PAUSD Weekly Update - August 14, 2026

Aug 14 2026

From the Office of the Superintendent

Superintendent Glass' Message . . .

A Solid Start!

I spent Thursday visiting several schools in the district, welcoming students and connecting with staff. What I saw was ordinary in the best way! Kids excited to be in class, a few elementary students who needed a bit more encouragement to meet their new teacher and classmates, and secondary students rolling their eyes at my “cringe” jokes and welcome statements! Teachers were smiling, working hard to establish routines and relationships, and already getting started on real student work.

None of that work and magic our teachers and aides create in the classroom happens without the support of all our staff. Our custodians, maintenance crews, grounds staff, office teams, and food service workers spent the summer getting buildings ready. Principals, teachers, and district office staff spent last week carefully planning and making decisions. I heard lots of reports of a “smooth” start to things - and that did not happen by accident but rather through the dedication and professionalism of our PAUSD team.

On Wednesday morning, most of our employees gathered on the Paly quad for a new tradition we called “Reunion.” It was the first time I have seen this whole team in one place. There was no shortage of school pride, hugs, smiles, laughs, and even some tears. We recognized colleagues who have been serving students here for twenty-five years and more, and we remembered Wanda Caldwell, who passed away this summer after forty years in our transportation department as a driver and dispatcher. Generations of Palo Alto children got to school and home safely because of her. We are working on three things: grounding our efforts in the experiences of our students, connecting and prioritizing our relationships with each other, and healing as an organization and community.

To our families, and especially those new to PAUSD this year: my family went back to school alongside you this week, so I know the first days come with questions and navigating new patterns. If something is not going right for your student, start with the teacher, then the principal. Those are the people who can usually fix it the same day. If it stalls there, let us know. We are all working together to support your family.

Looking ahead. The Board meets next Tuesday, August 18. Two items are worth your attention. The first is the 2025-26 unaudited actuals, which is our closing picture on last year's budget and an early preview to the budget year ahead. The second is a district organization chart I am bringing forward as an information item, so the community can see how this district is structured and who is responsible for what.

Thanks everyone for a great start!

Kind regards,

Jason E. Glass, Ed.D.

Superintendent & Chief Learner

Student Nutrition Services

The PAUSD Student Nutrition Team spent Tuesday, August 11th reviewing and completing annual training on all things food-related to get ready for meal service.

Do you have questions about food services in the district and want to learn more about the program and how it works?

Come to the Student Nutrition Open Forums held at the PAUSD District Office from 4:00-5:00 pm in the Aspen Room. Meet the Manager of Child Nutrition, Alva Spence, and learn more about our program.

The first two dates are:

Wednesday, August 26th and Wednesday, September 9th

Expanding Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Education for 2026–2027

As part of our deep commitment to student well-being and safety, PAUSD is expanding our suicide prevention and mental health education for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year.

Our community’s history and shared commitment to our students necessitate a proactive, highly skilled approach to prevention. In alignment with California Education Code § 215 and district policy on Suicide Prevention ( BP/ AR 5141.52), we are transitioning to a robust, skill-based certification model to equip staff and middle and high school students with age-appropriate, actionable tools to care for themselves and one another.

Training Programs

To build a shared, district-wide language around mental health and destigmatize these challenges, our district will be utilizing two primary evidence-based training frameworks:

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA): An interactive, skill-based curriculum that equips students with a clear step-by-step action plan to identify mental health challenges in their peers and safely involve trusted adults.
Be Sensitive, Be Brave (BSBB): A foundational, culturally responsive suicide prevention training that teaches individuals how to recognize warning signs, offer non-judgmental support, and connect peers to care.

Empowering Our Students

When experiencing stress, young people often turn to each other first. This initiative empowers our students to support their friends safely. We explicitly reinforce that students are not expected to act as therapists or diagnose peers. Instead, instruction centers on recognizing warning signs, practicing compassionate listening, and safely connecting a friend with a trusted adult or professional resource.

Student Support & Next Steps

Because these topics are deeply sensitive, a certified team of PAUSD mental health staff and wellness leaders will facilitate student sessions, with support from a community partnership with Momentum for Health. Our school counselors will be on campus and ready to provide immediate, direct support when needed.

To ensure a true wrap-around system of care, our staff is participating in parallel training, including elementary staff, who will be trained in Trauma-Informed Practice & Suicide Prevention. Parents and guardians will also have opportunities to participate in informational and training sessions to align home and school support. We view family partnership as essential to this work.

Your child's school site will share specific details about instructional schedules, informational sessions, and opt-out options.

Thank you for partnering with us to expand our circle of care for all students.

Sustainability

Welcome back to school, PAUSD fam! We are so excited to have everyone back and want to start the school year off on the right foot by sharing our PAUSD campus sustainability guidelines. In keeping with our PROMISE, we pledge to foster a learning environment that promotes academic excellence while creating a resilient, healthy, and environmentally conscious future for all our students.