uh first of

067all, I'm so proud of all my freshman class. Like so proud of all of you. Um you have stepped up so much. Um it is it warms my heart. Um okay. Uh first of all, I've been at Tide for uh six years. And when I first got hired, it didn't have really the best rep. Uh when I got there, it would didn't have the best leadership. And I'm speaking leadership from the top starting with superintendent. Um, it turned around when Simone came in, uh, Tina Smith came in. It turned it around. We created a culture that was accepting, challenging, supportive for all of our students. They all feel very safe. And I really do need you to hear that when they say that all of our staff, something happens, we're on top of it. Something

068we don't see that it's right, we're on top of it. We see, we care. I worked at Sequoia High School for seven years as an IIA and all teachers were not like that because there's a lot of students. There's a lot of kids at Tide. We have something very special. And today I had three sections of my freshman class, uh, 49 kids. And I asked them straight up, I give them the three options. I asked them, "How many of you would go to Woodside?" Nine of them raised their hands out of 40. That means the other 40, 80% are thinking of moving out. Think about the break that you're about to do to those kids. It is something they have cherished right now. Something so special and you choosing to potentially close us down and

069move us somewhere else. You're going to break that. And I really need you to hear that. Like really hear that from them because I do. I hear all of you and it just breaks my heart to know that this decision is really going to affect them. Like for me, like I love my job, but I care more about them. So, thank you. Hi, my name is Lillian Garcelon. I'm a junior at Tide Academy. The first school I went to, I got kicked out of and when I was trying to find other schools, um, two of them closed on me. So, I have a bit of a personal finetta against this. I've dealt with bullying for a lot of my life and I've lost all my friends. But when I came to Tide Academy, I made

070a community for myself. I have a bunch of friends here. The teachers are great and the support I get, I I feel seen. Um I have two messages. First one is please don't take away one of my only communities. And the second is just please don't agree to any of the options that were given to you. And if you really have to do something, just keep it open for a year or two and reconvene. Talk about it later. I have a lot of friends and the teachers are great. And I've said that already, but I have to say it again. If it wasn't for Miss Yao and Miss McCann, I wouldn't be able to write an essay. Um, Mr. Corno, who just spoke before me, he made me believe in myself when I thought I

071couldn't. And he's just a great teacher overall. And I mean all the teachers are amazing in their own way. And um yeah, that's all. Thank you. Um good evening everyone, board members, superintendent, everyone. Um we have three minutes. Wow. Um I I couldn't write anything. I mean I have met with some of you and communicated in ways that I can communicate with some of you and uh and as I've said to some of you um it feels for a lot of the community members as you've heard a foregone conclusion like it was known from the get-go. And I myself have thought that and then reconsidered and I don't know I don't know if it's not a foregone conclusion and this wasn't all just for appearance then I want to point out some things that may

072irk you as board members maybe because you were not shown the relevant numbers and facts. You were misled, not the entire time, but on key points. You were absolutely misled by the district because they have a job to do. For me, this is my second job in the last 3 months. For you guys, it's your second job as well, but for Superintendent Leech, it's her first job. For the district, it's their first job. It's their main job. They know the numbers. They know how to present. and they know how to get you to the right conclusion that they need to show that they're doing a good job. And you guys are here to hold them accountable for what you're here for, for the purpose of you taking on this second job. So, Miss Bonnie Hansen

073does know her numbers. And I love her enthusiasm. I mean, I enjoy listening to her. She knows her numbers which is why she knows that in 2019 and I sent this to a few of you in 2019 the board in their budget proposal for that year to come where tide was started they put down as the ratio 22:1 the board people sitting in your spots and I sent you the links please look at them so Miss Hansen knows that 27.5 to1 was never never a model for a small school, never a model for Tide. And you must know this even if it's right now. And I have not written to you guys in emails because I can't. It's just I have my own difficulties. So, please keep that in mind. And the overages that she

074presented, yes, they are true, but she only showed TID's overages. When we look at the whole district, every school is an overage and tide is a little bit more. But when we are headed to 300 as we are because we already have 72 families that are choosing Tide in this uncertainty 72 families say they want Tide. When compared with other district we are within are definitely >> Should I wait for other people coming up. >> You don't want I don't even want me. >> They said no. Okay. Dear members of the board, in the past few weeks, I've made a lot of public comments and I've sent a lot of emails containing Dana, evidence, and arguments. Tonight, I find myself exhausted. Do you know what it feels like to have recruited all the ninth and

075tth graders in this room? To hear their stories and to feel like I sold them a fake dream of success and security. But it was my dream to it ising my students and colleagues grief while managing my own. But I would be remiss if I didn't make one last plea at the study session. Trusty Nory asked a good question. Wasn't the staffing cost of Tide considered when it was being approved? This is a good question and it raises the question of the kind of planning that this district puts into major decisions. Let me remind the board that this district has a history of starting initiatives without seeing it through. A major example of it are the three to six different equity consultants and initiatives over the past six years that we've never seen to completion.

076We never saw the full ending of the core strategic planning team either. Some of us in the room were on those teams with me. These are just a few examples of this and there are only some to name a few. I want to urge the board to consider this tendency that we start things without finishing them. That we have the inability to fully flesh out plans and see them through without changing course. There is only one reason for this and that is the lack of strong leadership and foresight. So my ask to the board is to not contribute to this tendency to vote on a plan that is not fully formed at the time of consideration. Is to contribute to the same issue we've seen time after time again. To close us is to start

077things without finishing it again. To relocate us without a real plan is making the same planning mistakes leaders before you have made. To phase us out is to teach your students and community that building something powerful and effective doesn't matter. and it strips passionate educators, students, and families of their light. Personally, I'll never find something like Tide ever again. And I don't know that my passion or my colleagues passion for education will ever recover from it. And you've heard firsthand accounts from our students about their experience and fears. And that's what truly breaks my heart. So, please, if there's any doubt in your mind that this is the wrong decision, that it is rushed or underdeveloped or skewed, I encourage you to follow that doubt. It is leading you in the right direction. If you

078deny these proposals, the district must pivot and they will because they have to. Do not make students, families, and educators suffer for a lack of planning and foresight. Reject all options to close tide and keep tide open. Thank you. by telling you. Oh, >> he says we'll be taking Dylan's >> Yeah. >> card. Okay. >> All right. Hello. Can you hear me? Okay, cool. Good evening, board members. My name is Jesus Chavez, a senior here at Tide Academy. And I'm looking at the agenda and it lists three options, but none of them ask the basic question, does Tide actually need to close? Instead, all three assume relocation to Woodside, despite students clearly and repeatedly saying, "We don't want that." When I lead students in the classroom, I've learned that when you actually take their voices

079into account, you usually find better solutions. It's surprising that a student significantly younger than some of you has learned that lesson already. What's missing isn't feedback. You've already heard enough of it. What's missing is effort. And instead of finding ways around student rejection, the board is insisting on relocation simply because it has the power to do so. This isn't really about Woodside. It's about choosing the easiest option instead of doing your job to provide viable and equitable options for the families you serve. And honestly, the information shared has been so thin that reasoning could have fit into a single Tik Tok or Instagram reel. It's humorous, sure, but it's also concerning because students and families haven't been given enough to understand and most definitely not enough to trust this decision. Before take taking a step

080that cannot be undone, I urge you to pause, show the full data, and do the work this decision actually requires. Thank you. Hello board members. Tide Academy is the living definition of an indivi individualized education program. Students who transferred from large traditional public education institutions only later find out they needed an individualized education program or 504 plan. An individualized education plan is a legally binding written document developed for public school children prek to 12 with disabilities who require specialized instruction to thrive. There are many reasons why there is delayed detection and a lot of times it is through each student's own experiences in larger schools where they struggle to to thrive and keep up with overwhelming environment with the overwhelming environment. I myself can attest to coping and masking my own struggles where I could

081not thrive. The only places I could go for an outlet was the library or in a school dance club that was created by my friend Julia Tachivana called Hypnotic. Thank you again Julia for creating that outlet for us. I did not know I was a neurode divergent student that suffered anxiety and suicidal depression. My disability occurred in overwhelming environments such as large public schools. I thrived in sanctuaries where I could find safety and peace like libraries or school clubs where I could find alignment. Most neurody divergent students mask or hide learning behavioral struggles. And many do not know why do not know they are neurode divergent due to being uninformed. Many students go overboard trying hard where learning becomes more of a challenge than an understanding, hiding their struggles from teachers and parents until they

082can no longer keep up with the curriculum. Other reasons include a lack of early intervention, misdiagnosis of behaviors, or delayed school identification. Tide Academy is the solution for neurodyiverse students who learn in a different setting with students who align in core values and are free to be who they truly are. It is US federal law under individuals with disabilities education act idea to ensure that all children who are neurody divergent individuals which many do not know are or have not been informed or are not aware that the term exists. It is a disability in education environments where they cannot thrive and need specialized instruction in order to to thrive. This means you will have federal funds available. This means there will be no deficit. This means Tide Academy will stay open. I urge each and

083every one of you students to get a 504 plan or an IEP. And that is it. Thank you. That concludes the comment 5.1. All right. and really time and not but really um sharing the essence of what you want to make sure that we are aware of. Uh I know public comment for quite some time and we're about an hour and a half into the meeting. Uh I a 10-minut break before before we start the discussion. >> Five. Okay. Five minutes. All right. So at 7:02 and we will return at 7:05 soon. So please take your seat if there are seats available. Otherwise, please be quiet. All right. So, as we start the the board deliberation side of things, uh I would like to propose the following structure. Um there's not really a presentation in

084that sense of the word. It's pretty clear in the board packet what the background information is. So I start with more of a Q&A to make sure the questions from the board are answered by staff and then once all those questions are answered uh I would propose actually to take the vote in two parts uh first part is to decide whether Cly Tide should be closed in its current form and then the second part is a discussion on the options if we are to close tide. Um so that's the structure I'd like to propose. Is that does everyone have is good with that structure? Okay. Um so we'll start with questions that the board has for the superintendent as well as staff. And for clarity uh there is staff from Woodside available to answer questions

085as well. Do we want to start? Maybe we can group if we have questions for the Woodside staff, we can kind of group them together instead of going, you know, in between topics. It might be easier for everyone to if we group any questions we have for the Woodside staff together so we don't have to go back and forth between topics. >> Um, I'm okay with that. So, do we want to start with questions that or I just >> Yeah, whatever order. I just thought it might be easier instead of randomly. >> Okay, let's let's start first with questions about tide. Um, and probably questions about woodside may come uh as we discuss options if it if it gets to that point. All right. Does anyone want to start with their questions? Well, I mean,

086one thing I'd be interested in would be at least hearing a little bit from the Woodside staff about their thoughts on this option. Um some of the options involving Woodside do involve a lot of staff input too cuz um you know so I don't know if anyone from Woodside wants to share anything first before we even Karen Van Putton principal at Woodside High School. I also have our entire admin team over there. Um, Francisco Negri is one of our co-head counselors who's also joined us. I I want to address just really quickly the boo. Um, we too I I first want to acknowledge and applause all of the students with your courage. I was here in December at the board meeting. I don't know if you remember, I was featuring and spotlighting one of our

087most spectacular groups and vulnerable populations, our English language advisory council, and you applauded them. That's the community we are. I hear you. I heard you in December. I hear you tonight. My team and my staff, we are human beings, too. And I understand that you are emotional and afraid of losing what you have invested in. I'm here to answer questions. I'm here to represent our school community. I don't know all the logistics. I don't know what the vote is going to be tonight, but I want to make it very clear. I too shake in front of you because I'm in the business of teaching and working with young people. So, while I'm going to not take some of the jabs personally, please understand we too at Woodside are an extremely caring community. We are imperfect

088just like any other public high school. We are 1,700 plus students strong. We were selected I didn't volunteer. We were selected as the school that might be an appropriate place for this partnership. I accept that honor and I shared it with our staff today at our staff meeting. It was the first time that I was able to share this information and the recommendations with my own staff. I'm being very human with you before we get into more of this meeting because we don't just go into education because of the subject we teach. This is my 32nd year serving in K12 public schools. I share that because all day today I work directly with students as a principal. We had hard conversations in offices. I give fist bumps and hugs and high fives and give fierce

089one- on-one hard talks with my students. I know you're not asking and you didn't say we want to go to go to Woodside. All I can say is that please respect the fact that we are a school and we are not a building and we're not just a campus. We are we are a culture. We are a community and yes, our woodside vibe may be flawed, but a time and time again when people get to know us and visit us and Elias, I am so sorry we failed you. We are a group of people, young people, families of extreme differences and we make it work as as best we can. Working with teenagers is, I think, the hardest job from the ages of 14 to 18. When their brains are developing, they're working through physical

090changes, mental changes, social and emotional changes. And I'm extremely proud of our staff and we are ready to welcome any student who chooses us. We are welcome. We are going to welcome the tide staff if that is what the decision is from the board. It's going to take some time. It's going to take some pivoting. It's going to take time to adapt. I never guarantee when a new student arrives or a family enters our school that you're going to make friends immediately. It's going to take time. transition and change is hard. But that's the one thing I know is for real. Change is something that we absolutely know in education. But our my my I guess what I've been asked to do is whatever the decision is tonight and moving forward, please don't judge Woodside

091High School or our community if you don't know it yet. Please get to know us. We're ready as a staff and a community to welcome anyone who wants to be part of us. We are a good place. We're good people. We're good staff members. We care. My name is Francisco Negri. I'm co-head counselor at Woodside. I've been at Woodside for 20 years and one thing I've always taken pride in is our community. What I see out here is beautiful. That's what I would hope our community would do if we were in this situation. >> Maybe you will. >> I am honored to welcome you all to our community if that's the decision. I don't know what it would look like, but I could tell you one thing. Our motto is not it it's never been

092being right. It's getting it right. It's working with our students, working with our community to make sure that the experience for everyone is positive and enriching. And so I can only make a commitment as a school counselor to listen to my students, to make sure I advocate as fiercely as you are now to what is going to be best for our community as a whole. And I promise and commit that to you all if that's the decision that's made. We will work with our students. We have always centered our students around everything that we do and our commitment will be true to you all if that's the decision. >> Trustee Nory, could you repeat your original question so that we make sure we answer it? >> Um, I think firstly, thank you for sharing that.

093Um, you know, I think it was really informative for us as the board and you know, we see across every meeting how much all our principles across all our school sites care so deeply about all our students even if they're different in their capacities. You know, I'm sure you know, Woodside gets new students who don't always come in the ninth grade every year. So maybe would you mind sharing a little bit about what steps you proactively take to help students who maybe arrive at Woodside not necessarily as freshmen? I'd be curious to hear. >> Yeah, thank you. In fact, last week we just held what we call the walk on the wild side um in January, beautiful Saturday. Um we our student leaders provide campus tours and every year it's not just our prospective um

094incoming nth graders. They are potential their their current students here from Tide. They're current students in district schools, freshman, sophomores. They're looking freshman and sophomores. They're looking for a different location. Um so that's one of the areas in terms of a campus tour and then they meet all of our departments um department leads. Um we also provide a shadow if somebody needed to you know if they're looking at a transfer um up outside of the eighth grade. All of our eighth graders certainly have the opportunity to do the shadowing as well. It becomes pretty much individualized. um the counselor will meet with a family or the student and provide a full-on one-on-one tour. Um in I'll let Mr. Negri go on, but in this event we're if we were to move forward, we have already

095started thinking about would we redo last week's walk on the wild side specifically for our wide um our tide families. Um tomorrow night in fact is our open house for our current families, students and teachers. I'm students and parents. So, I'm opening that up to you tonight. Um, if you're curious, just again, no matter what the decision is, but tomorrow's our open house. Our staff is aware that maybe we'll have visitors. Um, and you're welcome to come and get get to see and meet some of our teachers. It's not just an open house about what's currently happening, but this year's open house is really for our current students to explore the next level classes. and they'll be meeting teachers around the campus as well as a featured art boom for our arts programs. >> I

096would just echo what Miss Van Putton said is we are very much when it comes to students transitioning in sophomore, junior and senior year, it's very individualized. Uh so we meet with families and students uh one-on-one to be able to devise uh the best schedule and best representation of their interest as well as their goals. Uh and then we work to be able to transition students whether it means connecting them with other students with similar interests or uh it means introducing them to a teacher or uh at Woodside we have a couplemies that really uh bring opportunity for students to build community with students that haven't been there from the beginning. Uh and so there are various ways. It just really is dependent on the student, their interest and their goals. Any other questions for

097the Woodside team? I think well from >> Excuse me. This isation time and so please be respectful and and just listen. Um so so no questions from >> I I do. >> Oh, okay. No. C can I just respond to that real quick though? I know we're not taking questions, but we would do that for every single student and my team would be ready to meet with every single family. I can't promise you it's going to all happen all at once, but it will absolutely happen before you transition to Woodside. Uh and so we'd make that commitment to do that however that is possible, whether we have to come in on uh days that we normally don't do just to make sure that everyone finds a spot. >> Okay. Um, Trusty Cruz, >> I was

098just thinking about physical capacity like in bringing in say 100, 200, I don't know, whatever the capacity would be, how that might look like geographically. I wasn't sure like and the time you spend per student, I guess, right? Like what does that look like at Woodside right now? And what would how what would the impact be with additional students, right? How does that look like? Those are my questions. >> We have uh just a little over 1,700 students. When I started in 2021, postcoid, we were at about 1640, we have um incrementally been adding students each year. Um we used to have a capacity of about 2100 back in the height of our um enrollment. Um we have physical space and capacity. We like all the other comprehensive high schools are facing a an exciting

099building project. um a three-story e-wing project. Um some of the students were one of the students was describing a beautiful building. We're excited about adding a new building. We just had a baseball field meeting today. We have existing excellent condition excellent I want to say state-of-the-art facilities. We have space. Um part of the building project will include additional um temporary housing like portables. um again but that's something that all of the comprehensive high schools are looking at. So we do have space physical physically now in terms of um counseling because we have an incredible foundation um we actually have six full-time school counselors and you could do the math there. Um we are in terms of ratio we are at pro probably the lowest ratio out of the larger schools. Um we also have in

100addition to that three college full-time college and career advisors. So it's really nine um counselors just looking at college and career and four-year plan um support. On top of that, in terms of capacity, um again, I'll reference our our foundation is very committed to what we have very unique at our school, and that is the college access program, providing students with free opportunities to go on overnight college trips, not only to local Northern California, Southern California, as well as far as far away as the Pacific Northwest. Some of these are extra and above, but I do know that the Tide community values those um specialized opportunities. In addition, they provide essay support um college readiness um SAT support through AJ tutoring and all of these things are free of charge. As far as the impact

101on the uh counseling and staff, what we do, uh the district has really undertaken with the counseling department, looking at how we can um increase our amount of touches with students. Uh at Woodside, we really jumped in from the get-go on building out our tier one uh our our lesson planning, our ability to be able to reach students whether they come to us or not. Uh, and we're currently in the process of of building in our two our tier two and tier three for students that need a little bit more attention and help. Um, we always have a um a policy in our counseling office to keep our doors open at all times that students are not in classes. Uh, and so we try to make ourselves available to our public as much as possible.

102Um, and so we we would continue to do that. >> Thank you. Um, one of the questions I have also comes from the also wanting to address the concern that I've heard repeatedly about the pace of this process. Um, and I and I want to be completely honest. I I I told this to the same time when I met with parents um in my district or in my zone. I I was the trustee who asked that if we're going to make a decision, we need to make one this year because I truly believe that that is actually what's best for students. Living in limbo for a year, two years, three years is not. um you can disagree with me but that is in the years of my experience of of being a principal of of

103being a dean of being a director that's what I have found is like the waiting can be really painful um again you can disagree with me but I wanted to take that responsibility um my question then for you all then becomes with this with this process can you do you believe you truly can meet especially our our our families who our students have IEPs. Can you make those 30-day can you make those transition meetings in a way that will will honor what's already on their IEPs in a way that will come quickly if we were to go this way? >> Full transparency. This is it's it's a lot. Um, we're going to need to work very closely with the existing counseling staff and the transition meetings. We'll have to you we're going to partner, you

104know, whatever it takes, we will have to partner with our tide colleagues um to make the the smoothest transition. Absolutely. We have to meet our our legal deadlines um and the transition meetings. Again, I think we're getting that's it. It's it's a little too um what I say too granular, but I understand that that logistics piece. I I think we just have to I can't answer certain questions yet. Um but everything has to be in concert with the Thai team. Um whatever the decision is. questions. Um I did want to ask one question that uh a lot of the families have talked about um students who are neurodeiverse uh or are not feeling comfortable in large school environments and I'm assuming that the kids who are neurodeiverse or have those sensitivities already exist at Woodside.

105So, can you talk a little bit more about what's your process when you identify a student that fits that profile or they bring up concerns or the parents bring up concerns like what's the process that you go through? >> I'm just going to look to our other staff. If anybody wants to come forward, we can answer some of these questions, too. So, I don't know if Adrian or Amy want to come up, too. Good evening. My name is Amy Hansen. I'm an administrative vice principal at Woodside. Um, and this year I am the administrator that oversees special education. Um, I'm sorry, can you repeat your question? Yeah, it related to if if there's a student who um is neurodeiverse or the the student or the family member expresses concerns about anxiety or overwhelm at a

106large school environment. Um what how do you approach that and what are some of the accommodations? >> Yeah. Well, I think uh I think it would depend definitely on whether or not the student does have an existing IEP or 504 plan. Um, if that's the case, then we would work with that student's uh IEP team. Uh, definitely the case manager, whether or not that student receives individual counseling, their MS provider, their counselor, uh, 504 team. We also have our intervention counselor, um, their school counselor, myself, and we have a really robust wellness center. I know some of the students mentioned the wellness center at Tide and I want to share that we also have a wellness center. We have a wellness youth council and also um we have a really warm and inviting space for

107students that are experiencing anxiety. Um we are focusing on teaching students skills to uh self-regulate um skills that they can take into their classroom setting should they feel anxiety during class. Um these were all the things I would say if the student has an existing IEP or 504. Now if we discover inevitably a student with um you know presenting with different uh different symptom I don't want to use the word symptom but different um needs then we would um use our our cost process. So, we actually have a process in which we have a team of professionals at school um including myself, all of the school counselors, my co-avp, our intervention counselor, a large team of people in which we case students to determine what kinds of interventions and accommodations we can provide for a

108student to make sure that we are meeting needs of students before a student uh may feel as though they can't handle or are too overwhelmed with the classroom curriculum or a large school environment. Some of the interventions that we look to may not only be academic. It may be referring to a student to the wellness center. It may be referring student a student to work with the teacher during flex tutorial time. It may be helping a student get services with outside community organizations which we have really strong partnerships with. Um, so there's a lot of different things we can do and I think it's really important that we bring a team of people together that know the student best and those include classroom teachers as well. Um, but really it's a team effort and making

109sure that we listen to the student, listen to their caregivers and and address their needs as they are presented. >> Thank you for that. Um, and then I did want to ask another question. I know a lot of the concern has been about safety within large schools and wanted to understand that if if there are bullying incidents or um disagreement between different students um how are those handled um please that's the interrupting the board deliberation and I'm going to ask you to leave if you do that one more time. Okay. Yeah. So I want a sense of you know what that process is like. >> Um well I would uh first I want to share that we take all all reports of bullying very seriously as I would hope all schools in our school community

110do. Um I think it's really important to listen to student voice to to understand where a student is coming from. um and take the time to individually sit with students and hear their stories. Um those stories then lead us to other questions, other students that we need to talk to. And I I think that our school, Woodside, does a really great job of following um a restorative process um in which we try to bring students together and solve problems together as a community in a very much less punitive way. Um I think that involving um the the trusted adults that students have on campus is also a really important piece to that. Um you mentioned bullying and >> or just if students are having disagreements, right? >> Yeah. Um we we have a lot of

111uh community based organizations that we work with that also help to do different conflict mediation. Um one example is Fly. We have a really great partnership with Fly. Um they come to our campus once a week. They have also helped us do some mediations with students. Um, we also have peer mediation on campus. Um, and I'm hoping also that the wellness youth council as it grows could be an integral part in um, finding ways for students to resolve conflict in healthy ways that support their mental health. Can I let me let me expand even before we talk about students and the the additional supports a tier one just a just the studentto student connections are so critical. Um, we do value what we call the eight conditions for student success in creating and providing a

112a place, a safe space, a sense of belonging. And I know every school seems to have that theme. But we start there is just trying to find as many or different places where students can find a place where they can identify with. It can be in a teacher's classroom. It can be in a club. We have about 45 plus clubs that students create and design. If we don't have the club, the students advocate and design the club. We have all the athletics programs. And again, I know you talked about bullying and and you know, their finding their place. That's the idea is that we connect the students and find where they can see themselves and be heard. And when they can find themselves identifying with something bigger themselves than themselves on a team in the

113drama program, the music program, the marching band, in journalism, all of a sudden they have a stage where they didn't know that they had a voice and then other things like this bullying or it it's not an issue because they have a sense of belonging. I'm not saying it doesn't happen on our campus. When it does happen, we take it very seriously. But we try to approach it where we find places or create spaces where the kids can be valued and heard and have a safe stage where they can express themselves. >> All right. Thank you. Any additional questions? Okay. I think that's it for the questions for the Woodside team. uh really grateful for you being here today because um we we have questions, right? And so we want to make sure that we're

114clear on on what we're making decisions on. >> And one more thing. >> Okay. >> I sorry about the academy. Um we have two very strong very um identifiablemies on our on our campus already. That's the green academy as well as the graphic and technology academy. I know we have uh Mr. Sanchez in the audience listening in. Um we were talking about in those cohorts how there I've been following the the juniors around as I'm observing classes and I I would identify these three these four kids I would never have imagined when they were freshman to be now the spokesperson of their their small group. Some of these kids are giving science presentations not on our campus but before a big NASA group. So we too have very strong identifiablemies where the students are cohorted.

115We are very familiar with the program. But in addition to those distinct uhmies, we have multiple pathways and CTE um courses and dual enrollment courses. We actually are excited if we were to partner that we could see a blending of our resources and what Tide has. I do see a potential of even more creativity and more um built out pathways. So I just wanted you to know it's not likeies are foreign to us. Um it's it's something that I think we can embrace. And my final word is we are ready to embrace and welcome you if that is what you choose and what whatever the board decides. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So any any questions specifically related to Tide and its existing program um and like the financial

116projections that were shared in the board packets. I think that if we're going to get into discussing the financial impacts of different decisions that might be after we've decided that we're going to >> take the first vote or do you want to try to get allation about both of the options before we >> um No, I think it's more as it relates to the because part of the question is are we closing tide in its current state. In other words, you know, is doing nothing an option? So, I just wanted to clarify if there are any questions about the doing nothing option and keeping tied the existing program, existing building. Any questions related to that before we take that first vote? Right. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Any points of clarification? Um, I guess this is

117a question for our new CBO or Superintendent Leech, but I am curious um if more broadly maybe you could talk us through some of your thinking when it came to why this solution might be more um preferable or kind of address some of the budgetary problems that we're facing. I think that might be helpful for everyone to understand. So, um the district has been um starting last year actually um two years ago started shifting costs um freeing up general fund dollars. Uh we started doing heavy reviews in master schedules across all of the school sites to reduce um potentially any overages. Um and among we we did have um I reduced cabinet by a position uh last year as well as a support position to the superintendent's office um as well as we continue to

118look at reorganization uh possibilities in the district office. So TAID is estimated to um have an expense this year of around 8 million. And so to kind of put in perspective, when you have a district that spends roughly anywhere between 85 to 89% of salaries and benefits, when you are mitigating a deficit, it's very difficult to do that without reducing labor. Now, we are fortunate enough that if we make these adjustments early enough that we can prevent or postpone layoffs. Um, we are in a little bit of a different situation than some of our neighboring districts. But just to kind of put that into context, so 8 million equals 42 teaching positions. uh 8 million uh could be 66 classified positions, average cost of a standard classified position. Um or it could be 25 district

119office administrators. So to try to put that in perspective. So when we look at mitigating the deficit, we are looking at slowing down the hiring and the classification that we hire most frequently is teachers um and teachers throughout other um other of our campuses. And so by um we have a school that is underenrolled and is overstaffed and so we need to start mitigating those changes. Um so just to kind of put that into perspective. >> Sorry. Um just to clarify, so is part of that urgency because you feel like acting now would prevent versus delaying would prevent teacher layoffs? >> Absolutely. And then um one other thing because we have received emails and I personally I've received emails about this. One one thing that does come up as a budgetary um solution which I

120think according to you we spend a million dollars on annually is the foundation class size subsidy. Um the problem I have with that is do you foresee there a way ending that immediately that would not result in teachers being laid off? So across um we all have foundations and um they all participate in supporting their school site very differently. Um across the large four uh the foundations produce a lot of money. They use the largest portion of that money to buy sections. Um, in some school sites it's to offer electives that they don't have the enrollment or the staffing allocation to offer and they have a desire to offer that elective. In other schools in other school sites such as Menel Adtherton, that foundation uses those sections to buy down class sizes in the major

121subject areas primarily in the freshman year. And this is something that um has been going on for a very very very long time. Um they pay for roughly um I would say around 85% of the salary of the teachers and the district plays uh picks up the difference plus basically statutory benefits. Uh contribution for last year was roughly around 1 million. Um if you know they're dependent upon fundraising as well. We have a fixed escalation. So their escalation factors for what they pay sections is the amount percentage of raise plus 1% to keep getting us closer and closer. Although I do not see at that escalation factor them ever paying what we refer to as full freight. So, uh, we were to pass that cost on to the foundations, um, they may not be able

122to fund raise for the sections that they currently pay. We would obviously follow any CBA language, but I would imagine we would have to reduce sections, which would potentially cause layoffs. Yes. >> Can I have a follow-up question on that one? So the money that would be saved for it's what you're saying is that that's also for course core courses right it's not just for elective courses is that correct because I think some people ask >> site foundations work with the principal at the school site to determine what they want to use those section dollars for >> and they are used for courses >> at MA they are primarily primarily used to buy uh down class sizes Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay. Um I I actually have a question related to

123the original um intention of having 400 students. Um and I know that that um there was an idea that a hundred students would then leave the tide campus to go to community college um or or you know be in the community college to complete their dual enrollment degree. Um I just wanted to better understand is why is that completely off the table or you know talk me through the feasibility of doing something like that to close the financial gap. >> Principal Kel can you come to the podium? Thank you. >> Hello. Good evening. Sorry, it's been a rough three months. Um, I'm going to answer your question. Tide community students. Um, it's really awesome to see you here and I just want you to keep front and center the thoughtfulness, integrity, determination, empathy we want

124to display and show our community this evening. Um, to our awesome Woodside colleagues as well. between Miss Van Putton and I, there's 66 years of uh school experience, right? So, I just want to let everybody understand that all of you here are the why for all the educators that are in this room. Okay, so great question. Um, thank you Amy. the um originally and I don't know how fleshed out it was um I don't know Bonnie was probably I don't know if she knows but it was a original idea right when I took over at Tide was the intention that um when the students would come to their senior year they would take all their classes at Foothill. Now remember this was an idea before the co 19 pandemic right when we were at home

125shelter in place and then students came back. So when I was there and we had the first junior class um and we were preparing for the WASK self-study and trying to figure out what courses do we want to offer seniors, right? It just really was not on the table at the time to send students to community college or Foothill when no one had fully thought that out, nor were many classes back in person, right? and we wanted to be in control of the graduation requirements especially English 4 and um government and econ. So with our planning team uh and we surveyed students and parents and there was definitely an interest to have a college level English course on the campus. So we created that opportunity for the students. Now that we've been up and running,

126one of the things we have talked about, right, is could we get to the point where seniors do a hybrid where they have um cuz students at Tide take a full seven classes plus nucleus by the time they're seniors, you know, they don't always need a full load of classes. So, some of the visioning we started to talk about is to see if we could um get the students to college courses a few days a week, but the reality is they would still need to do courses on the Tide campus. That has worked for us. um right as far as that um support and oversight. Um for example, the English 1A 1B uh class um that Miss Turks done an amazing job with Foothill wanted us to have an academic literacy literacy support class for

127students who didn't quite meet the GPA requirement. And so some of our seniors need that support as well that they may or may not get if they take the if they take the course at Foothill College. So I hope that answers your question. Also just the facility itself there are 15 classrooms as it is teachers are sharing classrooms and 57 parking spaces right so to house a hundred seniors who get want to drive to school right or just that facility limitation um I don't know that really it was ever designed to have 400 students at one time. I hope that answers your question. >> Yeah. No, thank you. Thank you for that background and detail. Does anyone else have questions? All right. So then I think we're ready to vote on the first part that

128I was proposing. Can we do nothing or or are we voting to um close Tide in its current state? And so if anyone wants to make a motion or or you could make your comments first. >> I'm just curious. I I think for me anyway before I make my vote I I I feel like I owe this community why I'm >> Well, we're not voting yet. We're making a motion first. So, the idea is you make the motion first, second it, and then we can have our discussion >> before we vote. >> Yeah. >> The discussion before we go. Then I will make a motion to well to to I think I'm confused on on the terminology now. Sorry. Would you like to make a motion? >> I make a motion to accept the superintendent's

129recommendation >> and then I second it. >> Okay. So, for point of clarification, this is the first part of the recommendation to close tide in its current state. Okay. So, um >> trustees. Yep. Huh. >> Yeah. So basically we are going to now um share our comments um and and then you could then we'll take a vote after people have shared their comments based on this motion. Um, tonight is definitely one of the hardest votes that I assume I'm going to have to make as a trustee. Um, it's not what I thought I was going to be doing um, a year and a half ago when I decided to run. Um, and over the past several weeks, I've received an extraordinary, just like you all have, a volume of emails and calls and public comments

130about Tide economy. And I've read them. I've met directly with families. I've listened to students and staff. And what has come through is extremely clear to me that for many students, TIDE is not simply a program. It's belonging. It's stability. It's the place where students who struggled everywhere began to believe in themselves again. Public comment has implied I don't understand a small school. I think I actually understand a small school very very well com and which is why I'm struggling. I want to acknowledge also that this this sense of mistrust um that I've heard over and over again and let me be transparent about my position that I do not believe anyone on this board, myself included, wished for it to get to this point tonight. And as your trustee, I must proceed by assuming

131that the data being shared publicly is consistent with our internal analysis and is being presented honestly because I do not believe our district wants to hurt children. I I I wouldn't I can't believe that. At the same time, as an educator and former principal, I know that the data always tells a story and facts can be viewed through different lenses. Numbers don't speak for themselves. people interpret them. And my responsibility tonight is to not choose between statistics and stories, but to hold both the data on sustainability and the deeply felt experience of our students and families. And I want to acknowledge that the process didn't come out of nowhere. A board subcommittee was formed to examine enrollment trends and long-term fiscal health. And as a member of that subcommittee, I recommended that the superintendent begin

132bringing forward a clear public process to discuss and consider the future of Tide to enable a decision by essentially tonight. And since then, Superintendent Leech and her team has done exactly what the board asked. There were staff parent question and answer meetings, community data meetings, public testimony across multiple board meetings, and a board study session organized around the most frequently asked questions, not to mention the updating of the website with these questions, looking at patterns and themes. I respect that not everyone's going to agree with me. I respect that you may disagree with the conclusions and wish different information had been emphasized. But I want to be fair about where I stand with you all that as that member of that subcommittee, I asked Superintendent Leech to do something. Superintendent Leech and her team did

133it. Countless hours to do what was asked. Um the reality I carry as both a community member and a trustee is that I am responsible for safeguarding the long-term health and stability of our district. Based on enrollment projection data and the staffing and schedule constraints of operating a very small school, which I am all too familiar with, staff analysis indicates that keeping Tide open as it currently exists, is not sustainable over time. And the hard truth exists alongside another hard truth that Tide has become a safe and comfortable place for many students who have thrived there. I don't want to close a SA school. Public comment has said over that this is something that this is taking the easy way out. This is not the easy way out >> for you, >> for us. >>

134I when we face a decision that feels impossible, I believe we have an obligation to choose the option that causes the least harm over time. And for me, that includes naming the cost of waiting. Prolonged uncertainty keeps families in limbo. Clarity matters for students. And clarity matters for planning responsibly. So tonight, if I vote to approve the recommendation to close Tide, it is not because I believe Tide failed. It is because I believe we have reached a point where we must act on the sustainability constraints presented while doing everything we can to protect students through the transition. So I wanted to make sure that I said that. Um >> we don't care. We don't trust you. >> We say please please refrain from interrupting board deliberation. It was very important to me that I explain

135to you all as well as to our community the why for me. Thank you Trusty Thompson for your comments. Um sounded like Trusty Gidd had So the microphone doesn't work. So it's clear that all the people in the room and all the people have written are having a a great experience with the school. They love the school. They want the school to continue. Um, I've had a lot of people write to me advocating and um, those who describe themselves as professional educators or with a strong back in education, I've asked the question back. Um, and I'll ask the question rhetorically. I'm not actually ask expecting anyone to answer this, but the question that that I think you need to look at is um, you know, the program was originally intended to be 400 for reasons

136we heard. Um there's questions around students going off-site. The building holds 300. The enrollment is 200. So it's either half underenrolled or a third underenrolled depending on what you consider fully enrolled. Um there's been a focus on recruitment for the last four years. I know I spoke with super or principal kennel before she became uh principal at Tide about how important recruiting at Tide would be. I remember walking around MA during the COVID and talking about this and people are saying now give it one more year give it one more year. It was from my position it was four years and in none of the years did enrollment one time meet what was needed. Last year the enrollment uh in the spring was I think close to 80 and the actual students who showed up

137was again under the under the target. So I think the question is how low would the only have to go before people would think we should do something about it. I mean how low maybe maybe you think it it could be 40% or 30% enrolled or 20% enrolled but um for me at half of the original project the original intent was B400 the first class was over 100 I think the first class was 115 entering freshman sort of on track for the because every class but one tends to be smaller by the time they're seniors than when they're freshman and um so the first class was fully enrolled so the school was able to fully enroll a group of 115 in its first year. And in the six years since, not a single year has

138met enrollment protections. And at some point, I view the role of a governing board is to look at a program and that is expensive and that is underenrolled and decide when is it time to look at it. I was part of the committee that thought that we should look at it now and my vote will be yes. >> Okay. Trust trustee crew. >> Okay. Thank you. Hi everybody. Okay. >> Um, I live in East Palo Alto, so I understand some of the concerns that some of the students and parents have had in regards to, you know, taking your kids across town. I've done it since kindergarten to now still driving my son to from the east side to the west side. And I know that's taxing. I I get it. I understand. Right. And we

139all have choices sometimes. Some of us have choices, some of us don't, right? Some of you have choices to go to private schools, which is very nice, and some of us don't. Um, and I'm an educator, right? I am a person who helps first generation uh low-inccome, underrepresented students. That is my job at San Jose State, and I will continue doing that. Um, and I think about the community and I think about the community that I live in and all of it. But I also think about the thousands of students in the different high schools around us, right? You got to think about, okay, we're going to have to make cuts here. Something's got to give. Somebody has to give you know is it going to be even if it's two years three is two

140years down the line your the school is not going to look the same at tight even is not going to look the same the same teachers are playing to other places and I know why and you can't >> please be quiet Okay. Um, this is a board discussion. It is not an interaction with the board. I'm trying to say what I'm thinking. This is one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made in my academic career life, which has been a long time. Um, I did not want I don't want to I did not sign up to close tide, right? This is not why I signed up to be a board member u or tried to run for a board member. Um but I think of thousands of other students right of cutting e classes

141cutting 30 teachers across the district really like 40 maybe I don't know even more staff how look for all the other students that I also represent right that are coming from some of the feeder schools in Ravenswood district most of them do come from Raven and go across all the all the schools right Um, so it's very it's not an easy it hasn't been easy for me to think about this day in day and night. Um, I've replied to all the emails that I all the emails that people have sent me. Um, I've met with community members, particularly the Spanish speaking community who is here. I've heard them. I understand that yes, Tide is a safe space. I I get that. But I think that the lessons are also also there is also space and

142places for them to be safe and they are because I know my son speaking from experience schools right and he's and he's found his community he's found his belonging and that because you are neurody divergent or you have certain abilities that you're not going to feel like you belong in some of these spaces. you. You don't know what the future holds. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that um for me, I'm thinking about all all the students, not just Tide, all the students and where that cut would be down the line. That not just hundreds, I'm talking about thousands, right? It's not it's and that's where my that's what I'm thinking about. I'm thinking about all students because that's what I I represent up here. all students, all Latino students,

143not just Tide students, and that's where I that's where I stand, right? So, I um that's where I am right now in my thought process. So, thank you. Thank you for listening. >> And then, Trusty Nory, did you have some >> Would you mind coming back to me after you go? I need some more time to gather my thoughts. >> Okay. Um so from my standpoint um I know that actually Max called out imagine that your children's school was closing and actually my children's school is under consideration for closing in my theater district and so their decision making is on February 12th. So while dealing with this, I've been dealing with that and that program I'm I'm sure you guys had not helped to create a program, but I was on the board that created

144those small middle school programs and it's under discussion for closure. So I really understand where you're coming from. And my kids went to a small middle school and they benefited from it. And it's a neighborhood school. Okay. So, when you called me out on that one, I really got emotional because my own kid school is being under consideration for closure. And all I can do because I'm not on that board anymore. All I can do is educate the existing trustees on the rationale of why we created those schools in the first place. And I know that they have hard decisions to make because they are also facing declining enrollment and they are also trying to fill seats. They have a middle school choice program very similar to Tide, right? That anyone from the district can

145choose the small middle schools. And so it's a very very difficult situation, very personal. And my oldest is neurode divergent and he chose a small school and then later on he kind of figured out how to do high school if you want to call it that, right? And he moved to a larger school and still found a place to call his home because he had very unique interests and he just couldn't find his tribe in the smaller school. Now, I know that that's not the situation for all students. Um, but I do know that it's a very emotional decision tonight that we're making and I know for the previous board that I used to serve on, they're going to try and make the best decision as well. There are financial considerations that we need to

146make. And although I'd love to keep the status quo, we also have to look at financial sustainability in the long term. And you know, in looking at the other considerations for reducing costs, we've already actually reduced some of the administrative headcount at the district office and we're going to keep doing that. We're looking at different options to be more efficient, to do more with less. Um, I I know someone brought up the idea of a district-wide foundation. Um, so actually my previous district did do something like that, like we had a district-wide foundation, but historically every school was focused um on fundraising for themselves. And it took years to convince people to move to a district foundation model. So this is not an overnight fix. um when you're talking about fundraising to make ends meet,

147there's no guarantee that the fundraising will come in year after year. And while I believe that um a district-wide foundation has happened in other high school districts, um I I believe Fremont Union High School District has a district-wide foundation. It takes years to get there. And even after um our our my elementary district put in place a district-wide foundation and got people to agree on it, it still took more iterations to align on who was going to raise money when because the parents were so confused uh between the district foundation and their local foundation. So, I really understand the pain that you are all going through and I'm going to go through this myself next week because imagine creating something from scratch out of nothing and potentially you're going to see it close and I'm

148going to go through that next week. But I am also aware that finances are finances and we have to as a board we have a fiduciary duty to make sure that our three-year projections are in alignment. And we want to make the adjustments over time and not be in a scramble at the last minute. And that is why I support the district's recommendation to close tide. So, thank thank you to all my fellow trustees for sharing this opinion. I'll admit that when I first heard this agenda item and talking through Tide Families, the amount of pain that I feel on behalf of these families is unsufferable. But I do believe that as a district, we do make decisions with the best interests of our students in mind. you know, talking to tide parents across area

149D and hearing from students was very emotional because I could imagine what I might feel like if a school I knew was closing. And you know, no matter what happens, I think we really need to work all of us in our district to ensure that we tell our students that things will be okay. Closing tide is not something that I want to support or want to do. I think we could have found budgetary solutions, but when I look when I hear when I hear that the trade-off for not acting would be teacher layoffs, I find it very hard to weigh those two things of how we could consciously support this. You know, I sense there's a lot of sadness among the tide community, rightfully so, among how this board seems poised to vote. And although

150I wish I could change this outcome, one thing I want to make clear is I know the students at Tide are probably suffering or mourning, but it's important that all of ours parents, district staff, board members, and Tide teachers, staff at Woodside, everyone acknowledge that we will do everything in our power. And I will start by saying that that if this is the board decision, we will do everything in our power to make sure that your experience if you choose to stay in our district will be the best that it possibly can. I personally will make sure then try to be with you in every step of this way to make sure this transition goes as smooth as possible. And as much as I would like a different outcome, as much as I'd like to

151keep tied, it's clear that our board does feel differently and I can't rightfully tell, you know, our 200 students at Tide that, you know, to give the district to believe that the district can meet your needs if I myself am going to vote against this recommendation. So, if the rest of the board's going to support this, I doubt would have to support them to show that I am there with you and that we will do everything in our power to make this work. and serve our students at Tide and across the district. >> Does anyone else have any comments? Okay. >> All right. All in favor of the motion. >> I think it's it's not roll call. Yeah. >> I >> Okay. Yes. I know this is a very emotional decision, but I want to

152clarify that we still need to discuss the options. Um, and then what we've closed is tied in its current form. Okay. And so now I'd welcome questions related to the various options presented by Superintendent Leech. >> Okay. Should we take >> should we take a five minute pause or Sure we can take a five minute pause and we will come back at 8:23 meeting right now looks like we're still having a conversation at the dis trusty Cruz we are also start Okay. All right. So again, I' I'd like to um propose a process for this discussion as as I'm very process driven. So um in order to not go off in all different directions, I want to remain focused on finding areas where we have alignment um and focus on that first and almost like

153go through a process of elimination and then um that's how we're going to get to the final motion of what we're trying to approve. Um, but I I would like to start out with any questions that the board has um and points of clarification that they need about the various three proposals that are on the table. I think I had one question um in regards to whichever proposal we go with. Is there a way we can keep um sort of the core elements at Woodside including you know the nucleus dual enroll enrollment small classes putting that language into one of those scenarios you know changing up the language a little bit in regards to making sure that the core elements are continuous that have happened at Tide like small classes um dual enrollment support for

154diverse students making sure that those that that language is in there because it's not in there right now. >> So, from my preliminary discussions with Principal Van Putton and the lead counselor, uh I asked what that would look like as far as what we could cohort students together for uh 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. And we from I mean that is first and foremost the goal is to keep the tide students together who wish to transfer to Woodside um as well as transfer necessary staff to support the program. Um from basically us mapping this out again it's going to depend on all of the numbers but from mapping it out they would be able to have five classes with each other. So that's um your English, your science, uh your English, your science, your social

155studies. We said there, yeah, the nucleus, the academy nucleus, and then the CTE and whatever CTE, dual enrollment class. So with all of the options, um I include that I will bring back an implementation plan that would have those details. Um, in the process document that I included, I do state that one the the top principal goal is to keep these students together um and cohorted. I would not recommend at this time that we add that language because we don't the numbers but I am obviously on record saying that that is the primary goal on keeping these students together who wish to transfer. >> Thank you. And actually um I I was thinking it might make sense to see if we have a alignment on eliminating option three. Do people have questions about that? That

156one's related to keeping the existing cohorts at tide um and to graduate class or yeah but class by class until 2029. I mean, speaking um doing sort of my due diligence and and talking to a variety of of stakeholders. I'm I'm also holding um Principal Kettle's email with very high regards. Reading that email from Principal Kettle, option three does not seem doable. So I I would be against option three. >> Would it help to invite principal KML to come to the board to Yes. >> explain her >> her rationale? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I just need a deep breath for a minute. Um, I told my students I will take care of every one of you and the staff. I will make sure that whatever happens next, we're in it together.

157The time, everything you've put in to talk about your school, fight for what you want is has not gone unnoticed. >> Okay. So, I'm talking about option three specifically. >> Yes. Um, for me as the site principal who is responsible for a quality instructional program, day-to-day operations, making sure our students feel safe and have a quality experience. While it pains me to say that act option is actually a non-starter for a variety of reasons, it causes too much uncertainty. The ninth current 9th grade students who would be seniors won't have the same staff and that's not any knock on our amazing teachers and staff. That's just too much pairing down three years out to even run a quality program, clubs, a leadership program, they will not get the same quality of a program that all

158of our district students will have, right? So, um, we've bu worked really hard to build those things and I would love students to be able to be in a full school. I don't know that winding down and having, you know, one less class per um is is doable for anybody. It keeps the staff, it keeps everybody in limbo and it it I just don't think it's in anybody's best interest. Um, so that was why I just have to say as someone, I mean, I've run your biggest school when it was biggest, now you're smallest. And there's so much that goes in the day-to-day operations. And I just don't think that getting there in, you know, trying to do this for three years is going to be ideal for anybody. >> While there may make sense,

159I think you had opinions about the other comment, the other options. I think it probably makes sense. Are you okay if she just shares her opinions on all of them or no? >> Um, yeah, she can share all of them. >> Okay. So, at this point, given some of the reasons I cited for option three, sorry I speak into the mic. Um, the only one I really see feasible that we can have the most impact and collaboration on, if the timing works, of course, for Woodside is to work on moving the program starting for next school year. And I'll tell you why. I think first of all, we need to start with a survey, right? we need to know how much of our how many of our tide students families um maybe with some information

160or whatever. Um because even though the timeline is shorter for planning, I think with some with the thought that's already the initial thoughts that have already been um thought about, we will really have the opportunity to let our students know we do care about them. We can promote what the cohort will look like, how they can stay together, how they can keep classes, whatever is possible. And I think it supports more immediate decisions for students, for families, and for staff, right? And I know that we have been in limbo. I don't think anyone is interested in continuing to be in limbo. And the more we can offer this immediate solution, um, the better. I think if we have a transitional year, which I would understand if there are logistical planning, we will not have students

161by the end of that year to move into a cohort. So, right as it is, we know one of the reasons TIDA struggles, families have choices in our areas, right? They have choices for schools. So, I think that makes it linger given given what the outcome is. um it just lingers too long and I think we can do right by our students and make sure that they are taken care of if we get to it right away. >> Yeah. >> All right. Appreciate your feedback. >> Yeah. >> And just to mention for our staff too, a lot of them need a path forward as well. >> Okay. So, I just wanted to check in with the rest of the board. Um, if option three is off the table, everyone in agreement on that one? Okay.

162So, then it's really a question of option one versus option two. Um, I would actually like to propose uh one question that I had because I know I've heard from many families that it's really important to not just continue the cohorts within Tide and provide supports uh and transitions to enable what makes Tide special and supportive. not to just limit it to the three classes, but also to allow our freshmen or incoming freshmen that have already applied to Tide to continue to have a cohorted class after the program moves to Woodside. And I just want to get a sense of everyone's thoughts on that and feasible. So maybe I'll ask first if that's feasible to even consider. I I I think it might be good to hear from K principal Karen Van Putton about her

163thoughts on this too considering it would be at school >> option with a slight twist which is including the applicants to tide for the upcoming school year including them as a cohort within the Woodside program >> ninth graders. So um I I was knew that this was going to be brought up and I have talked to um um principal van Putton about that. I would ask if that that is the direction that the board wishes to go, which is not a part of my recommendation that we would set um an enrollment goal number uh for the freshman class um because keeping them cohorted together again just as we do as we migrate sophomores, juniors, and seniors to uh to Woodside. it doesn't always work with the numbers which is also why we're having this conversation.

164So it's really we need to be able to be very clear that we are like we are promising that to our sophomores, juniors and our seniors who choose to transfer to Woodside. We will only be able to promise that to the freshmen who have opted to go to Tide if we reach a certain number to develop that program at Woodside. >> And can I clarify rising freshmen? >> Rising freshmen. Yes, rising freshmen, eighth grade that have already submitted to become freshmen. >> And and the reason why I asked that question is because I think freshman year is a very big transitional year. And if you're having um uncertainties in middle school about a large school environment, at least the cohorting process allows the student to get to know a smaller group very deeply. And this

165actually does happen at some high schools, but happens very frequently at colleges where during the freshman year, there's cohorts and and options to join kind of a special cohort and and take all of those freshman year classes together and then they can decide, do they still need that kind of support or they want to go and and do different things. Um, but I I think that's a valuable option that potentially helps with um some of the concern about sense of belonging and um need for for more personal attention. So >> I do understand the philosophy of welcoming a new rising ninth grade cohort and that model at the same time by limiting a group of freshmen when they have so many options at Woodside High School. They could opt into AVID. they could opt into

166waiting till their 10th grade to select any of our pathways. So, that is my biggest concern is um we want to give all of our students, it's always been our Woodside prerogative is or vision is let's not put barriers before students arrive on our campus. Let them explore their ninth grade. Let them explore how different high school is from middle school. And I think we have a really solid community where the kids can explore and those who may not have thrived in previous environments find their zone. And that freshman year should not be a gatekeeping year. if that makes sense. By cohorting this rising ninth grade group who's choosing to come to Tide by precluding them from integrating fully with the Woodside offerings would only separate the community and not embrace a whole all the

167vast opportunities that they have. We will we will we will work we've talked about it briefly. We will work in terms of whatever that smooth transition is. I just wanted to share that though that is just a fundamental philosophy of our 9th grade offerings because our students get to choose. They would they place in into their math placement based on where they are. They place into wherever they are with their world language. So they start in different courses already. Our students can off opt into AP computer science their freshman year. So by cohorting I believe that we are precluding the students from all the opportunities and then after they've explored their 9th grade then selecting a smaller academy they'd be open to two that already exist at Woodside in addition to what the tide pathways

168are and and then some. I guess a point of clarification. What if that cohorting was just with some of like the core academic classes and the students are then allowed to choose electives that are available to the broader population because I think the the idea is to get to know a group of students deeply rather than you know if every every class is a different set of students it's hard to get to know people deeply. Um I mean you could join clubs and other things of that nature but um there's also a sense of community that happens if the core classes are together and then extracurriculars or also um electives are opportunities for the the students to explore. Quick clarification when you say core which class >> core would be like um like math uh

169English science right so kind of those >> so I would think the only one I would question whether you really want to say it is math because students would take all different levels of math potentially >> but English social studies and science >> science >> um and PE so the four of them >> would have less variance than math and foreign math and foreign language Yeah, could have >> may not want to cohort those two. >> That's correct. That would be the core as you described. >> We are open to discussion. I I don't think um we are yet prepared to give a solid answer. I'd have to work with the counseling team from our school as well as the tide community as well as principal Canel. I think the reason this question is coming

170is we received a a large number of emails of people who suggest that a large school just doesn't work. And so the trying to make the large school be as much like a small school would be cohorting as much as you could. I think one area that maybe the board should be aware of and you can maybe talk to if students were to be cohorted for four classes, the four we named, um that would most likely limit their choices in their math and foreign language because not every math class and every foreign language class is offered every period. So there would be some restrictions in what other things would be available. >> That is correct. That is correct. I I would just want all of our freshmen who enter Woodside High School to have options.

171>> Um just to kind of clarify on that. Um I guess like there is no harm here. I'm kind of agreeing with um trusty coup in trying you know what that is because we did receive interest from a lot of eighth um rising freshman families and students who would want to try a program like this. So even if you know pedagogically it might not agree with like our common nth grade experience. Do you think logistically it would be at least possible to do it if the board or the district is inclined? If I can just say so like possible but it might be not every math like maybe you can't take algebra 2 for example if if that's not offered in one of the periods or you can't take Spanish one or it would have

172to be that if the they're in a cohort for four of the periods they only have two periods possible to take the other classes. So I'm just saying like that there there would be that's what I was talking about about some amount of so possible and I think it's also again important to look at that whole number of students that would be interested in that. Obviously a a larger number makes that a little bit more um accommodating as far as those areas but then also limiting in some of those other areas. Um, if the board would like to move towards including freshmen, it's definitely something that we will analyze and look at as part of the implementation plan. I just again ask the board to designate a number or I can bring you back the

173number that we need to make it work. Um, but we would need to start, you know, surveys right away. And um I mean as is we will be doing open enrollment again for the students who have filed open enrollment papers to you know start their nth grade year at tide. >> I would work to say support but would need you to come back with your number on imple and implementation feasibility but that broadly interested in exploring if there's sufficient demand from freshmen. I mean you I don't whether that means they need to be at least 30 or at least 60 what what it would be to to have the cohort. I think we are looking at 60 from the beginning numbers that associate superintendent Hansen and I discussed this afternoon when this when we started

174talking about this um the 60 number because we know we will have attrition and so if we can get 50 then we can run two sections of 25 um which would be which would be appropriate. Um I am concerned if we go any lower we are just perpetuating what we're trying to get out of. >> Yeah. And I I also would add that in some it could be um like an ongoing review to tweak the program as we go forward because um obviously we're trying to move a program. Actually in the case of option one um that would be moving a program immediately uh but it may take a little longer to figure out how exactly the freshman cohorting would work. Um but we can try to do that immediately and then tweak it as

175it goes forward and have a lot of community input. So that was my my thought too. It's a mix of option one and option two. >> I do support it. >> I mean I do support the discussion of this if it's feasible. I I my if if it's the board's desire to include freshmen, then um my recommendation would be that we would we would do that to the best of our ability if we were able to get to 60 freshmen. Um I could just say that right now and that would be a part of the implementation plan as we survey and see who has interest in the program at Woodside. Yeah. I I just want to right be clear about right our boundaries and setting we set the direction we want to you know we're

176the what not the how. >> I want to really remember that. Um because the how matters really deeply. Um, and so I I'm curious if there's a way to to at at least go with, you know, based on this one or two without without that how piece until you have had more time, the two principles have had time, you have the board, the district has time to talk about that from the preliminary discussions. Um, if it's something we can do, we can do it for the start of next school year. again the the the enrollment number for freshmen is the driving force. >> Okay. >> But I timeline that time timeline we could do but again I do not want to dismiss the comments made by um principal van. >> Yeah. So I I would

177say that we're not trying to solve the how right now. It's really more um if we are moving towards say option one then one board interest is seeing how we could get uh a freshman cohorted aspect to the program right given there there's enough demand and really look into the feasibility of that and not just for one year I'm I'm actually interested in sustaining that going forward um but obviously that would require you feedback and input to see how things are going and do we continue to have that um enrollment interest. Right. >> I agree. Okay. All right. Any other questions before we make a motion? Um I just want to think more deeply to especially if we're leaning towards option um one how frequently do you think like we as the board and you

178know with the community could hear updates as to what the current plan is and how it's evaluated cuz you know I think it'd be at least good for us to kind of like what we did during co like keep it as a standing agenda item so we can make sure that you know we're continuing to pay attention to this at least until we have a finalized plan and the superintendent and the public can share comments and updates with us. So, um that would be one thing I'm interested in especially we're pursuing option one because of the closed time frame. And then um you know I think secondly I know I had a conversation with Superintendent Leech and Assistant Superintendent Hansen about this um you know maybe continuing if we're going this and I know this

179is a little more of the how to like think creatively about how we can you know recreate as many aspects of what was shared so fondly about Tide in Woodside because I do believe that it is possible to give that shared experience and kind of work with our community to make sure that what we're doing you help students the best of its ability. So, you know, keeping that front and center, excuse me, please refrain from the the extra comments and noises here. And then um I I do want to also reiterate that um it's important to as part of the survey is also um getting an understanding of of um like what things are most important to be retained at the program as as it gets moved to Woodside. um and to really involve the

180community um in evaluating the the how that is proposed because again, you know, it's it's really the student experience that we want to um make sure is met. And so they can really take a close look at what the the proposal is for the how and point out maybe questions or concerns that they might have. And we want to really make sure that the essence of what made Tide work for um students who are concerned about larger school environments is is actually taken to into consideration. Would it be appropriate then to make a motion um to approve option one the superintendent recommendations for option one knowing that sort knowing that we have given direction to superintendent about sort of where we're thinking once we gather more information >> I guess >> for that rising freshman

181class. >> Okay. >> Sorry. Sorry. Yeah. So, we're approving option one as is knowing that we are giving direction to superintendent regarding the rising freshman class that number 60 having those discussions. Anyone want a second? Second. Okay. All in favor? >> I All right. Well, thank you for um the board for asking questions and for the community for coming out tonight and providing your feedback both before and during the meeting as well as all of the staff um both district office and at our school sites for really contributing to this deliberation and and giving us a lot to think about. Um, so now we actually have to get to the how portion. Um, and I really uh agree with Trusty Nory that this should be a standing agenda item that we are going to be

182updated on on a regular basis because the timeline is quick. All right. All right. And with that, uh, >> shame on you, Emmy. Shame on all of you. Can I answer? >> Yes. Yes, please. >> Again, I understand the emotions in the audience. I want to make it clear that Woodside did not volunteer to be the chosen school. However, I want to make it clear as I mentioned before, I am sitting at the table and I am receiving hostile looks toward me personally >> and I understand that I'm not me. I am I am asking the superintendent and the board please to please please please no disparaging comments toward our school. We are welcoming and embracing the process. I want to make it clear and please >> do not >> it's not about your school

183right now. It's not your single >> Tide community. I know this is hard. I walked into the room this evening crying for the first 30 minutes seeing everybody here, knowing what was at stake. Unfortunately, tide is a casualty of timing. timing for a lot of things, but it does not mean it doesn't mean we didn't work hard to create an awesome program for the very kids and the staff in this room. And we've all been up here, you've all been up here talking about our wonderful school community, right? And I see it every day with all of you. And this isn't how we treat other educators. As hard as this may be, right? And as Miss Van Putton said, they are willing to welcome the tide students, families, and staff with open arms. So, can

184we just take a deep breath? Okay. seek to understand. Right? I'm thinking about our our site council norms. Nicole's nodding, right? Listen with curiosity and then we will make sure I told you and you've heard the board's commitment to making sure we are going to take care of everybody. Okay? But let's really exemplify what the Tide community is and show that respect to our fellow colleagues, educators, and the school that is really willing to take care of you. Okay, that's my plea to you. I know this has been hard. It has been the most trying three months. And I don't think anybody in this room doesn't think that it's been hard for us. Okay. But I do ask that we engage respectfully and that we listen and we get all the information. Okay. To my

185students, I love you. You'll hear more tomorrow. Okay? And you're going to have the best semester ever regardless. We're going to take care of you. You are my why. It's why we all show up every day. the staff, everybody that's here. We will have a lot of tears, but we're going to do this together. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, I appreciate you, Principal Kimmel. >> And then I move I move to adjourn, please. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> uh the meeting is adjourned at 9:07