001Um, I call this meeting of the board of trustees to order at 4:07 p.m. Um, first let's do a roll call. >> Trusty Cruz >> here. >> Trusty Thompson is running late. Trusty Gil >> here. >> Vice >> here. >> President Nory >> here. >> Aquar is present. Um now we'll move on to item number two which is our annual reorganization meeting. 2.1 is elections of officers. Um we can start with um a nominations are open for the president of the board of trustees. Do I have any nominees? >> Nominate Amy Coup. >> Second. >> Okay. Um do we do a roll call vote? >> Oh no. >> You feel more special. [clears throat] >> All right. All in favor? >> I. All right. That motion carries unanimously. 4 Z. >> Um, Maria. >> Now
002after vice president. >> Yeah. Okay. Um, now are there any nominations for vice president/clerk of the board of trustees? >> I move that Rich Gin be the vice president and clerk of the board of trustees. >> Second. All in favor? >> I we just do the third one. >> Okay. And then lastly, are there any nom nominations are open for a representative Sonteo County Committee on School District Organization? Currently, it's trustee again. >> Also, I just had one meeting in the last year and it took about an hour. >> Yeah, that was the case the year before, too. >> So, are you willing to continue to serve? >> I'm willing to continue and if someone else is interested, it's fine with me. It's one I could do it once a year. Yeah. >> Okay. So,
003so to nominate >> I move that Maria Cruz um Tristy Cruz be the representative to the Sonteo County Committee on School District Organization. >> I second. All in favor? I >> I um that motion passes unanimously. All right. So, I had prepared a short little speech for the large number of people in the audience. [laughter] Woohoo. Um, but I am very happy to be the board president in this c coming year. And I wanted to start out with some gratitude for all the hard work everyone's put together this year to get our students across the finish line. Another week to go and also uh express some gratitude to Trustee Nory who probably holds the record for most efficient and shortest meetings. [laughter] [gasps] Um so we've done a lot in the past three years. uh
004in particular putting together a strategic plan and doing the communications audit and uh I'm really excited that we're we're moving forward to the implementation phase and we're partway through it but I did want to bring it back to the strategic plan which I have a copy right here. Um, so our promise is all SEOA Union High School students will belong, expand their world view through diverse connections and graduate ready to pursue their dreams. And I wanted to highlight the word dreams because that was very intentional choice of words. Um because we could have said hey college or career but dreams meant that hey we need to understand what each student is interested in is passionate about and once we understand that then we could help them um foster that growth and learning to be able
005to pursue their dreams. So it's not a cookie cutter dreams is intentionally broad because it could be anything. Um and leading to that is gold too. So if we look at goal two, it's academic growth and mastery for all. And aligned with that is our core value of high expectations with individualized support. And really it ties in with dreams, right? Because if we understand each student's interests and what engages them in school, then we have to believe that all students can achieve and and just have the support that they need, right? And a lot of times uh even even myself sometimes people think that oh you must have had a pretty easy life because you went to MIT and Stanford and Superintendent Leech always likes to start with that. I don't [laughter] know why but
006actually when I was a kid it was a very lonely life because I was an only child and then I was doing well in school and bad at sports. So that of course leads to a lot of bullying and in middle school I was just a like I was a doofus or something. I had thick glasses, braces, and kind of an outcast, right? And my mom was very critical, kind of the traditional tiger mom. Um, and at some point she even said, "Why do you hang out with these two losers?" And I [laughter] said, "What do you mean? Do you realize these are the only two friends that I have?" And so, like, you know, I I looked at high school as this whole new beginning, right? uh the the the uh hair got permed,
007the glasses became contacts, the braces came off, no one would have to know my storied past, right? Um but even though I was doing well in school, my self-esteem was pretty much in the toilet, right? And so think about that as our kids transition into nth grade. It's kind of a a new beginning for a lot of folks. Um, and that's why we really want to shore them up uh that first year to boost up their self-confidence and have high expectations and have them try different things and find their community, their tribe. So, I think that's why goal two and that high expectations is so important. And then lastly, um, we really need to focus on innovation and continuously improving. So, at the AEC, I was really impressed with Compton Unified School District and uh
008their graduation rate over the past 14 years improved from 53% to 95%. And their A throughG completion rate improved from 14% to 76%. And they had set a mission that hey, our students need to be prepared for careers of the future, whatever they may be. and that relates to steam. So they now know that 53% of their graduates are pursuing steam careers. They have over 300 community and nonprofit and corporate partners who are helping uh the school district in this endeavor. And over that same period of time, they had 35% gains in their CASP scores. So, it's not low expectations, it's still maintaining the high expectations and just putting uh things like uh video game tournaments. Like I was really impressed. So, that gets all the kids excited because who doesn't like playing video games?
009So, it makes school fun and engaging. Uh but their tip and their advice to the governing board was that you have to be student centered, right? Uh make sure that it's all about the students. hear from their voice what's working, what's not working. Um, and then as a governing team, we have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and to potentially ruffle some feathers um to maybe cause some conflict, right? Because change is often difficult. It's not easy and you have to stay the course and do right by the students. And ultimately only if we're willing to face our fears and do what's right for the students are we going to enable the students to pursue their dreams. Um so I'm looking forward to this coming year. I think we're ready to make all our plans
010a reality. All right. Yeah. All right. And so moving on to the next agenda item is district and community meetings board participation list for 2026. So everyone has a copy of the list of committees and who's currently assigned. Um I think the update is Maria uh is going to be on the CCSDO. Any other changes feedback? Uh we have um we do have the elimination or pause for at least right now the strategic plan imple implementation committee can come off of this. Um and at this time we can leave on the temporary enrollment facility committee um or like we can leave that on this list however we are con conducting that work now. Um, I was able to speak with Mary Beth and she would like to continue serving on all of her same committees,
011which is Belmont Redwood Shores 2 by two. Um, she would like to be the alternate for the wellness advisory committee. It is nice for us to have two trustees on that committee just in case only one can. Um, >> we could have zero. Do we need trustees on that committee? Well, that's up that we we do not. >> You said it's nice to have two so if one can't make it, but do you need do [clears throat] you need any? >> We do not. [snorts] >> I mean, I I found it helpful. So, because sometimes they're talking about things that relate more to policies and so sometimes it's helpful for one person to be there. >> [clears throat] >> And then she would like to continue serving on uh the 2 by 2 by two
012with Redwood City Elementary District and the city of Redwood City and then us and then also continue serving on Redwood City together. [snorts] >> I guess it's a superintendent committee. Do you want board members on the wellness committee? >> Um I think Amy, if you're if you would like to continue to be the primary, Mary Beth could be the secondary. >> Yeah, that works for me. >> [snorts] >> My uh recommendation is that we keep all of the 2 by twos and the other memo park, city of Memo Park, uh 2 by 2 by two the same. Those trustees that are in that area serve in those areas. Um my recommendation is to keep those the same. Um I think potentially um what would could be out for discussion um although I don't recommend any
013changes um is for the budget committee which is Rich and Amy. [snorts] >> Looks like everyone is happy with these current assignments. Um so we do need to approve this right. And just to confirm, um, President Coup, you're still okay serving on the student sustainability committee? >> Um, yeah. I mean, I basically, if someone else can actually attend the meetings because their meeting times just don't work for me. Um, but otherwise I've just been getting copies of their minutes more or less. So, but if anyone typically the meetings are Tuesday, I think was it 5:45 to 6:45 or 6:00 to 7 something like that? [snorts] >> I don't see any interest. So, yeah, I I can continue being the point person. I just >> What's the history of why there's a board member on that?
014>> Um, they requested one. It's the county. Is this the the c I believe this is the county le one where we have leadership from our students that attend um and then they've had a trustee on there. >> Actually, this is different. Yeah. This is all our Yeah. Our student >> this is not this is not this is no involvement with the superintendent's office. >> Yeah. Yeah. But there I think they do try to get uh staff participation but this is not the county one. >> Okay. Yeah. [snorts] Okay. Yeah, I'm I'm fine still being the point of contact. I I have not been attending the meetings. I just look at the minutes when they come out. But sometimes they might set up a meeting with me just to ask like what's happening with board
015stuff that relates to some of their subjects. Okay. So, is this uh up for action? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> [cough] >> Move approval of the board participation list for 2026 with the revisions from 2025 as discussed. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. And with that, we will adjourn the general meeting and go to close session. Yes, I do need Okay. Is it recording again? >> Oh, okay. Um, yes. So, before we go to close session, is there any public comment on close session items? >> I have none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand now. There are none online. Okay, seeing none, um we will now adjourn to close session forward reconvene to public session. Uh so welcome to the SUSD regular board meeting on December
01610th. Um so first off um just want to let's see well we are do we need to do the roll call again? >> Yeah, let's do a roll call again. Oh, wait. >> Okay. Okay, we're ready for Oh, not yet. What's going on? Okay. All right. Now, on to roll call. We're doing roll call. Yep. Student Trustee Chang, Student Trustee Data, Student Trustee Miles Hernandez, Trustee Noi >> here, >> Trustee Cruz, Trust Is >> Trusty Thompson >> here. >> Vice President Gin. >> President Co here. Aquar is present. >> All right. Next up, we have the approval of the agenda. Can I have a motion? >> Motion to approve the agenda. >> Second. >> Okay. >> It was. Okay. All in favor? >> I got it. >> We got it. Okay. Mic is now working.
017Okay. And we do not have any report out on the closed session. And with that, we will move on to item number eight, special recognitions. >> Okay. Good evening. Um, so tonight we are proud to recognize the dedicated parents who s serve on Woodid's high school English learner advisory committee, also known as the ELAC. on. Their partnership with staff and administrators strengthens communication between home and school, celebrates the value of multilingualism, and supports the academic success of our fabulous English learners. I would like to invite Principal Karen Van Putton to the podium to share more about her incredible ELAC team. >> Good evening, President Coup, members of the board, and Superintendent Leech. It's always um a fun night at the board when we get to spotlight one of our groups at Woodside High School. It's
018twofold tonight. We have a couple celebrations um because they go hand in hand. I'm going to reiterate a couple of the comments that Superintendent Leech already shared. I'd like to recognize Woodside High School's English language English learner advisory committee, ELAC. They bring together parents, staff, administrators to strengthen home and school communication, celebrate being multilingual, and support English learners academic success. Our ELAC parents have also been very active voices at the district English learner advisory council DAC and they have actively engaged in our 10-w week the parent project strengthening parents strengthening our families and student success across our community. ELAC is not just a meeting or a space in our library. It is very much the essence of who and what Woodside High School is all about. Parents participate in parent education workshops which have dramatically
019improved our school's communication with our Woodside parents. Some are newcomers. Some have been here a while. Some are just trying to navigate being a new time parent in a very new country. It's all daunting whether you have been raised in the United States, if you're proficient in a language. To be a parent of a high schooler is hard, period. But to be a parent of a newcomer student, learning a new language, learning a new country, the ELAC has been the home for so many of our families. Tuesday night meetings are not just about agenda items like canvas and infinite campus and how to work through parent square. It's a family community essence and somebody who makes this all happen is our bilingual parent coordinator of 22 years, Marisella Lopez. Yes. Let's put our hands together.
020In fact, I'm going to take a break. I'm going to invite all of our Elite parents to come up with kids and babies and Marisella. As they come up, I'm going to talk a little bit more. When I started after the end of COVID in 2021, I've had the privilege of the last five years of working alongside Marisella Lopez. She has served these 22 years starting from the lowest level as when I say lowest, new to the country, new parent, learning it all. And she wasn't sure if she was fit for this job. She has pretty much written the job description. [gasps] She is going to be retiring in a week. >> This is the second speech I've given and we have a few more coming next week. We've already shed some tears and celebrations
021at our ELAC celebration last week, but Marisella has been instrumental in sustaining a vibrant and welcoming community for our Spanish-speaking families, coordinating monthly ELAC meetings that foster collaboration among parents, teachers, and administrators. Through Marisella's leadership, modest, humble, and always joyful, our families stayed informed and engaged in their children's education, strengthening the homeschool partnership that defines Woodside's inclusive culture. As she prepares to retire next week, we honor Marisella's enduring dedication, warmth, and deep connection to our families. qualities that have profoundly shaped Woodside's legacy of involvement and support for all Wildcats. While last week parents were taking the mic and giving their tributes and testimonials about the impact that Maricella has had on their lives and in their families. Maricella was described as a sister, an auntie, [sighs] a mom figure. She has led the parenting project
022meetings. Some years we have parents who are only parents of boys and those meanings are very different from when we have parents of all girls. She is kind, welcoming, hugging. She understands. She can read the room. She can read the energy when somebody walks into the Wildcat Resource Center. It's not just about the parenting. She is there to answer all kinds of questions and the energy last week as the parents were speaking about their participation in ELAC. It's very much because what Marisella has brought to our community and why they feel so comfortable and welcomed at Woodside. So to our Eli parents, this is only a small group which by the way five years ago we only started with five people. I mean, Eli has been going a long time, but my first meeting was
023five people and I was number five. And I gave them a challenge and I said, "You all have to tell five 10 more friends." And we have consistently had 30 plus members and at some meetings 60 plus that is more than our PTSA meetings. So, with that, I'd like uh everyone um to just recognize these are hardworking families who have the same dreams and goals for all of our high school students and they make the time to come out on these Tuesday nights. And Misella's um leadership and giving heart. We know we're never going to replace you and that's not our intent, but we do have a wonderful person who we think is going to take on the role. So, thank you and congratulations. Thank you parents. I'm gonna get these out there. [laughter] >>
024[applause] >> All right. Yes. Thank you uh to all the hard work from the ELAC committee. I'm really proud of you and thank you to Marisella and happy retirement. Yeah, we'll pause for a let uh folks exit the room and then those who are here can also sit in the seats that open up. [cough] All right. Yeah, there might still be a few seats open. So, take any seats that are open. All right. Okay. So, I want to move on to public comment and first explain our public comment protocol. So members of the public who wish to remotely provide comment during the meeting, please use the raise hand feature during the agenda item and speakers must raise their hand during agenda item 8.1 which is where we are right now. Uh the public comment portion
025of the meeting. In order to comment on topics not included on the approved agenda. To speak about an item on the agenda in person, please fill out a speaker card. indicate the agenda item number and hand the card to Laura at the dice. When the requested agenda item comes before the board, the speaker will be called forward. So [snorts] right now we are going to go with the public comment on items not on the agenda. So the board does not act upon any matter that has not been agendaized except under limited circumstances as permitted by law. It is the policy of the board to refer matters raised in this form to staff for investigation and or action where appropriate. Board policy ordinarily limits the time to be devoted to any single agenda topic to 10
026minutes and individual speakers are ordinarily limited to three minutes. If the board decides to expand the amount of time to be allocated to a particular agenda item because many speakers wish to address that item, the board may reduce the time allocated to individual speakers to 2 minutes or to one minute as appropriate in order to permit more speakers to comment. The board will announce the amount of time to be allocated to each speaker before public comment on each particular agenda item. We ask that all speakers to keep keep within the time limits. So are there any public comments? I do have one public comment in person. Uh two public comments in person and one are there any online. Please raise your hand. Now this is for non-aggenda items. I see one online. So there's three
027total. Okay. So three total. Then each person will have three minutes. Um, we can take the How about we take the one that's online first? >> Okay. First is iPhone 518. Good. Um, good evening board. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Okay. Uh, good evening board. So on your on the item you're talking about, first of all, I commend all those people that got that reward. That's great. But the problem you guys still have in the system is you're led by a discriminatory racial environment. You guys are now cutting out resources for children that needed those resources and all those children were minority children. You guys didn't have the right to do that with all the litigation you guys are facing. Your comment that there's nothing to talk about. You guys got
028a lot to talk about. The problem you have is you can't tell the public the truth because the tr the truth will really set them free and they will not want what's happening. How dare you with what you've done to minority children take the time to re cut their resources and take away what they deserve as children. They don't deserve to have administrators that are corrupt. They don't deserve to have board members that decide that they want to be backed by high-profile lawyers that all of them will go down. You have lost every single battle legally. You are going to lose more battle legally. But you just took it. My phone is blowing up now of all the parents that are upset because you guys take it. So you just actually develop more cases that
029are coming your way. And you know the lawyers that are coming your way. John Burrus, we don't lose. Harry Sterns, he doesn't lose. Evan Ghosting, he doesn't lose. And all your little corrupt lawyers, tell them next time when they see Danny Molieri, because I don't mind telling you who I'm talking and who I am. That keep playing your little game. Keep paying your little checks and keep writing checks. But taxpayers, at some point, you got to protect these children. Those children that got those awards and got that recognition deserve to be treated equally as all races. And you can never take that away from people. That's what this United States was all about. You have become one example of what not to do in the society. So I strongly recommend you take some steps and
030get that program in or watch how many more things you're going to get hit with very quickly. You don't understand how Danny Maleri is very connected with our governor's office, the state uh California board of education. And at the end, the only thing that matters to me is to make sure at one point all you people are gone and you guys have embarrassed your family. And I feel bad for your children because they have to carry your name. And that's something they will never be wiped out because of your disgusting corrupt actions. And I'll talk to you guys about the other stuff you're hiding on your next public social next. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker, our next speaker is Marilyn Travis. Good evening, board and cabinet. I wanted to take some time
031to comment on the state of small schools in our district. Um, our small schools, Tide, Redwood, EPA, do a phenomenal job of educating our students who uh might otherwise fall through the cracks at uh big comprehensives. And um first I want to express my support for keeping Tide open. I can't imagine what family, students, staff at Tide are feeling, thinking of the possibility that um Tide might be closing at the end of the the school year. Uh I'm sure we'll hear more about that later. So that's all I say for now. But um secondly, I also wanted to talk about EPA and as someone who has worked there for seven years, I'm very familiar with the ins and outs of our program with how our school is designed with the intention behind why our school
032was founded in the first place. And um during [clears throat] our bargaining for our SDTA contract, I was really surprised to hear that some board members feel like the only way that we are a charter is if we work more than we're supposed to and if we're exploited by having to extend our workday and hour um for PD. And it made me realize um maybe this body um and you know maybe as trustees we need like a little bit more information on the ins and outs of what happens at EPA. And so I wanted to um share a little bit about that and also invite you all to like come get to know our community, to visit our campus, to come to our events because I think um if you did that more often, you
033would see more clearly how we already go above and beyond and how needing to extend our workday is unnecessary. Um, I know that this minute probably won't be enough to get into all of it, but probably the thing that is at the heart of our school is advisory. Um, it's something that every student takes. They have an adviser for two years at a time. I'm a lower house adviser, which means I get the privilege of welcoming our freshmen into our school, sticking with them through their sophomore year, and then handing them um off to another phenomenal adviser. Um advisory is uh something that we prep for. So, we have a common prep. That means that we give up already 60 to 90 minutes um that no other teacher that doesn't teach advisory has to do.
034Um, but we do it because we understand the importance of that. We also offer things like road to legendary. As a small staff, we have to supervise more. Sometimes, at least last year, it was almost double the hours. And so, we also wear multiple hats. So, the demand on teachers is great. And we want to make sure that we're able to sustain the good work that we do. Thank you. in this room and has a lot of emotions. Uh but during public comment, please refrain from clapping, yelling, whistling, snapping, any noises, okay? Because this is a working board meeting and we want to remain civil to each other and respectful. Thank you. >> Good evening, board. My name is Abby Corman. You've seen me here before. I'm a teacher and voter in this district. I'd
035like to share at public comment tonight my confusion. It's confusing to me that we set aside $2 million a year in the budget for settlements from litigation, something no other district around us does. This year, we've heard rumors it could be more than that 2 million. From my understanding, historically, most of our lawsuits are related to special education, and most school districts have these lawsuits, but they win them. Our district knows it would lose these cases, and we settle. We've also heard more and more staff and former staff share their legal cases regarding discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. I'd love to hear our district's reflection on what we're doing to save money in this regard and confront the glaring legal issues the community and former staff have tried to bring to your attention through
036board meetings, emails, one-on ones, and even public record requests. And ultimately them needing to hire and pay for lawyers out of their own pocket because they did not feel heard by you. Look around. Your community is desperate to be heard. What are you doing to show them you're listening? >> Thank you. [screaming] >> Please comment. Again, reminder, avoid clapping and yelling and making noises. Okay. All right. Moving on to our student trustee comments. Um, excited to hear more from our students. >> Yeah, good evening everyone. Uh, my name is Christopher Chang. I'm here with Tide Academy. >> Um, my name is Ethan Data. >> Turn on the microphone. >> My name is Ethan Data. I'm here with Tide Academy. >> Uh, my name is Juan Morales and I'm here with Tide Academy. So unfortunately the
037student advisory council has little to report this month because our scheduled meeting last night was canceled because many students were unable to attend largely due to finals. Uh if our meeting was held we would have raised questions about the board item being discussed regarding Tide Academy. However, we are unable to provide sufficient feedback since we did not meet but as soon as we are permitted to do so uh we will return and uh provide a report. We do request that student advisory council be given enough time to craft input before any major decisions are made. Thank you. >> Right. Thank you. We look forward to hearing more of the student voice as we get into um our agenda item. Uh next is item 11, comments from SDTA, Sequoia District Teachers Association, making making Yes. Oh,
038so ask me going up at the same time. Okay. >> Yes. >> Hello, Sequoia Union High School Board and everyone here today. As we listen to the public and we listen to the comments today, I would like you to take under consideration that the reason we show up tonight is for our students. When we talk about closing our schools, I ask you to think about the students. Tide school does so much more. They're the backbone to our community. They do what our larger schools cannot do. They know every student by name. They create an environment that is safe and they go out of their way to just do the extra to make our students feel heard and seen. When we close the door on a school like Tide, we close the door on our district,
039we stand together as one. Tide may be a small school, but as you know, every part of the team matters. So, if our larger schools don't know everyone by name and we have a school in our district that has created an environment for our students to build feel seen, heard, and known by name, why do we close that door? Why don't we find a way to show up for our students? Because guess what? They are watching us right now. and the way that we all respond, even the ones that are younger at the middle schools. So, we can let this night go on. But I'm just here to say that I have faith that when you guys go back to the drawing board, you'll figure out something for Tide. I don't feel that you'll close
040that door because we need Tide open. We need it for our students that don't feel seen at our larger schools. We are accident staff to show up with invisible capes and still walk the hallways with a certain level of excellent and pride and grace every day to show our students they matter and they will leadership when [snorts] the rug can get pulled up under from up underneath you. So, Sequoa Union High School District, as you listen to us tonight and you listen to these families, please know we are they go far beyond the budget, far beyond the measures. And I know that you could do something because Tide is not closing the door on Tide. I'll leave it at that. It does not close the door on Tide. It closes for our district. And I
041feel that we can do better as educators. Maybe it means being creative, but I think together we can figure it out because together that's what we do here at Sequoia Union High School District. Seems I made a bad choice. I should know better than to follow Adrian. Um, [gasps] as our student trustees mentioned, we are in um what used to be called dead week and has been spun in a more positive way at some sites as focus on finals week or study week or stress less and rest week and all sorts of things. And in the eb and flow of the school year, this is a time of busyness, if not frenzy. This is a time when students and the adults who support them, many of whom are in this room, are doing everything possible
042to try and get across that semester finish line um successfully. I have three freshmen in my house and I'm getting the texts as the biology quiz score got posted and does that score reflect who I am as a learner and do I even deserve an education if that's the score I got? Do the grades I get my freshman year in December define who I am as a person and what I can achieve and what I can offer to a society. That's that's heavy and that's a lot of our kids and that's a lot of our parents and our staff who are having those conversations with those kids and this is a distraction. They don't want to be here on the Wednesday night of focus on finals stress less study week. They want to be studying
043for that biology final and helping do flashcards and figuring out what the final review is going to be. and if the final exam is really reflective of what we've been doing all semester and worth the stress that we're trying to have less of. So I want to thank everyone who's in this room, all of our SDTA members, all of our ASME members, all of the parents and students and community members who took time away from everything that they are doing to be here to support their community. It's going to be a hard conversation and I hope that the board is open to hearing the passion of Tide and to having a real conversation and and weighing all of the options before making a final decision. Thank you. >> Thank you for sharing your comments. Um,
044and I uh agree with with Edith that this is a very trying time of the year. Um, I have a senior myself who is stressing out about finals and there's all these performances too. And so, uh, I really appreciate everyone being here. Our ne next agenda item is 12. Um this is a discussion item and we will be discussing the plan for considering possible closure of Tide Academy. Now we are expecting a large amount of public comment. As you can tell in this room, it is very full. It's my recommendation to the fellow board of trustees that we will be taking up to 30 speakers at two minutes per speaker. Um does any board member object to this recommendation? Yeah, I would rather I'm fine if we do one. I'd rather let more people speak.
045I think in the past we let more people speak. >> Can I more people but at one minute versus two minutes? >> I mean, I'm more flexible in the time, but I'm fine doing if the board prefers to stick to an hour, I'd rather do one minute for 60 people, but I'm also fine going more if the board supports that. Yeah, I I prefer to to cap it at one hour. Um, so if the rest of the trustees are comfortable, I'm also okay at um 60 speakers at one minute each if that's what people want. >> Yeah. Can we also >> you go first and then we figure out how many? >> Yeah, we haven't called. So, um let's see how many we have. >> Let's see. Yeah, let's see how many we have. Um,
046if there is only 30 speakers, then we could stick with two minutes. >> Do that. And I need you to read these. We're gonna have to wait [clears throat] and then you're going to read it again to a final call so we can get the total. >> Yep. >> Get our numbers. >> Yep. Let's get our numbers. So, if you are on Zoom, please raise your hand and keep your hand raised if you want to make a comment regarding Tide. And then if you are in person and want to make a comment regarding Tide, please fill out a comment card and give to Laura. We'll give uh let's see pass out comment cards. >> Do we need to help? They already have comment cards. So we will give people um >> Yeah. Keep repeating. Okay.
047Okay. Yes. So once we get some numbers, we will uh make a final decision on the amount of time per person. >> Okay. Again, >> last call for Zoom. >> All right. Last call for Zoom comments. Um if you want to make a public comment, please raise your hand by 6:46. And then if you are in person and want to make a comment, please submit your comment card and give to Laura by 6:46 as well. So you got one more minute. I just noticed that my clock is not quite the same as that clock. [laughter] So, my clock still says 6:45, but that one already says 647. So, I'm going to go with my clock. >> That's the official clock. Okay. I was like, wait a second. Okay. That one's [laughter] always wrong. [gasps] >>
048Okay, now it is 6:46. So, how many do we have? >> I think online. >> We had six, but someone added themselves as a seven. So, we need to >> Oh, no. There's still six. Okay. Okay. >> All right. So, comment cards. It looks like people need a little bit more time. We're good to go. Yeah, I'll give a little bit more time for the paper um comment cards. So, I'll give you 49. Okay. Two more minutes. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I still see people filling out cards. All right. Is there still anyone trying to complete a comment card? >> Please raise your hand. >> All right. Anything else? >> Okay, looks like everyone has completed their comment cards. >> Oh, one more. So we have 50 total speakers. [clears throat] >> A minute each.
049We have 50 total so I'm fine with a minute so that we can hear all speakers. >> Yeah, there's uh one more >> 51. >> Yeah. So, President, >> last call for public comments for 12.1 at 6:49. Okay. [laughter] >> Oh, eight on Zoom. We have eight on Zoom. These things last called Zoom. >> I did. What would you like to do? >> Yeah, we said last call on Zoom at 6:47, right? Or 6:46. >> I thought you want to go with my original list on Zoom. >> Yeah, let's go with the original six that was on Zoom because we called that earlier than the comment cards because comment cards take longer to fill out. So, I'm comfortable with that. Everyone have one minute to speak so that everyone has an opportunity to speak. Okay,
050we're we're confirming the total numbers. >> Total of 52. Is that 52 in person and six virtual? Is that it? Oh, 46 in person. Okay. >> 46 and six. >> Okay. Total 52. >> Yeah. Whatever. Yeah. >> I have the original six. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The original six online would be the ones that are speaking. >> Um, >> yes, we are capping the comment cards. So, we closed the collection of comment cards at 6:49. >> It is closed both virtually and in person comment is is closed. So, to clarify um the amount of time per speaker, >> one minute. >> Yep. Okay. >> Yeah. If if you can um maybe Laura can call out a couple people at a time so that they can get lined up um so we can keep this moving.
051And you want to do the online first? Yeah, let's do the online first and then we'll get to the inperson folks. Yeah, let's let's start with online first. All right. Our first speaker on Zoom is Norma. Number [clears throat] High school. We just gracias. Yes. >> Yeah. I can clarify. So since we need translation um this will be additional double the time. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much. Uh through the chair. Uh hi my name is Norma and I have uh two students and East Palo Alto Academy. Uh for me it's a really good school because it has a lot of help. Um, you know, I'm very happy and I wouldn't agree with Tide uh closing because it's a good small school and again there's a lot of help for the families, for the
052community and so I support not to close Tide. Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Katherine T. We just lost Katherine. Our next speaker is Jenny Bloom. >> Hi, my name is Jenny Varis Bloom. I am a trustee of the Ravenswood City School District. I am also a community member and resident of East Palo Alto. I am speaking today to support Tide Academy and keeping it open. I think as a board you all have the responsibility to fiscally be responsible for all of the schools in your community, but also to make sure that the schools in your community are meeting the needs of all students, especially those who need more. Um, and that's where the equity lens comes into play. And Tide Academy is one of those schools that provide opportunities not only
053for students who are coming from the Ravenswood City School District, but also many other students across many districts who would thrive in a small school like Tide Academy. So, I encourage all board members to really think about what the intention was behind opening Tide and that we continue to invest and make sure that we are supporting the students who are successful in communities like Tide. So, I'm here to support keeping Thank you. Our next speaker is Mora. Um, good. Sorry. Good evening. Um, trustees. My name is Mora Omen. I'm the executive director of YCS Youth Community Service. Uh, we uh we are a nonprofit uh that works through the school district with the three small school cohorts. We've worked with Tide Academy since its inception and have worked with some remarkable students who've helped with
054things like um the COVID vaccine clinics in East Palo Alto to um voter nonpartisan voter outreach and most recently on disaster and emergency preparedness. I think the school does an amazing job of creating unique opportunities uh for students who might not otherwise have those. So, um I thank you for the um opportunity to work with Tide Academy uh and the other um two small schools as well. And it's unique. We work in other school districts and this is unique. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I see Katherine Todd is back. I'm going to go ahead and give her this time. All right, Katherine Todd, if you want to unmute. Thank you so much. Um, I was an enthusiastic voter for the measure that um that funded these small schools. I now have a neurodeivergent eth
055grader. Um, I was so excited about the opportunity that Tide presented um, for a place where where it was inclusive for all kids who might not thrive in the environment that our large schools, as amazing as the opportunities they offer are, it some they're not appropriate for all kids. Um, I'm heartbroken that Tide may not be available for my kid. I'm done. Thanks. >> Thank you. Our last speaker online is Drake Dedrich. If you can unmute. Sorry about that. Uh yeah, my kids only just recently discovered Tide. The eighth grader discovered it first because it was close enough for her to get to herself and she likes a lot of independence. And the older one already a ninth grader at at um Menlo Adon is not really thriving at the large school. She didn't get
056half the program she wanted and it tied they're just part of the program. They're both really looking forward to going there and having it basically, you know, revisited right after they've already made their decisions is very disappointing to us. It's also very disappointing as a taxpayer in East Palo Alto to have had these small schools locally funded and then to lose them. It will be very disappointing to lose that $50 million capital expense. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I'll switch to the inerson comments first. Oh, I was wondering does I thought we had six virtual, >> but one of the ones that dropped off I thought came back. >> Oh, no. Okay. Okay. Our um I'm going to call you up the three at a time. You're welcome to come stand um by the
057podium. Our first three speakers is Andromeda, Alan Chen, and Aaron Rubin. Hi, good evening trustees. Superintendent Leech and the community members. Tonight is not a vote whether to close Tide Academy. However, even discussing the idea of closure causes immediate consequences. Enrollment for that year declines. Competence in the district is stricken and the final decision becomes a foregone conclusion. The Tide community has one clear request. Please do not move forward with this process. We ask this because the financial picture lacks clarity. closure disproportionately impacts students that need the most protection. And dismantling a successful dual enrollment program that took years to build and benefits the entire district isn't a good move. It erodess community trust. Tensions are high and emotions run strong, but we stand ready to work with you to examine the numbers, explore creative
058and collaborative solutions, and strengthen trust through transparency. Tonight, we ask you to stop this process before further harm is done. Together we can chart a better path. >> Thank you. >> Hello, I'm Alan Shen, parent of a 10th grader at Tide. The superintendent recently presented that Tide disproportionately spends $39,000 per student, yet recent SARKC data from 2023 24 lists 22,000 per student. If the higher number is correct, how have costs increased 74% in just a year? The data also shows a difference of about $3,000 per student between Tide and the district average or about.24% of total district spending. We need to know what the per student spend is when adjusted for students with IEPs, English learners, and low-income students. Then we'll see how disproportionate spending actually is. Tide may appear to be more expensive, but
059it also serves a disproportionate share of students with IEPs. The share is over 20% at Tide compared with figures as low as 9% at other sites. Higher costs of educating IEP students don't disappear if students move. They simply shift to another school. As parents, we look forward to working together on solutions that serve all these students well. Thank you. >> Thank you. We are really confused about the budget. According to the Sanonteo County Office of Education's September 11th, 2025 letter, our district had no structural deficit as of two months ago. The financial outlook showed stability and not crisis. The structural deficit only emerged after the board approved the teacher pay raise in early November and then less than a week later, the board moved to start closure discussions about Tide. Furthermore, there continue to be
060$6.5 million of transfers to the operating budget to funds 14 and 40, which are for maintenance and capital improvements. With over half a billion dollars authorized by Measure W, we don't understand why the money is being aggressively saved for expenses that are already covered. Both of these budgetary anomalies naturally raise questions whether the full economic picture has been shared. Will the underserved students of Tide have to pay for the choices of the board? This makes it all the more important we work collaboratively to identify solutions that both honor commitments to educators and protect students and communities most impacted by these choices. >> Thank you. Our next speakers, Dan Chen, Luis Diaz, and Tamar Spectre. [cough] Did I just say that I'm yielding my time to my wife? >> [laughter and clears throat] >> Hi, I
061am a mother of a tide student, a physician, and a 20-year resident of St. Carlos. Um, when voters approved measure A in 2014, we expected the facilities funded by that bond to serve students for decades, not just for a few years. The district thoughtfully invested over $50 million of that bond to build Tide Academy. The community members did not approve a short-term pilot experimental lab school. We approved a permanent asset intended to strengthen the district's educational offerings, which it clearly has done and it continues to do. Closing tide now threatens that trust. It would convert a long-term investment into a costly short-term loss. We believe the district and the community share the same goal to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and to maintain confidence in the future bond measures. Thank you. >> Tide was
062created to give underserved students a real on-ramp to opportunity. Our career and technical education pathways and dual enrollment partnerships with Foothill College are important, but the the clearest path measure of TID's impact is 100% graduation rate for students who often face the steepest barriers. Over time, Tide has become a place where many neurodeiverse and vulnerable students finally make progress. Students with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or processing challenges. They succeed here because the campus is small, predictable, and staffed by adults who know them well. The families do not choose Tide for electives. They choose it because their children have struggled to thrive elsewhere. Moving [clears throat] these students at campuses with 800 plus students uh where support for many are already stretched raises serious concerns. Closing a school in the way that disproportionately affects students with abilities
063creates legals and financial inequity risks for the >> Sorry, your time is up. Thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Tamar and I have two sons at going to Tide. Tide Academy opened in 2019 with administrative instability and soon after CO disrupted shadowing, outreach and the chance to build awareness. Tough start for a new school growing one grade at a time. With only three graduating classes so far, families are just now seeing our outcomes and trust takes time. It was always understood that launching an innovative school would require substantial startup investment and Tide is still in that startup state. But the results speak loudly. Enrollment has grown two years in a row because parents want a school with 100% graduation and opportunity graduation rates and opportunities to earn up to 42 college credits. With
064the highest college and career readiness score in the district, TIDE is on the right trajectory and must be allowed to continue. Carelessly using the word closure risks undoing that progress. Tidemy's no one's homeschool families. >> I'm sorry, your time is up. Thank you. Our is Tony O and Camala Umbrella. Um I first Oh my goodness. Okay. Yes, please. I love you. Miss y'all. Thank you. Okay. Hello. My name Oh, is it working? Hello. My name is Emily Cardona. I am a senior student at TED Academy. For many years, students of color, immigrants, and low-income students in our district have faced historic barriers to quality education. In Sequoia Union High School District, about 41% of students are Hispanic or Latino, and only 42% of graduates with the background complete the full A throughG requirements. Asian, white,
065and mixed race students are twice as likely to do so. By contrast, Tide Academy serves the most students of the color of color in the district, 83%. And its students from Latino/Hispanic immigrant and low-income backgrounds are thriving with small classes, strong relationships with adults, and a clear focus on college and career readiness. Tide has achieved a 100% graduation rate for these students, beating district-wide averages and proving that its model works. [screaming] Thank you. >> [laughter] >> Okay, great. Hi. Uh, my name is Tony Ordnik. I'm a parent of a college, college freshman, graduate of Tide, and a 10th grader and a longtime East PaloAlto resident. Um, for decades, uh, redlinining and racially restrictive housing policies excluded black, Hispanic, Latino, and immigrant families from opportunity across the peninsula, concentrating them in neighborhoods of Bell Haven, North
066Fair Oaks, and East PaloAlto. Because property taxes drive school funding, these communities have endured underresourced schools, fewer advanced classes, and chronic staff shortages. Our district spans some of the wealthiest and the most marginalized neighborhoods in the region and the educational achievement gap between them persists. As I'm sure you all know, TIDE actually addresses many of these challenges and it has become one of the few accessible proven pathways to strong academic outcomes. Closing it would not simply shutter a school, it would remove a vital opportunity for students who have Hi, my name is Camela Umbenhower and I'm the robotics coach and I have seniors at Tide. One of the reasons we chose Tide is a strong dual enrollment program which California is moving toward requiring all school districts to offer. Assembly Bill 1122 introduced in 2025
067would require every district to provide dual enrollment through a community college partnership. Viewed in this context, Tide as a model through its long-standing and hard-earned partnership with Foothill College, closing Tide, the one school already aligned with emerging state expectations would require the district to spend time and money rebuilding these programs elsewhere at greater costs and with no guarantee of matching TID's results. Maintaining Tide allows the district to meet future state requirements efficiently while continuing to serve students. Preserving this program is not only strategic, it is an investment in the district's ability to deliver on its mission and support student success. >> Thank you, >> Mary Jane Leonard and S and Hector Cornell. Once again, we urge you to pause any discussion of closing Tide Academy. Even beginning the process causes harm to enrollment and to
068community trust. With Tide, our district has something that schools across the country wish they could build. a learning environment where underserved populations like students of color, first generation students, low-income students, and neurodeiverse students have remarkable outcomes. Yet, instead of meeting that success with commitment, we find ourselves poised to turn our backs. The tragedy would not just be the loss of a school. It would be the loss of a model of inclusion, a living example of our values. We respectfully ask the board not to allow Tide Academy to continue its work. We want to partner with you to find solutions and together we can ensure Tide keeps serving the students who need it the most. Thank you. Silicon Valley. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. [applause] So, hi, my name is Anna Santo. I'm a parent, uh, somebody
069in Tide. I I don't want for Tide Academy to close down. Uh, this school has given all of the students like my son many opportunities that don't exist in other places. Uh, a a technical education uh in a profession designed specifically for uh preparing uh them for these careers. Um like for example uh in in this economy in Silicon Valley, Tide not only is a building or somewhere like a like a place, it's an open door uh to the future for young people. Um in other words, they wouldn't have access to any of these experience if if it wasn't there. So please don't take away uh this opportunity for our community or the possibilities to continue to grow uh learn and contribute to the economy in our region. So in maintaining Tide Academy open is
070to invest in our children and our uh community and the future of all of us. >> Thank you. Uh, good evening board members and Superintendent Leech. Today's agenda states that the cost per pupil at Tide is 39,000 with an average of 22,000 at the other schools. Just a few weeks ago at a meeting with TID staff, Superintendent Leech stated that this number was 37,000. So, we want to draw this to want to draw the public's attention to this discrepancy. Additionally, the most recent SAR report provides data that contradicts these numbers, reporting that per pupil spending in the 2223 fiscal year was 22,46 at Tide and an average of 14,000 at the other at the other large school sites. That means the board is asking the public to believe that the cost per pupil at TID
071has massively risen by 77% in two fiscal years while spending at the other schools has risen by only 57%. the data has been presented in a non-transparent manner and the and the numbers themselves uh do not seem to be correctly correctly calculated. Uh we ask that the board uh provide accurate financial information about the the the cost per pupil at each school site um using only publicly available data to support these claims. >> Thank you. Next, our next group is Karen Cortez, Edinus, and Joan G. [laughter] >> Uh, hi, my name is Karen Cortez, special education department chair at Tide. have served TID community since 2019. This year at Tide Academy, 24% of our students have IEPs and 17% have five of our plans, nearly half of our students. According to the 2024 SARKCS, Tide
072serves 7 to 13% more students with disabilities than the larger schools. Our per pupil spending may look disproportionate, but it aligns directly with the needs of our students. Cost for pupil rises with the percentage of students with IEPs at each site. For example, Carmon's percentage of students with IEPs is about half of ours. And their pupil per co per pupil cost is similarly about half. For six years, a little over six years, I've had the privilege of supporting our students. These numbers reflect real people I know care deeply about. Any analysis of cost must consider how much of each school's per pupil spending is tied to services with disabilities. Tide is not a financial strain, but a vital asset that saves the district and our families money each year. Okay. Hi, my name is Evelyn
073Angelus and I am a PAR educator in this bed department and today I am speaking on behalf of our PAR educators who are wonderful and pour their time and also their love to their students every day and this small school environment has allowed us to support our students in such a meaningful and individualized uh way where we give them we um we're more hands-on with them. We tailor the curriculum and their accommodations dayto-day. And they have also expressed how safe, how included, and how seen they feel in this small community where they truly can be themselves, where they don't feel they can do that at a larger school. And we have also witnessed such remarkable transformations where already enrolled and trans and transfer students come with a lack of motivation. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm
074out of time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Hello, trustees. Hello, Superintendent Leech. Um, I'm Joanne Yao. I'm an English and journalism teacher at this school. Closing Tide is going to pose a major equity issue in contradiction of your own ELPAC goals. TIDE serves a disproportionately high percentage of socially economically disadvantaged students. 60% of TIDE students are socially economically disadvantaged compared to 30% at large schools. Students of color, that's 83% of TIDE students compared to an average of 60 uh 67% at large schools and specifically Latinx students were 81% Latinx compared to 44% at the larger schools. We fill important equity gaps within the district like no other school. We graduate all these groups at 100%. And other schools are graduating IEP students at 80%. Um, the same pattern repeats. Latinx students are graduating
075at 86%. If you choose to close tide, you're choosing to >> Sorry, your time is up. [applause] Our next group is Sher Cole and Dam. Good evening board members and Superintendent Leech. My name is Shri Goo and I serve the community as a CT graphic and interactive design teacher and mentor program coordinator. Tide fills important equity gaps within the district. Unlike any other schools, we offer end-to-end CT pathways. That means every student gets an opportunity to complete a focus CT pathway during their course of time at TIDE. TIDE's unique CT opportunities are very important equity levers for historically marginalized and neurode divergent student groups, giving them a critical edge in college admissions and also in the competitive Silicon Valley workforce. Over three years, nearly 100% of our graduates have completed a CT pathway. Yet, when
076we compare this 2024 SAR data reveals, the rate of students completing CT pathways at the larger sites are only average at 16% and then at 1% at one site. Due to the CD pathways and other programs, our school offers programs that are not found in the other sites. Are you willing to eliminate such successful programs? Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Cat Cole and I'm proud to be a founding teacher at Tide Academy. My colleagues have spoken to the topic of equity. To this point, it's also important to note that approximately 50% of our students live in either East PaloAlto, Bell Haven, or North Fair Oaks. These are communities that have, as a result of redlinining, historically experienced the highest disparities in educational outcomes. In 1976, our district closed Ravenswood High School, resulting
077in busing students from EPA to schools across the district. When I joined the planning team for Tide in 2018 and personally met with the superintendent at that time, she shared that part of the vision of Tide is to disrupt historic patterns and draw students across the 101 freeway from west to east instead of east to west. And indeed, TID has made this happen. Um, not to mention that Tide serves the community it is in and is a source of pride. Also keep in mind that in 2022 when Oakland Unifi tried to close small schools that similarly serve marginalized groups in disproportionate numbers similar to Tide, the ACLU filed a complaint with the attorney general. >> Thank you. My name is Daffhne Pacia McCann. I'm an English teacher at Tide Academy. Trusty Thompson stated that over
078time the resources allocated to TIDE means that students across the district will have fewer classes, electives, and programs. This makes it seem like TIDE interferes with programming at large schools. However, TIDE offers unique programming opportunities like CTE pathways and dual enrollment options that the large schools have had plenty of opportunity to build but have not. Closing Tide does not mean that these programs will magically appear at large schools. Money isn't the only factor that accounts for why the large schools don't have these programs. You have to have teachers who are qualified to do it, who are willing to train and make connections with partner institutions, and who are willing to put in the sweat equity to build the institutional knowledge necessary to build those programs. TIDE teachers have spent years doing this work. We can't
079simply take years of programming and import it into schools that aren't organized to absorb it. In other words, closing TID would mean the end of valuable CT pathways and dual enrollment pathways that we have spent years creating. And it's important to note that these programs were created as a direct result of taxpayer mandate. Our next our next speaker is Lauren Riser, Jesus Chavez, and George V. I'm honored to be. >> My name is Lauren Riser, Tide Academy therapist and proud director of the Student Wellness Ambassador Committee, director right back there next to me, too. It is my honor and my dream job to work in TID's wellness center. The only wellness center in our district where students have access to their school counselor, therapist, school psychologist, nurse, guidance counselor, and a beautiful wellness room all
080in one center. Together with our teacher and admin colleagues, we have built a more integrative holistic approach to student support than is accessible at a large school site. Half of our wellness team, myself included, came from Menlo Athetherton. So, we have felt the difference. One program we're very proud of is our nucleus class, an advisory period where wellness staff and teachers have been able to pilot for the district social emotional learning programs um and to give feedback to the district. We have also been able in Nucleus to create safety and connection between students and staff with regular community circles. With these programs and small setting, students who struggled at other schools find their safe space at Tide and succeed. Tide Academy matters. We ask you to >> Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Jesus Chavez,
081a senior at Tide and want to share what Tide has meant to me. I came here as a shy freshman who barely spoke and never imagined being a leader. Four years later, I'm the student body president, editor-inchief. A transformation that only happened because TIDE staff believed in me and pushed me to be someone I never thought I could be. Before Tide, I was failing classes in middle school, struggling silently with drugs, depression, and a lack of direction. But here, my teacher saw potential I didn't. Their consistency gave me confidence for the first time. Tide became my salvation. There was a moment in junior year when I looked like a good student on the outside, but was falling apart inside. A teacher noticed, pulled me aside, and made it their mission to ensure that I was
082okay. It was one of the first times in my life I felt truly seen. Tide makes moments like that possible because of because it's small enough to notice when students are struggling. Many students with IEPs 504s are social anxiety rely on that environment. Removing them from from it isn't just a transition. It risks their stability, mental health, and a sense of belonging. So, I asked the board, "Is saving money worth risking the futures of the students who depend on the school?" Tide didn't just educate me. Tide changed my life. Start. Okay. I'm George, a senior at Tide. Throughout my three and a half years at Tide, I've considered it my home. As soon as I stepped foot into the building, I could feel the school's unique atmosphere. In middle school, people frequently bullied me for
083my neurody diverency. But the atmosphere at Tide helped me accept my different mind. It helped me learn both its unique abilities and its limits. I consider it my home because it's integral to my identity. Or in other words, without Tide, I'd be a scared and confused boy in a big, scary, and complicated world. Additionally, at Tide, I can confidently say I love my teachers. They've inspired me to pursue screenwriting and they help me help me fall in love with any form of art. The staff are always incredibly kind and encouraging. So, even considering the question, should we close tide is not just a threat to our school, it's a threat to a home, our home, a a home that nurtured relationships, gave me the support I needed to succeed, and gave me nearly every gave
084nearly every person in this room a reason to be here. I'll leave you with a question. Is what you're receiving really worth ripping our home into oblivion? >> [screaming] >> Thank you. Fedora G, Ali Chavez, and Jamie Orchowski. Thank you. Okay. [clears throat] Hello, my name is Fedor Gatka Borodov and I am a senior sophomore at Tide Academy. Sorry. Uh, Tide is a special place for many people for many reasons. For me, it helped me deal with social anxiety. Middle school, I had barely any friends and constantly avoided socializing because I was scared. But ever since I became a student at Tide Academy, it has changed for me. This community is very supportive and closely knit. Uh because of that, I've become much more comfortable, social, and confident. Because of Tide, I am now a
085part of the Tide Associated Student Council. I am a shadow host, and I was chosen to be one of the people to talk to a WASK director. Closing Tide would hurt many kids who have trouble socializing, and that would make them feel isolated. um my middle school self would never stand up here to protect his school. So, please keep tight open. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Jamie Orchowski and I'm here to today to advocate on behalf of Tide Academy. As a student from the second graduating class in 2024, I cannot begin to explain how much Tide has impacted me as a student and as a person. Before attending Tide, I had never been in a classroom more than 12 people. So, Menlo Atherton did not feel like it would be the right
086fit for me. As a student with social challenges and learning disabilities, TIDE helped me learn not just what is required in high school, but how to be a student who can succeed in any area I wanted. The CTE pathway for computer science furthered my interest in coding and technology and now I'm majoring in CS and engineering at Santa Clara University which would not be possible without Tide Academy. Please reconsider even mentioning the closure of Tide. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um hello. My name is Alejandria Chavez and I am a student at Tide Academy. I'd like to say that Tide has helped me become the person I am today. When I first came, I was a closeted student, introverted, and would hardly talk to anyone. This should say enough in itself. Now, I'm a
087creative director for our school's journalism team. Tide has opened up so many opportunities to me and so many other students at our school. I'm taking every opportunity I get to use my voice for power. I have gained so many friendships from Tide and I have a one I have wonderful relationships with my teachers in which I am able to have one-on-one conversations with and can get so much help and so much support and help from. You can't find this at bigger schools. I fear for my future if our school closes, leaving all my friends opportunities and a community that feels like a home to me. This school is what I consider my happy place. Whenever I'm down, I can always count on some on anyone to help me whether we are friends or not. That's
088just the type of school Tide is. And I hope you guys take this into consideration. The next group is Audrey and Carlos S. My god. Hello. Hello. Um, bullying is a pro Oh my lord. Bullying is a problem every school has and Tide is not exempt from that. And bullying is really hard for a lot of students to deal with, especially if you're like gay or neurody divergent or any other minority. And the difference at Tide is that at Tide I see students standing up for people that they don't know. At Tide, there are teachers that want to help, like Miss Yao over here. And there are teachers that students can trust to help. And at Tide, we have wellness and we have whack. And that other schools, that's not a thing. And it's easy
089to say that you can just ignore bullying or stand up for yourself, but some people can't. And we can't let those people just deal with their mental health problems because that's not something you can overlook. Uh please act in the interest of the students not yourself. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Um, I'm a sophomore at Tide and I want to say that, um, as a student with an IEP, having a school that can support me is so important to me because almost half of the students at Tide have an IEP in 504. and the staff members at Tide because there's such a high uh proportion of students that have uh disabilities, the staff are more trained to accommodate students. And because of that, there are less students in total that need to get an IEP
090because of their disabilities. And I know several students that have diagnosed disabilities but don't need an IEP just because TIDE is so accommodating of their disabilities without them even needing to have a legal requirement to have those accommodations. And if they were moved to other schools, it would cost significantly more money uh in the district to give those students those accommodations that they already get at Tide. Thank you. Hello, my name is Carlos Hedel. In Spanish, there is a word called which means nightmare. That's exactly what this possible closure is to me, a nightmare. I have been through this nightmare before. Vividly, I remember going to Selby Lane, seeing my friends and supportive teachers. Now, that is just a memory in the past I keep with me. But that memory memory is what makes me
091fight for my school along with my deep love for small schools. Connect Community Charter School is a small school located in North Fair Oaks. Like Tide, they focus on each student individually with your growth as a person. Additionally, staff at Tide guide you through your experience in high school to make it one you won't regret. And they support you one-on-one when you need it. I sure don't regret going to Tide. As a sophomore, if Tide closes, then it will create instability for me during my junior year. Having to adjust to a big school, new peers, new teachers would be uncomfortable for me since I have found my comfort in Tide Academy or as or as I like to call it my second home. I simply find it hard to have a community at bigger schools.
092So, I want my close community to stay. In simple words, Tide is a is simply a for among many. Thank you. Our next group is Cole St. Ben Kingsley and B Combmes. [clears throat] >> Uh hello. Uh I'm a I'm Cole Spectre Toma. I'm a freshman uh in the high school. Uh being in a private school all my life and having learning support all the way without an IEP, uh I was a bit worried about going to high school and the learning support and IEP system. [snorts] From the first learning support class, I felt welcome and at home. This is because of how the learning support administration handles it all. When I need help from a teacher or even extra time on an assignment or a separate setting for a test, everything works out perfectly.
093This is because of all the teachers. This is because all the teachers communicate very well with each other and because each teacher and case manager gets to know everybody personally. I felt as supported as I was in my private school. I feel this is because Tide is a small school. Each teacher gets to care about each individual student. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello board. I'm Benjamin Kinley. I'm a senior at Tide Academy. I ended up going to a private middle school because I have autism and I didn't get proper accommodations through the public middle school system. But at Tide, I feel like my needs are met and even exceeded. Teachers go the extra mile to help kids, you know, make sure they're comfortable. And I feel like that safe learning environment is just really
094hard to get in a public school system. And to have that, the district is lucky that we have such an inclusive community that focuses on kids needs as individuals. And this school has really helped me and I'm glad to be an alumni. Thank you. Don't shut it down. Uh, hi, my name is Be. I'm an 11th grader at Tide. And Tide is a small school in this district that makes students with special needs feel like they belong. Instead of shunning these students, they focus on helping them succeed. Teachers are very open to accepting students IEPs and 504s and even integrating them into lesson plans. They are also very willing to work with students one-on-one to find what works for them. I feel that this is something very unique to Tide and in this district. At
095a bigger school, things like this wouldn't even be possible. Teachers at larger schools often lack the bandwidth to care about students on a personal level because they encounter so many uh faces every day. Tide small size allows teachers to not only put a name to every face, but also a story. Throughout the years, all my teachers were able to accommodate my 504 and give me what I need to succeed. Last year, I was failing one of my classes. Instead of being told that I was on my own, I was met with patience and understanding as well as compromise. The teacher was able to offer me personalized help and I was given a chance to raise myself back up. Thank you. >> Thank you, David B, Olga S, and Anna E. Good afternoon board. I am
096a 10th grader at Tide Academy. I understand that there are issues with funding. We haven't been shown what these issues are clearly. With a 77% increase from the past two years, that doesn't make sense compared to other schools. The amount of support that I've been able to get from teachers like Miss Yao, our counselor, Miss Sue, the wellness adviser, Miss Riser, that's support that I could not get from other schools. That support that so many students that need it more than me will not be able to get if we shut down. the amount of academic support that I was able to get after our first project in English class with Miss McCann. She told us that she would be able to help us if any of us had needed support for uh to get into
097college. This is a community that we've all formed together. And there may be issues with our funding, but you do not solve a problem by ripping a community apart limb by limb. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Olga. I'm a mother of Fedor 10th grader. So you listen all these kids and all experiences they have at school. So I want to just uh thank you for making this decision six years ago. So you gave my son two years of normal kids life. He went through two really good school. Oknol heal view but academically he was really good but he never can communicate with people of his age and now he has friends he's driving he's smiling he tell me he doesn't want to go uh he wants to go to school on the
098weekends he's thinking about it it's absolutely insane I never have such experience in my life anything I can do not to go there just public and I want you to use this wisdom you have six years ago and keep this cool for them and for kids like him who >> Thank you Miss Thompson. You said what the district must look honestly at the financial situation at and ask if we are creating the best opportunities for all students. I agree. We must be honest and being honest mean understanding what will real really happen to tight students if they are moved to large high school in 11th and 12th grade. The opportunity in the district are not equal. Programs like computer academy at MA cannot accept student who transfer in 11th 12th grade. It is a three
099years program that begin in 10th grade. After that entry point students simply cannot join. Some CTE electives exist in the school but they do not replace the structured pathway small groups and personal support what tide gives its students. We are not giving them equal opportunities by moving them. We are taking them away. Okay. Our next group is Rebecca O'Brien, Maria Madrigo, and Rebecca Reynolds. Rebecca O'Brien. Maria Madrigo and Rebecca Reynolds. Hi, I'm Rebecca Reynolds. Hello to the board. Um, I'm a grandmother of uh a Tide graduate and a current student. I just want to say that um Tide provides support that students uh for so many reasons cannot get in a larger school. I feel the district really um should must keep uh schools like Tide open in the district in order to serve these
100students who just will not be able to get the personal attention in other places that need it so much. Um, and I just want to say also that um, as a grandmother, I've seen um, these children um, thrive in a way I know they wouldn't otherwise. And so many of these students who have spoken so beautifully here. Please keep Tide open. >> Thank you. Hi board. H Rebecca O'Brien. I'm a physician. I represent current physician parents and past physician parents. We have a mental health health crisis in our youth here in the US. Rates of depression, anxiety, ADHD, ASD have all increased. There's been an increase of 62% in suicide and most recently the CDC had to come along to PaloAlto to help sort out the crisis there. The evidence is irrefutable that smaller schools
101benefit those with anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD. There's increased peer-to-peer connectedness, teacher too, student connectedness, decreased distractions, um, uh, noise, transitions that all have been shown to improve outcomes both socially and academically in this group. TIDE has already proven itself. We are outcome rates for those with E, IEPs, 504s are remarkable. So tide isn't really an option. It is a necessity and the it is unconscionable that the district would consider closing a lifeline to these. Our next our next group is Abby Cornell, Valerie Vega, and Cassandra L. Hello [clears throat] again. Here we are during finals focus week or whatever your school calls it. Um, and Edith did take most of my comment, but I'm going to say it again. It bears repeating. Did you know administration encourages teachers to use this week to help students
102de-stress? That all week, MA's done an awesome job trying to support our stressed students with Ginger, our therapy dog, visiting classrooms, crafts on the green. Even SPCA bringing more dogs onto campus tomorrow. [gasps] Emmy students are stressed. They're stressed about finals. Tide students probably are, too. But instead of being at home studying for those finals and making up work to get their best grade possible like MA kids are, many of TIDE students are here tonight because of an arbitrary timeline you set that came out of nowhere at the end of last meeting. Why? Why this? Why in this way? while public comment is taking place. Thanks. >> Hi, my name is Valerie Vega. I believe Tai should stay open because it's a love a safe space and care. They have support that we need and
103the opportunities that we truly need. Tai is nice a nice small school because may some people may have anxieties or they're not social like everybody else. Tide could change that for some people. Tide has been helpful for everybody. I believe Tai should stay also. I feel safe at Tide. I have been getting the opportunities that I need and they provide me provided support for me for the for my IEP as also for everybody else and involved in the IEP. They encouraged me and helped me. They Yeah, they encouraged me and helped me and changed me how I used to be. They Thank you. My name is Cassandra Lopez. My son Quinn is a sophomore who transferred uh to Tide in August. In just a few months, Tide has completely changed his educational experience. He has
104ADHD, dyslexia, disgraphia, discalcula, and anxiety. At his previous larger private high school, he kept up academically, but he never truly connected. Even with accommodations, access to an academic support center. He was overwhelmed and he felt unseen, and it was brutal to watch as a parent. TD is the first place where he can thrive. The mastery based model, small classes, indiv individualized instruction allow him to learn in ways that reflect his strengths. His confidence has grown dramatically, and he finally feels a sense of belonging, joining the robotics team after years of feeling too intimidated to try. I also want to express concern about the decision-making process itself. I serve on the board of Ravenswood Education Foundation, an education nonprofit, and we have multiple subcommittees. In three years of service, including leading one of the subcommittees, I've
105never seen a subcommittee I've never seen a committee propose a solution before identifying the problem it was meant to solve. For a public approach, for a public board, this approach does not feel transparent, and I urge you to reconsider it. Tide provides a critical model for students who do not thrive in traditional settings. >> Thank you. Thank you. Our next Our next group is Stephanie Pis, Victoria K, and Ken Kak. Good evening. I hadn't planned on speaking this evening. I'm a little bit nervous because I'm not prepared. So, I'm just speaking [clears throat] from the heart. I'm the school psychologist at Tide. I moved 500 miles from Southern California because of Tide. I would not have moved had I had Tide not been offered to me as really too good to be true. And come
106to find out it's not too good to be true. It actually is a very finely tuned soccer team where every colleague all everybody works together. We anticipate each other's moves and someone's there to catch it. Nobody falls through the cracks. I sit in all the IEP meetings, 504 meetings. These students are coming from the bigger high schools to recover the mental health, the bullying, the stress. They don't belong. This is the first place where they can recover, feel happy and belong. And this school is needed. Please reconsider. Thank you. >> Uh hi. I al haven't plan to speak or prepared anything. Um in fact, I'm not a part of the tide community. uh my kids uh can thrive uh in a zoo that's a big public school and I believe them must be some parents
107like me myself even among the board as well but you know a Catholic priest once said they came first they came for communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist and you know how the thing goes so it would be a travesty of course to compare what's happening close closure of tide to holocaust or you know public schools to concentration camps but I do know that if you do close tide some of the kids lives will be shattered their futures will be shattered and it is on you to change this it is on you to thank you time is Hi, I'm an alumnest parent of a Tide Academy graduate, a current member uh a current mentor for the uh high school district uh and have been for the last four years. Uh
108and I was also a parent member of Superintendent Leech's uh strategic plan core planning team. Um, I'd like to draw your attention. I won't replay many of the things that have played out, but I think you're looking at this all wrong. TID, the district should be looking at Tide as the solution to many of the issues that the district has been facing. Uh, the through the the efforts of principal Kennel and and the team there, they've created a model that has addressed safety, belonging, and wellness, which was the first strategic planning goal. They've addressed academic growth and mastery through CTE pathways and dual enrollment. And they've directly addressed post-secary readiness. And I'm a perfect example as a successful graduate uh or my son is a successful graduate of the Tide program. This is the time
109to invest in the Tide model. Our last four speakers I'm going to call up to the podium is Avery C, Esme, Max Cell, and Noel Johnson. I see three. We have Avery, Esme, Max, and Noel. Hello, my name is Avery Kamisa and I am a freshman at Tide Academy. This school is important to me as I have I I have a hard time being comfortable around people I don't know and moving to a large school, especially joining later than everyone else could be detrimental for my learning. At Tide, I can feel free to express who I am with other students and connect with my classmates. I also have a hard time speaking to my teachers, especially if I believe that they won't remember who I am. At Tide, I know that teachers know not only
110what my name is, but things like what my handwriting looks like, how I work, and even more. This school gives me a community that I can feel safe to learn and be myself. Please reconsider closing Tide Academy. Thank you. >> Thank you. My name is Esme and I'm speaking on behalf of my sister Emma. She has ADHD and dyslexia. I worry for her education, her future. She has to face many obstacles that others don't have to face like navigating school life and let alone a social life. She has made friends. Friends who are willing to talk to her, friends like Audrey and Constantine. Tide helps accommodate these students. outside school systems won't be able to show these students fullest potential. These small school these small and public schools are so hard to come by and
111to be honest these students won't survive at schools like MA. MA has classrooms up to 30 students. Most teachers can't help these students um one-on-one learn their names or actually even care for their education. However, Tide does all of these. Every teacher has put in so much effort into these students. They care about their students. They know their students. a bond that no other school can do. Tide is a place that they can belong to. Um students, thank you. [applause] >> Good evening. My name is Max Tal and I'm a freshman at Tide and I would like to share my experience to you. Throughout my life, I have been to many different schools, especially that I moved here from China a year ago. One day my dad found tide and told me about it. Since
112I was quite introvert and feel especially uncomfortable when I am in with strangers when I hear about tide I was immediately into this wonderful school. Before I came to this school I was confused. Uh I was a confused student who was still trying to understand American culture. However, when I came to Tide, I have understood so many things, made so many friends, and participated in many clubs. I have had my courage and became our freshman grade representative. >> Helping our school become a better place, and I would like to know, Tide has changed my life for good, and it will also change my life if you close Tide. However, my life will fall into the endless hole. [laughter] Our last speaker is no. [screaming] >> Hi board. Right on me on that thing. I'm a
113very angry parent. I don't have a speech right now. >> If you can speak into the microphone, please. Thank you. >> Okay. Who's saying that? Oh, you. Hi. I've been watching all your faces. Anyways, I got a minute. You heard? Oh, thank you everybody who did the research. Thank you for the information. So, you got their research. I need you to listen to them because I actually went to the school. I went to MA. Got punched in the face. Great time. Yeah. I see that they're still having suicide fighting and such. So, I also live by the train station. Train station of Palo Alto. I heard that kid get slot smashed by the train. Yes. Yes. That train. Yeah. Yeah. I was there. I had to hear a go. There goes another kid. Not my
114kid, but it will be maybe if you send them back to MA and so please, please think not with your pockets. Think with your heart. You did a great job so far. >> Thank you. questions. Okay, the time to share your feedback with us. Uh we will take a five minute recess right now and actually round off and uh we'll restart at 8:05. >> We are going to resume our meeting shortly. That was my Okay. And with that, um, let's see who's who's speaking on behalf. Okay. So super will be presenting on this agenda item. There are some empty seats in the front. So if someone needs a seat, please go grab some now. Okay, good evening. Please bear with me. I will try to speak clearly. Um, I am fighting a cold. Um, okay.
115At the November 12th board meeting, a board subcommittee composed of trustee Rich Gin and Mary Beth Thompson gave a report out on its review of enrollment, program offerings, and the long-term fiscal health of the district. Speaking on behalf of the subcommittee, Trustee Thompson reported that because Tide Academy is such a small school, it requires a disproportionate amount of resources to operate over time and recommended that the board ask me to develop and bring forward a clear plan to discuss and consider a possible closure of Tide Academy at the December 10th board meeting. The subcommittee recommended that the plan lay out how and when the district will communicate with students, families, and staff, how the community will be informed and invited into the conversation, and what information and data will be brought to the board. The
116subcommittee also requested that the plan include opportunity for input from students, parents, employees, and community members, as well as a clear communication to all stakeholders about what the potential impacts on each of them will be if the decision to close Tide Academy is made. The subcommittee recommended that the board ask the superintendent to present a proposed process at the December 10th meeting that would enable the board to make a decision by the end of February about whether to close Tide Academy after this academic year. The process of determining the future of Tide Academy is a part of the district's broader effort to realign resources, address enrollment shifts, and ensure long-term sustainability across all sites. As the district continues to face a deficit, it is the organization's responsibility carried out by me to ensure that all
117schools and programs remain both thriving and financially sustainable so that our students across the district continue to receive a highquality education. I would like to share some data about why we are looking at Tide. According as mentioned earlier, the 2425 school accountability report card approximately 39,000 is spent per student at Tide compared to an average of around 22,000 467 per student at the district's other high schools. The current enrollment at Tide 9th grade 63 students, 10th grade 56 students, 11th grade 29 students, and 12th grade 47 students for a total of 195 students. There are classes with enrollments of 10 students or fewer. Some classes have four and six students enrolled per class and 23 with enrollments of 20 or fewer. I a lot to take in more detailed information in January, but staff and
118parents have asked me in recent weeks what decision has already been made and whether the process is worth engaging in or investing time in. The decision has not been made that is up to the board to do at the end of the process and your input can influence the shape of the final decision. I have put significant thought into every possible solution that could make TIDE sustainable over the long term. And now I invite the community to join me in that thinking. The plan is designed to ensure that TIDE students, parents, and staff are fully informed and have a clear understanding of the process for determining the future of TID Academy. It outlines the information that will be gathered, how it will be analyzed and how communication will occur before, during, and after key decision
119points. What I will cover next is what has happened so far, what is coming next, key milestones in timeline, and what families, staff, and students can expect. [snorts] So, what has happened so far? November 12th, a report out from the board subcommittee provided a brief summary of the committee's findings and the board's direction to the superintendent to develop a process for discussing and considering a possible closure of TIDE Academy. Initial communications were provided to TIE staff, new representatives, and TIDE families, summarizing the November 12th action, and inviting stakeholders to stay engaged, including information about the December 10th board meeting and invitation to the first community and staff meetings. Staff and community meetings were held on November 13th, 18th, 19th, and 20th to share initial context, explain the process and timeline, and gather early questions and
120concerns to inform this plan and the January community engagement meetings. November 13th to present, I have began working with staff to gather detailed data and information that will be needed to help the board make a decision. This will be shared with parents, staff, and community during the meetings on January 13th and 15th and a special board study session that is scheduled on January 26. All future decisions will be grounded in the information we are currently gathering. [snorts] The plan is designed to ensure that TIDE students, parents, and staff are informed and have a clear understanding of the process for determining the future of Tide Academy. It outlines the information that will be gathered, how it will be analyzed, and how communication will go before, during, and after key decision points. [snorts] the key themes that
121I have heard since November 12. I have held two question and answer sessions with TIDE staff members and two with TIDE parents. These conversations were very important in shaping the process being presented tonight. The comments made and questions asked were thoughtful and fair. The major themes heard during comments and questions at the input sessions influenced the development of this plan. We have compiled a recap of meetings and a running frequently asked questions that will on the website being launched later this week. There themes I heard in the meetings. Impact on students who thrive in a small school. Concern about process and timing. Data related to enrollment and finances. What happens to students and staff if Tide were to close? concerns about equity and program access, questions about marketing and recruitment, and the need for transparency
122are framework for evaluation. We have already begun analyzing data and information in these areas. Enrollment and demographics, so that's tied enrollment over time compared to original projections. District-wide and feeder district enrollment trends. uh special education, English learner, and other students group data. We do have a demography report um being presented districtwide to the board um at the January 14th meeting. Facilities impact costs per student at TI compared to district averages. How small school costs contribute to the district's structural deficit. Facility implications under different long-term scenarios. Program quality and student opportunities which include course offerings. Academic pathways staffing feasibility students access to AP advanced classes and CTE programs. many of the questions and comments we heard tonight. Compare academic and extracurricular opportunities at Tide versus other district [snorts] schools. Equity and access. Which student groups TIDE
123serves relative to district-wide, excuse me, demographics, access to specialized supports and services at TIDE? These are above will form the basis of a framework that will guide the evaluation. The district's intent is to understand the impact of various options and provide a rationale that considers both quantitative and qualitative data for my recommendation to the board at the February 4th meeting. [snorts] Communication and community engagement strategy, transparency and timelines, empathy and respect, engagement designed to meet the needs of our diverse families, responsiveness, message consistency, authentic community voice, and data-driven updates are all key points of communication and how we will be engaging in this process. [snorts] Timeline and key milestones. January 13th and 15th will be the community meetings. During the meetings, the data that I referenced along with any additional data points mentioned by the
124board data points gathered between now and then will be shared at the January 13th and the January 15th community meetings. will also be available to the public at the regularly scheduled board meeting similar to tonight. [snorts] January 26 is a board study session financial and enrollment data along with all other data points will be presented to the board. [snorts] that um findings in data and my recommendation and the board will vote [snorts] comprehensive road map for how the district will examine the long-term viability of the school and engage the community in that process. It outlines what information will be gathered, how it will be analyzed, and how students and staff and families will be supported at each stage. By grounding the areas of analysis and framework of evaluation, the district seeks to ensure that all
125decisions are guided by transparent criteria, student centered values, and a commitment to both education quality and long-term sustainability. Thank you. Do any of our trustees have feedback or questions? >> You have comments? >> Oh, you can go. >> Yeah, Trusty Gin can go first. >> Okay. Uh, Superintendent Leech, uh, thank you for your work on this plan, which reflects, uh, what Trusty Thompson and I recommended and that the full board asked you to do, which is to bring back at this meeting, um, a process for looking at the under enrollment at Tide. Uh, the issue is that not enough people have been have been choosing the school and we requested a process that enables any action including the potential to close the school if that's the direction the board chooses. There are specific rules and
126timelines that must be followed for all alternatives to be available. Since that meeting, we've heard from many employees, parents, students, and community members. And I want to offer some clarifications to at least some of the things that were said. We've uh been asked what data and information we looked at when we asked the superintendent to bring us a process for reviewing the situation that would include the potential for the possible closure of tide. Our request was driven by the per student costs of educating students at TIDE compared to the average cost at other schools. We've had some questions including tonight about those numbers. But when you think about school financing, everything is driven by people costs which are 85% of the costs is salaries and benefits of the employees of the district. And so the
127cost of any program is going to be driven by class sizes and ratios of adults to students. And if you have class sizes that are much lower than class sizes at other schools then the cost will be commensurately higher because of this because of the ratios. Um speakers have asked about the co um sorry as we will discuss later tonight during the review of our first interim budget. The district expects to spend more than it brings in this year and in the next few years. Trusty Thompson and I felt that we need to look at this issue and the issue that we're looking at is the underenrollment at tide as a and look at possible solutions for addressing our budget deficit by bringing the costs more in line which would mean bringing the ratios more
128in line with other programs. That is looking carefully at the high cost per student program as a first step toward addressing the budget issue. And we also if you have classes of the size that were mentioned you have to look at it in my view just in overall fiscal discipline. if you have multiple classes that are in the single-digit sizes. What we asked for was not a decision, but a process. a structured way for the superintendent and her team to gather data, listen to the community, and bring to the board a full picture in early 2026 so that any decision that we make is informed, thoughtful, timely, and in compliance with rules that might impact some of the possible choices and also in the best interest of our students. Because of the rules we're required
129to follow as a board, we could only make that request in a public meeting. We could not quietly ask for data behind the scenes, even if that might have felt less jarring to the community. There's requirements about how we have to conduct our business and we're complying with those rules. We've also been asked very directly whether a decision has already been made to close Tide. I want to be absolutely clear, no decision has been made. We are in information gathering and listening phase. Tonight, we heard about the process and how we move forward and what data will be brought to us and how the community will be involved. And that said, I have some additional information uh beyond what was included in the presentation that I'm interested to learn about to inform the decision. Um
130one, I don't want to look just at tide versus district averages, but look at each other individual school. Um in addition to costs, looking at ratios of the different positions um in the school and the ratios to teachers and every other role to the students to see how it compares to the sites across the district. I'd like to know what the school would look like if the average class size at Tide is in line or at least very close to the average class size at all the other schools. What would Tide be like if it had the same ratios as the other sites? And I'd also be interested to know what it would look like if there are not more than 100 students who interested to enroll in 9th grade. if we had the school
131open, what it might look like if it was a 10th through 12th school for next year. So, we heard a lot of people about the importance of keeping the community together, what would that look like if we had ratios in line with the other sites and if the number of freshmen who choose to enroll aren't sufficient if we didn't have a freshman class there. So, I'd be interested to at least look at those as possibilities. What I said was north of 100 I'm not saying what the right number would be for a full enrollment. But historically, if I look at the enrollment trends, what I see is that the class the fresh by the time most groups have been seniors, you look from freshman to senior year, I think what I see is more often
132the class size decreases over the four years than grows. So that's why I said it's not comment time right now. >> Talk with the board. The board is having a conversation right now. Um, you had Yeah, via email. Thank you. >> We wrote you emails. All of us did. You guys didn't answer us. >> You're ignoring us. And now you're just straight lying to our face with numbers that don't exist. And you call this transparency. >> Pardon? But we do need to conduct this as a board meeting. And you can share your feedback via email. We're ready to share. But but you guys are lying. How can we share truth with you if you guys are straight lying into our faces? This is so not fair. >> All right, we're going to have a five
133minute recess. >> Zooming our meeting at 8:29. >> [clears throat] >> So I is very emotional and very engaged in the topic at hand. Um actually before uh the the closed session started I did remind all of my governance team members about the importance of the strategic plan and placing our students first. So, just know we we hear you and we are listening and we're seeking to understand and we want to do what's best for our children. Um, mind I I did want to remind everyone that this is a board meeting that is conducted in the public, not a public discussion with the board. And so the protocol is if there is feedback, there's public comment before the agenda item. And once public comment is closed, then there's no more interaction between the public and
134the board, it's a board discussion. So if anything we say or any questions we ask, you have feedback on, you can take the opportunity to send us an email and then we will read the email and um it is the board president's responsibility to respond on behalf of all the board members. Um, in some cases I may be consulting with the superintendent before responding. So know that every email is read and will be responded to here. All right, Trustee Thompson, I think you wanted to speak next. >> Yes, I did want to add some comments um because I I did read every single email that came into my inbox. Um, I addressed the ones that were addressed personally to me. Um, and there was like there were some there was some comments that came up
135that I just want to make sure that I'm openly addressing with all of my board members. Um, since some of them some of those emails came directly to me and out of process, I must bring that to you. I want to bring that to you publicly. Um, but also I want to agree to um was super the process. >> I turned myself off. Um, gave myself my own hook. Um, I agree that the process you outlined reflects exactly what we asked for on November 12th. We weren't asking for a decision. We were asking for what is the plan to communicate based on the processes that we need to take as a board. Um, but yeah, I do want to take a moment real quick to speak directly about a concern that has come up um
136in several meetings and communications, like I said, those emails and because I I know it might be on many people's minds. Superintendent Leech has been asked whether it is a conflict of interest for me to be part of this discussion and vote and I understand why the question is being raised be if you don't know before I was elected to this board I served as a principal the executive director of Summit Prefaratory Charter High School in Redwood City and some have expressed concern that Summit my previous employee which I have not worked for since I join the board or my current employer um I currently work at Crystal Springs Upland's middle school might be seen as competing with Tide for students. I want to acknowledge the heart that must come from these questions. When families
137are worried about a school they love, it's completely natural to look closely at who is involved and to wonder whether this process is fair. And I understand that and and I respect that completely. I also want to share the facts as clearly as I can. I never work for Summit. I have not since I've sworn an office to sworn my oath to this office, this public office. I have no financial interest there or with any charter school. My current employment is at Crystal Springs Upland's Middle School, a sixth through 8th school. It is an independent private school whose upper school is located in Hillsboro outside of the boundaries as of SUSD. It's about 12 miles and roughly a 30 minute drive in peak travel time from Tide. Under California law, this employment does not constitute
138a conflict of interest with my responsibilities as a trustee. Because there is no legal conflict. I am not only permitted, but I'm actually required to participate. So, I would actually be going against law by not participating and voting when this comes before the board in February. To abstain, I would need to demonstrate a conflict. And in this case, I don't have one. So, I just wanted to make sure that the board knew that and was super clear on that. I also want to be very clear about my own intent. My only interest in serving on this subcommittee and it was the only interest when I ran for this board was to do what's in the best interest of every single Sequoia Union High School District student. And that does include Tide. But as board members,
139we know we have to look at not just our constituents. We have to look at the whole big picture. We are elected to protect the financial stability of the district for years to come, not just for >> the years that we are sitting on this board. I take my responsibility very seriously and I approach this work with an open mind and a commitment to thoughtful decision-making. And like many of you, I am really eager to see that full set of data will be presented in January. I know that that data, the budget, those finances. I wrote down every single person's name who talked today and what their main concern was. I agree. I I am eager to hear it in January. [snorts] I am ready to listen. I'm ready to ask questions and to weigh
140both the numbers and the really real stories that we've heard from TIDE students, from the families and the staff over these past several weeks and also tonight. So, I just I I do want to make this known that I am grateful that you are fighting for your school. I would expect nothing less. Thank you to everyone who has spoken, written or reached out. Your engagement reflects the strength of this community and your voice continues to be an important process as we all are working together to figure out our best next steps. >> Thank you, Trusty Thompson. Any other comments or feedback? >> Yeah, I have something. Um, firstly, I'd also like to echo what Trusty Thompson, Trusty Gins said and thinking and thanking everyone for coming out and sharing their opinion with us. My concern
141from this kind of stems from the fact that I do agree that we have structural problems financially with our district that became pretty obvious this year. And I do think long-term we are we do not change anything. We're not on a path of solvency. What I would like to see though is a more broader look at a plan that examines many different options and puts them in context to try to understand what we're our financial situation is saying. Like I said in the emails addressed to me and responded, I have no current opinion on what the best future for TIDE is. I would like to see data from that. But for me at least, I'd be more comfortable in seeing data in context to other solutions that are being proposed because there are or other
142options that we'd have in front of us as to stuff we could consider and actions to address. And I think it would also be more transparent to the community to consider different options cuz I do think unfortunately some people in the community might not fully understand the extent to which we face budgetary issues even though in this for the next for this year and maybe next year we are fine. We don't operate in that context and I do think in the subsequent years there are serious issues that need to be addressed and should be shared openly with the community. But personally, I do think it would be more beneficial for us instead of focusing on one potential solution to kind of look at that in the context of many different solutions and allow for more
143transparency to pick one and that would be a process that I would much rather support. >> Do you have ideas for what the other things are that you have in mind? >> I'm sure that there are I mean long term we have a structural deficit. That's obvious. Um I would like to see more so than you know even the stuff you suggested about you know like modifying how we um modifying how we do tide. I think that should be an option if you consider I think there's more that we can look into and I don't have all the answers right now but I would prefer it to be framed in that context of presenting many different options instead of seeming here focusing just on one but >> thank you. Do you mean something beyond like
144what >> like a range of possible things relating to tide? Do you mean an other? >> Yeah, it doesn't have to be just but I'd like to see a range of other options cuz I do not believe that this is I'm sure this is one option that we could the board could take part and I think it should be considered but I think there are other options too that we could also look at that I think you know cuz I know that there are other ways that schools that we close deficits or cut spending. So, I'd like to look at that, too. Maybe it's not a preferable solution, but I think it's due diligence on our part to consider that, too. >> So, are you do you have anything any ideas you can share with
145us? >> Well, I mean, I would like this I like district staffers. [snorts] This isn't this is a board meeting for our board. So, I'd appreciate if the community would um share their comments with us in a productive way instead of interrupting our discussions. But I would much prefer for staff to maybe propose some other I mean I guess I get that this is one idea and I don't have all the solutions here. I do know that there are other ways to do I'm sure that there's other potential options and I feel like it would be more fair to consider some of those two. I mean I'm comp I I'll support whatever the board chooses to go with. That's just kind of the kind of the thought I have and that when we look at
146closing schools, it's such a big step that I think it's fair that as part of the process, we lay out a range of options versus just being this yes or no on this one thing. >> This mic has issues. Um, >> keeps going out. I keep I completely agree with um what trustee uh Nory has doesn't work. Oh, thank you. Uh I completely agree with what you just said. I think we have to look at all viable options. I'm thankful that the community is out here. I am thankful that you're fighting for what you believe in, right? And what you think is correct for you and your families. And I hear you and we all hear you. and I've read all the emails and I cannot, you know, I can't, you [clears throat] know, respond
147to each and every email. So, we have, you know, our president that does that for us. But I do, but if somebody sends me a personal email, I have responded to those. Those very few. Um, but I do agree that we need to look at various solutions together. That's why we're here. That's why we we are having this conversation up here and thinking out loud because we can't do that behind closed doors, right? The the California board, we can't do that. That's why we're trying to have this conversation together here in trying to figure out solutions in making sure that we make the right decision to have a a closed school under our name. We do not want that. That's not what I ran for, right? I did not run to close a school. I
148didn't I ran uh to help students, right, succeed in any which way possible. And there are various ways that succeed succession looks, right? There's various ways of of what that looks like in various different schools like you all said. Um, I I do agree with a lot of the questions and comments that you guys made in regards to small schools and how they help students, right? Not the big schools are not for everybody. I I totally understand that. Um, I have a student who's in high school who is in middle Atheertton and is a sophomore and I think um he's he's done well in the big school, but I think also think sometimes that he would do well in the small school as well with more attention. So I am very open to all the
149conversations and solutions that we can come up together right to to to make this a viable outcome for everybody. So thank you >> and just to I think the board is all in agreement and I think a lot of people in the community are in acknowledging that we aren't on a sustainable path right now that something needs to be done and I do think unfortunately a lot of this was due to bad planning on prior leadership part that left us in a situation like this where we are facing a structural budget deficit. I think the only thing that we as a board need to decide is what are the range of options we're considering. Like I think it would be against my fiduciary duty as this district not to consider every option. And unfortunately, as
150much as we might not like it, that might include considering what it would look like if we close the school. But I don't think that precludes us from looking at other options in the context too, so that we can make a best decision as to what would put us in a path to solve the structural deficit. Thank you trustees Dory and Cruz for sharing your feedback. Um I also wanted to share my feedback. Um I I did read every email and I jotted down notes from everyone who spoke tonight. Um the stories that really resonate with me are the feeling of not belonging and actually I had those feelings growing up. Um, so I went to a small school in middle school and then was always uh picked on and bullied and when I went
151to high school, it was a new beginning. I really wanted to find my tribe and really my dream we talk about in our strategic plan is helping our students be ready to pursue their dreams. My dream at that time was just having love. [laughter] I to love me. So I I hear where you are coming from that tide is a very special place. Um I do have specific questions. Um I think it does make sense to try and do our best to disagregate the cost data and really look at the cost per student for specific categories. Right? So, if they are English learners, if they're IEP 504, um you know, what are the different supports that Tide has that other schools don't have? We really need to compare apples to apples and kind of understand
152the breakdown of site costs site by site. Um, and I know like Tide, I believe, has bus routes. Um, I don't think other schools necessarily have bus routes. there's a nucleus and other schools don't have that. So I I'd like to see a much more applesto apples comparison. And then a lot of these questions um actually Trustee Cruz has mentioned in the past you know how many students leave the larger high schools to go to Tide. It's it's good to understand those numbers and what is it that TIDE is doing that cannot be replicated at the larger schools because if there's bullying going on at larger schools if teachers don't know their students one of the key things from our strategic plan is every student needs to feel like they belong and that belonging starts
153with an adult knowing that student's name. >> [snorts] >> So why can it not be replicated in the larger schools? We should be innovating, right? And continuously improving so that our student experience is at a high level no matter what school they go to in our district. So those are the things that I would like to really see as part of this process. And you know there there are many different options to cut costs. Um and we can take a look at those options. But if ultimately it points to having to close a small school and we have two small schools EPA as well as Tide, what are the differences between those two small schools, right? What can we do to maybe combine the schools and still meet needs? I don't know because it's still
154a small school environment. We have two right now. Do we need two or can we go get by with one? Don't know, right? Um but ultimately what are the differences and what we can what can we do if tide is a model as everyone is sharing how then can those lessons learned be applied to other schools in our district and so uh I don't know uh superintendent Leech if you have any other questions for us. Well, the comments um and the request for uh additional data and the breakdown of the data is is on the list already um aligned and so I do look forward to being able to present that as well as what trustee Nory um had addressed about looking at all options. Um, you know, I as we look at all options
155and you kind of create this allocart menu, the decision does get harder. Um, timing, right? Um because just as um what you guys haven't heard that will be presented to you likely at the study session um through both data presentations from me and staff but also also uh principal kennel is the amount of effort that has gone into recruitment and enrollment. um the amount of resources that we've placed towards that and just the natural competition and overall declining enrollment in our areas is which as you can see by the class sizes that I just kind of alluded to but um in January we'll be taking a deeper dive into all of the areas that you suggested as well as the areas that I identified. Um and then at the study session, we'll also have staff
156available um to answer or go deeper as far as program. We'll be looking at program comparing it to programs within other school sites that we have as well as finances. The programs also cover dual enrollment. Um you know, we are a district um we are a district of resources. We try to have all of our sites serve all of our famil family's needs. that practice has um got us to some of the challenges that we are facing today um and as we look towards tomorrow for a clearer path. So, thank you for your feedback. [snorts] >> All right. Thank you for the discussion and yeah, [laughter] take a break. Yeah. Yeah. I I think Oh, our student trustee wanted to make a comment. Yes. Okay. So, uh I've got a couple of points here. Um
157first of all, I just like for whatever it's worth, I'd like to say I agree I agree with Trusty Nor's take. I think we do need multiple options on the table because if you look at this from just a basic logical perspective, we need to consider a range of options in order to be exposed to the most optimal solution because if you only consider one option, with all due respect, your point of view is very narrow and you have a very high possibility to miss out on other more equitable options. Second of all, uh I believe Trusty Gin mentioned looking at theoretical statistics that to my understanding would be modeled off of a like more normative version of TIDE with uh statistics closer to district averages. But I do think we need to keep in
158mind TIDE fundamentally is not and will never be a normal school. You all heard the same statistics that I had heard from the public comments. you know, 60% socioeconomic uh excuse me, socioeconomically disadvantaged versus 30%, 80% Latinx versus 40, nearly 50% have IEPs, accommodations, or some sort of um assistance there. I don't think it would be entirely reasonable to expect uh complete statistical par between Tide and the rest of the district, and I think we need to calibrate our expectations accordingly. [snorts] Uh this aligns well with Trusty Coup's take on um you know, keeping those statistics apples to apples. Uh furthermore, with Trusty Coup's point about what cannot be replicated as a larger school, I would say these are the qualitative characteristics um psychological safety and such that you heard from the students who shared
159tonight. Um and much as we would like to idealize about what is possible with the environment at a large school, some things simply are not really within the realm of feasibility. Um and this can be very hard to understand if you are not a student experiencing these things. And I think um when the student advisory council gets to meet we will give you a little bit more data on that. But um there is a difference between what is theoretically possible and what is really possible as I'm sure you all are aware. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Continuing I'd love student advisory council because I definitely want to hear from the students. one of we one of the or quite a few comments that have been brought up was the original intent and the creation of
160the school and such and I think one of I think I'm safe to say this the original intent was never to have a small school that was four to six kids per class that that the original intent was always to have that was to have that hundred so I'm going to continue talking because this is I'm talking to another trustee um and so one of the things that I would really love to hear from the students perspective is what is it like to have that really really small class? Um and I I would be quite curious if um if Sack could bring that back to one of your meetings with the superintendent and include that in the data. >> Yeah, we absolutely will consider that. >> Okay. for our student trustee for sharing the student
161voice uh because I think that is very important as we analyze not just data but the stories behind the data. >> All right. >> Oh yeah. >> Oh okay. >> All right. Last thing. Um, and granted, like I know just to clarify for everyone, no matter what happens tonight, the board has not made any decision on the future of Tide, but I would like to reiterate because the only thing that gives me pause here is we do have other small schools. We do have other programs and I am uncomfortable kind of focusing on just one solution here rather than looking at the broad range of options. So, I just wanted to ask um um Superintendent Leech and I think it's totally fine to not have a answer here, but when in February when this process
162would wrap up um do you see us presenting a range of options there or would you see it more focused on um kind of like a yes or no decision on opening tide or closing tide? >> At this time, I at this time I don't know. um as we put together the complete package. Um I hope that that that becomes clear. Um I am open as I look at the recommendations that I make to the board what what that looks like and the actual feasibility. Um, small schools will always cost more um for many factors outside of of a lot of controls and and there are a lot of moving parts to the pieces of a master schedule. And it's really easy to do the math problem um to create the ratios, but sometimes the
163application and the actual implementation of that, the logistics of it just don't align. Um, so until we actually do those deep dives, I I'm not sure. Um, but if they're uh I am definitely open to bringing um multiple options um if I see a clear path forward that way. Yes. >> All right. And with that, uh we're going to pause for three minutes. Um if you you are welcome to leave at this point um as we are wrapping up with this agenda item and we will proceed with the rest of our board meeting agenda. Should you >> have you put different subjects in the same class if you don't have students for the subject if you're like if you're going to change the class. All right. Yes. Oh, hey. Can you touch some text? >>
164No problem. No problem. >> Okay. All right. So, the next agenda item is 13. Approval of the consent agenda. Does anyone have any public comment about the consent agenda? >> There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand now. >> All right. I see no hands online. Okay. And then does anyone have any feedback on the board uh consent agenda? Okay. Can I get motion to approve consent agenda? >> Second. >> All right. And this is a roll call vote, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. First first president's meeting for the year. So IRM. Okay. Roll call vote. >> Trustee Nory. >> Yes. >> Trusty Cruz. >> Yes. >> Trustee Thompson. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gin. >> Yes. >> President Coup. Yes. Motion carried 50. >> All right. Now, we're moving
165on to a slew of action items. And the first one is 14.1 approval of first interim financial report for fiscal year 25 to 26. And we'll hear from our assistant superintendent of administrative services, Chris. As we're pulling up, I would like to address the current assistant of administrative services is standing at the podium as this is her last board meeting as she is retiring and moving me. Just want to thank you for your services. Bonita, I promise you're in good hands. J marking sitting over there. Jana, if you could wave to everybody. She's gonna solve all our budget problems. [laughter] So, okay, I think we're ready. Thank you, Christine. So, good evening. Tonight, Bonita and I will be presenting the 2526 first interim report. This report reflects our financial status as of October 31st, 2025.
166Here is our agenda for this evening. We will begin with the review of the general fund summary analyzing the changes since adopted budget. We will then walk through the components of our ending fund balance and our multi-year projections. Finally, we will summarize the status of our other funds and look ahead to what to expect for the upcoming months. This slide is a reminder of our budget cycle. We are at the first interim mark in December. This is a checkpoint where we update our budget based on actual activity through October. Looking forward, our next major update will be at the second interim report in March, followed by the governor's budget proposal for the 2627 school year. At first interim, we adjusted the property tax revenues based on information that we received from the county controllers's office.
167We have also included carryover funds from the prior fiscal year. Carryover funds represent revenue from the previous years, primarily restricted state or federal grants or sight specific allocations that were not fully spent by the June 30th of the prior year. These funds are legally designated for specific restricted programs or site initiatives and are now budgeted for budgeted in the 2526 school year to be spent as intended. Some common carryovers are restricted site funds, career career technical education grants, Golden State Golden State pathway programs and we have other um long list of restricted programs. On the expenditure ch side, we have adjusted position control to reflect actual salary and benefit co benefit costs for new hires and current vacancies, ensuring our projections align with our current staffing. This slide outlines the planning factors used to build
168this budget. Key assumptions at first interim is fairly consistent with the assumptions at adopted budget. As for as for the property tax, you will also see property tax growth projected at 5.88% for the current year compared to 4.37% at adopted budget. The increase is based on the most current report from the county controllers's office. While the November property tax projection increased to 5.8%, we need to remain cautious. As a reminder, last year's f final secured road taxes and RDA funds came in less than the county controllers's office projections. I also wanted to note the board approved salary rate increases from November are not yet included in the first interim report. They will be fully incorporated at secondary. For the next few slides, Bitita will take a deeper look at our property taxes. Thank you, Christine.
169Good evening, everyone. This slide shows the different components that make up the local property tax revenue for the school districts. Overall, property tax increased by 2.6 6 million from adopted budget and for future years we are projecting secured RO tax to grow at 5.15%. As Christine mentioned RDA funds came in higher by 800K and due to the unpredictable nature of this revenue source will be we will be continuously monitoring it. Our next property up tax update will occur in April at for P2 reporting. This slide shows charter and loo which are portions of local property taxes that are transferred by the district to the charter schools for serving the students that reside within the geographical boundary of the school district. The funding formula is based on adjusted base revenue per ADA. At budget adoption, the
170district had assumed that 199 students from Everest would enroll at summit prep, but only 103 students actually enrolled. This different resulted in net benefit to the district's general fund. For the outyear charter inlu is expected to increase due to state cola. If ADA or cola rate decreases then the transfer to the charter schools will reduce or vice versa. Even though we project that there is growth in property tax, there is always a significant outflow of about 14 or 15 million from local property tax to charter schools. This chart reflects the continuing impact of these transfers on the general fund. Now I'll pass it back to Christine. So on this slide, this summary compares our adopted budget to first interim. Total revenue has increased by roughly $10 million driven by the property tax increase and additional
171state and local funds. Total expenditures have increased about $5.8 $8 million largely due to the budgeting of carryover funds and adjusting staff and benefits. Our projected ending fund balance at this point in time is $49.2 million. As I had mentioned earlier, the 6.3 million cost of the 2526 salary increase is not included in these figures yet. To break down these changes further, we're going to focus on revenue. We saw a 3.8 million increase in property tax and that is due to 2.6 million increase in property tax and 1.1 million decrease tax transfer to the charter school. and a $4.5 million increase in state funds, which includes the new student support and professional develop development block grant and 1.5 million increase in local funds. On the expenditure side, the largest adjustment are the is the 3.8
172million in site carryover from the prior year, which is restricted money being spent as intended. and a 1.5 million increase in salary and benefits due to staffing adjustments. We are projected to def deficit spend this year, but not at the amount we projected at budget adoption. At the adopted budget, our projected deficit was $10 million. Based on the LA latest revenue and expenditure updates, the plan deficit is now projected to be $6 million at first inter. >> Just quick clarification, that's before or after the compensation increase. >> Rays are has not been included in these numbers. >> So this is a visual of our revenue and expenditures. Um as you can see on the revenues 83% of our revenue comes from um property tax and the rest is from state federal and local funds. On
173the expenditures the largest portion of our budget is salary and benefits which is represents about 81% of the pie and 12% is of operating expense which includes utilities and contracted services. This slide details exactly what makes up the $49.2 million ending fund balance. We have 17 mil $17.1 million in restricted funds. We have assigned funds for specific liabilities like vacation payouts and the 6.3 million set aside for the 2526 salary increase. A reserve for economic uncertainty is full is funded at 8%. Uh which is about $21.5 million. This leaves an unassigned balance of roughly $1.2 million. Looking ahead, here is our multi-year projection using the planning factors that was on slide five. This table shows our current three-year outlook before the uh full accounting of the salary increase for the current year 2526. The projected
174operating deficit is $6.1 million. In 2627, we project a deficit of $3.2 million. In 2728, we project a surplus of $2.1 billion. Our reserve levels are estimated above 8%. In all years, the full impact of the salary settlement must be recognized if we in the unbudgeted salary cost which will be included in second interim in for the current year. including the 6.3 million costs for the current year would increase our operating deficit from $6.1 million to approximately $12 million for this year alone, bringing our reserves down to 8.29%. The annual ongoing cost of 5.2 million for the salary increase changes our learn our long-term outlook. The 2627 deficit would increase from 3.2 million to $8.4 million, which would bring down our reserves to 5.69%. The 2728 projected $2.1 million surplus would become a $3.1 million
175deficit, bringing reserves down to 4.46%. both years would be below the 8% reserve that is in our board policy. So this side represents um the other district funds and at first interim we're projecting a positive ending fund balance for all the funds. I wanted to note on the fund 21, our measure W, um, this current balance shows a balance of $43.6 million, which represents the bond proceeds we are actively spending down on Measure W projects. The $132 million in new bond proceeds that the board approved at the October meeting are not reflected in the first interim report. These funds were received after the October uh 31st reporting period and will be included in second interim. This is looking ahead at the what's coming up in the next few months. In January, we will present the
1762425 audit report and discuss the governor's budget proposals. We will also receive an updated demographer report. These inputs will be vital as we prepare the second interim for March uh 2026 meeting where the full impact of the salary settlement will be formalized. So this is the end of our uh presentation. I recommend that the board approve the 2526 first interim report with a positive certification. And I'm now happy to answer any questions you may have or comments. >> And before we do that, I I neglected to ask for public comment on this agenda item. So we can ask for public comment at this time. >> There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. There are none online. Um, you can fill out a public comment card. Okay. And you have
177three minutes. >> That's a luxury these days. That's great. Thank you. Uh I don't know. I just I assume you guys have this under control, but like he's like, "Do you guys anybody know any ways we could save money?" And everybody kind of looks at each other. And then we have the budget lady and she like probably knows like is that part of any report anytime soon to figure out how to save the only school my son's happy at? Like is that the plan? I guess this is just a comment. I highly hope that the plan involves talking with these people to understand the options available to uh you know help our budget situations. I guess uh that's all. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. And with that, do our fellow trustees have comments? Okay.
178>> So, just some comments people who maybe haven't been to a lot of schoolboard meetings for you to know. Um, all the attachments that are shared are online. You can access them on our website and this meeting is recorded and posted to our YouTube channel and all of them are so you can look at past meetings for the last several years. All the agendas, all the attachments and everything's on YouTube if you want to watch it. just I see people recording which you're welcome to do but it's it's also on YouTube. Um so I guess someone in response to the question from the presenter will say that the in general as I mentioned almost all the costs are people cost. So to reduce cost means reducing the number of people somewhere in some program doing
179something. So that's what it it it comes down to looking at all the employees of the district and deciding if we can serve um you more student serve the students with a lesser number of people and every year there's a I'm not suggesting any layoffs but every year of there are a large number of people who retire or move and a large number of people who join. So it's something that over time school districts can adjust the total number of people and that's what 85% of the costs are. So the answer to your question be it's looking at which rules are either not needed or can be consolidated or where can you serve more students with lesser people. But that's what that's what it comes down to if you're going to save costs in a
180uh in a school district. And then I'll just I'm sure my colleagues realize and but just for that the assumption for the outy years is 0% increases in compensation for all the employees which isn't something that's happened uh in known history. So it's like every year the employees have some amount of there's cost of living adjustments and people need increases in their compensation. So that's something else that factors into the budget which I know we all deal with but for those of you who haven't been to a lot of budget discussion meetings that's part of what's presented is presented by required rules about how it's presented. Um like you don't assume a raise for the future that's not yet been negotiated but you kind of know that that's something that might come. So, those are
181my my comments and one I'll I'll thank uh Christine when Amy and I met with her in preparation for this. There's one new chart that I was pretty interested to see which was tying the net number that is on the multi-year plan for property tax revenues from how it how it so now the if you look at all the property tax revenue charts you can follow down to the number that's on the multi-year plan where before there it wasn't as easy to see exactly how you get to it and now I feel like it's very easy. So, I I appreciate that uh additional clarity in the presentation. Thank you. >> Any other feedback or questions? >> Just thank you for all the work you've done and you know, congratulations on retirement. >> Yeah. Thank you,
182Assistant Superintendent Gong, for all of your work. um and listening to trustee Gin and I give you feedback [gasps and laughter] um prior to the board presentation. Um I do want to also highlight that yes um the majority of our costs are in our people. Uh but the other question to look at is is everything that our people doing adding value or are they doing things that could actually be a process or system improvement? because I am a systems person. [laughter] I'm always about cutting costs by automation or being more efficient. So, you know, I'm I'm all ears if people, you know, have things that are really bothering them and they do them all the time that could actually be done better than the same number of people can actually do more. So, all right.
183Thank you. Are we ready to approve the first interim? >> I move approval of the first interim. >> I second. >> All right. All I think this one can be a doesn't need to be roll call, right? Okay. All in favor? >> I Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Happy happy retirement. All right. And we have a whole bunch more approvals all related to facilities. So the first one is 14.2 approval of agreement with null and TAM architects for architectural services for the temporary classrooms of the new e-wing building at Woodside High School. Any questions on that? >> Oh yeah. Public comment. There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. There are none online. Okay. Any questions? >> I'm going to make a motion to approve 14.2. Second. >> All right.
184Um and then this one. >> Yeah. [cough and clears throat] >> Oh, yeah. This is all in favor. Yeah, because anything that has a resolution is the the roll call vote. Okay. Um, so all in favor I >> I >> Okay. 14.3 is approval of agreement with Spencer Associates architecture for architectural services for the temporary classrooms of the new T-wing building at Carlmont High School. Public comment. >> There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand now. There are none online. Any questions or feedback? All right. Motion to approve 14.3. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. All right. Next one is 14.4. Approval of contract with Verde Design, Inc. for landscape architecture for the baseball field at Woodside High School Measure W. Bond project. Any public comment? There are
185none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. >> There are none online. >> Okay. Any feedback, questions? No. >> Motion to approve 14.4. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. All right. 14.5. Adoption of resolution number five 2526 school year supporting award of lease lease back agreements and approval to enter into site lease and facilities lease including preconstruction services with Rodan Builders Inc. for Carlmont High T-wing project. Any public comment? There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. None online. >> Okay. >> Can I have a motion? >> Motion to approve 14.5. >> Second. >> Okay. This one is a roll call vote. >> Trusty Nory. >> Yes. >> Trusty Cruz. >> Trusty. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gin. >> Yes. >> President Coup. >> Yes.
186>> Motion carries 50. >> All right. Moving along to 14.6. Adoption of resolution number six 2025 to 26 school year supporting award of lease lease back agreements and approval to enter into site lease and facilities lease including preconstruction services with Bothman construction incont multi-use field project. Any public comment I have none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. I see none online. >> Motion to approve 14.6. Second. >> Okay. This is also a roll call vote. >> Trusty Nory. >> Yes. >> Trusty Cruz. >> Yes. >> Trusty Thompson. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gin. >> Yes. >> President Coo. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. 50-0. >> Okay. And then 14.7 adoption of resolution number 7 2526 school year supporting award of lease lease back agreements and approval to enter into site lease
187and facilities lease including preconstruction services with overall construction. Is it overall or over? I don't know how you pronounce it. Um overall construction for meloton high school's new classroom building project. Any public comment? I have none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hands. There are none online. >> Motion to approve 14.7. >> Second. >> Okay. This is also a roll call vote. >> Trusty Nory, >> yes. >> Trusty Cruz, >> yes. >> Trusty Thompson, >> yes. >> Vice President Gin, >> yes. >> President Coup, >> yes. >> Motion carries. 5-0. >> All right. Um, now it's 14.8. Adoption of resolution number 8 2526 school year supporting award of lease leaseback agreements and approval to enter into site lease and facilities lease including preconstruction services with Flint Construction Company for Sequoia High School's
188new classroom building project. Any public comment? There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. I see none online. >> Motion to approve 14.8. >> Second. >> Okay, this is a roll call vote. >> Trusty Nory, >> yes. >> Trusty Cruz, >> yes. >> Trustee Thompson, >> yes. >> Vice President Gin, >> yes. >> President Coup, >> yes. >> Motion carries 50. >> Okay, great. Uh 14.9, the last of our facilities resolutions, adoption of resolution number 9, 2526 school year, supporting award of lease, lease back agreements and approval to enter into site lease and facilities lease, including preconstruction services with block construction company for Woodside High School's new classroom building project. Any public comment? >> There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. They're on none
189online. Motion to approve. >> Seconded. >> All right. Roll call vote. >> Trustee Trusty Nory. >> Yes. >> Trusty Cruz. >> Yes. >> Trusty Thompson. >> Yes. >> Vice President Gin. >> Yes. >> President Crow. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. 5-0. >> All right. And last last action item is 1410. Um, this is the adoption of resolution number 10 designating individuals authorized to sign orders for Sequoia Union High School District. >> Any public comment? >> There are none in person. Are there any online? Please raise your hand. I see none online. >> Motion to approve 14.10. Second. >> Okay. And this is >> if we can stay to the chair if we can stay. It's um resolution 10 A, B, and C. >> Ah, okay. It's resolution number 10 A, B, and C. So, there
190are actually three resolutions. >> Oh, I don't see that. >> Yeah, there's three attachments in the agenda item. >> Yeah, but the agenda doesn't >> Sorry. Motion to approve 14.10 A, B, and C. >> Second. >> Okay. And this is a roll call vote. Do we have to vote for them individually or can we do a group? Yeah. >> All together. Okay. Um, >> yeah, I think we're good with approving all three. >> Trusty Nory, >> yes. >> Trusty Cruz, >> yes. >> Trusty Thompson, >> yes. >> Vice President Gin, >> yes. >> President Coup, >> yes. >> Motion carries 50. >> Great. And with those three resolutions, then our new assistant superintendent is ready to sign. So, welcome aboard. You're official. signatory power. Okay. [laughter] >> And so now we're moving on to item
19115, board of trustees correspondence. There there were none. So we will move on to the next agenda item. 16, Board of Trustees and Superintendent Comments and Committee reports. So anyone want to start first? Trusty Nory, do you have anything? >> No. >> Okay. Trusty Cruz, anything? >> Any committee? [laughter] >> No, I can't think of anything right now, but thank you. >> No committees. >> We did go to the dream uh dinner, right? >> Yes. To the dream dinner, okay, for Sequoia Union High School. And it was amazing. I love that. It was the first time I ever attended that and I will continue to go and support that. It was beautiful. beautiful testimonials, beautiful stories, beautiful families. So, I I hope to continue to do that. And yeah, then it was nice to be
192there with Trusty Co and Trusty next to me here. [laughter] I'm spacing out. It's been a long It's 10 o'clock. It's past my bedtime. >> Trusty next to me. >> Um, just second. This person over here, this trustee over here. Um it was it was a it was just an absolute incredible event to um to witness to be a part of to see the community come out. Um yeah tears in my eyes inspirate inspired beautiful event. So >> all right. >> Okay. So board vice president Gin has no comment. Uh for myself, I was also at the Sequoia Dream Club dinner and it really had so much more significance this year given the current political environment and uh I I had to address the attendees because normally Superintendent Leech has that honor. So I was
193like ah but I I actually almost cried on in front of people. So um but it's really important that we recognize um the students for overcoming their challenges and it was also an opportunity to thank all the adults in the room that supported them and also raise much needed scholarship monies. So it was a really wellorganized event. Um I I've been to it pretty much every single year. Um, and lastly, I did learn a lot at our CSBA conference this year, and so I will send my notes and downloads to everyone later this week because it's all about learning best practices. And the reason why we go to this annual training is to really remind ourselves of our why, why we do this, and why we care, and to make the student experience the best
194it could be. All right. Any superintendent comments? No comments. All right. So, moving to the next agenda item is 17 future agenda items. Any updates? All right. I think don't worry. [laughter] [gasps] So, we do have a governance calendar. So, you can click here if you want to view what's coming up. uh but we don't have anything to add to it at this time. And with that I can I get a move to adjourn the meeting? >> So move >> second. >> Okay. [laughter] And with that we'reing >> to vote. >> Oh yeah, we got a vote. Sorry. Eager to leave. Okay. All >> favor. I >> I All right. We are adjourning at 9:37 p.m. Okay.