Superintendent's Update - August 23, 2024

Aug 23 2024

From the Office of the Superintendent

Board Agenda Calendar

View Calendar of Board Items 2024-25

Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .

As I have shared before, I am lucky enough to have access to all of our sites including classrooms throughout the day. I wish everyone could see the magic that occurs each day. During a visit to Briones earlier today I saw a kindergarten class that looked like they had been in school for six months already. It’s been a week! We are spoiled here for many reasons. We have a veteran teaching staff that often makes things look easy. Our resources allow us to equip our rooms and facilities in ways others could only wish for. Our community is overwhelmingly safe and supportive. We have strong partnerships with businesses and the City of Palo Alto. The pieces are in place! I have received some inquiries regarding cell phone policies and our governor’s comments. First, the governor has asked school districts to look at cell phone restrictions. He has not called for a ban. As for PAUSD, we already have cell phone restrictions at the middle school level. Teachers are allowed to restrict without a global uniform policy at the high school level. Some restrict and others encourage occasional use. We still need to calibrate with our elementary schools to see exactly how each is currently operating. I have done extensive reading on the topic of cell phones and schools. Even referring to the issue as “cell phone” is a bit archaic since many people wear smartwatches. We understand that many parents see phones as a safety issue and others want us to restrict usage as a rule. We do not have plans to move away from our current organic approach at this time. It is getting our attention and will be discussed further. It is possible that our next elected Board of Education will consider a uniform restriction, but that is down the road.

Elementary Schools Update

Dear Families,

Please note the following update regarding minimum day schedules on four specific dates this year at our elementary schools:

For the following dates, the school day will be adjusted to a four-hour instructional minimum day to align with our secondary school site release times:

All Schools Minimum Day

August 30, 2024
December 20, 2024
April 4, 2025
June 5, 2025

Principals will be sharing the bell schedules, including start and end times for each school.

Important: Students will receive snacks and lunches on these days.

Thank you for your attention to this update.

Palo Alto Middle College HS Partners with Foothill College for Successful Launch

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Palo Alto’s third innovative high school, Palo Alto Middle College High School (PAMC), the staff has collaborated actively with Foothill College to ensure a smooth transition and successful first year. This partnership has enabled both teams to share valuable resources and activities on key topics for our students, including campus safety, Title IX compliance, and navigating high school life on a college campus. We thank Foothill College for their commitment and collaboration in launching this new endeavor.

PAUSD has been awarded $250,000, further empowering PAMC to deliver its students a robust and dynamic educational experience. This one-time grant is designed to support the planning, startup, or expansion of Middle College High Schools and Early College High Schools. The grant will be used to enhance pupil advising, provide success support services, and launch outreach campaigns promoting dual enrollment opportunities. Outreach can focus on engaging families and students who may not be college-bound or underrepresented in higher education, ensuring equitable access to these transformative opportunities.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in making this initiative possible, as it will have a lasting impact on the students and families we serve.