Superintendent's Update - January 30, 2026
Superintendent's Update - January 30, 2026
From the Office of the Superintendent
Board Agenda Calendar
View Calendar of Board Items 2025-26
Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .
I recently attended a conference for nearly all superintendents in California. It is a good reminder of how diverse our state is when it comes to school districts. Beyond funding differences, many school districts have less than 1,000 students. The majority of our school districts are what we would consider small and rural. On the other end, some districts serve 50,000 or more students. With these obvious differences, we also have many similarities.
It's always interesting to see what dominates conversations at these events. There were definitely themes at this one. Superintendents were largely focused on a few topics this year. Negotiations with labor partners probably led the list. Many school districts are at an impasse or heading in that direction. There was a time when that was rare. Now, the need to bring in outside facilitators is more common for a variety of reasons. We make regular posts to the PAUSD negotiations page so people can follow our progress.
The next biggest topic was divided communities over social issues. As we may expect, the specific issues may vary. Each community has their own lens and perspective. Most people gather information about things from places that confirm or support their established points of view. That is human nature and not unique to any school district or community. As a whole, we struggle to correct misinformation due to the speed of social media. Superintendents have conceded it's not possible to keep up with the speed of a post on a social media platform.
The best part about getting together with leaders from across the state is to feel a little less like we are the only district dealing with particular issues. The reality is that most districts are dealing with versions of the same things. That being said, I wouldn't trade us for anyone!
Our next board meeting is a week from Tuesday. We are committing the meeting to a deep dive in our budget with an eye to the future and remaining sustainable. School districts that spent one-time money on ongoing costs are now laying off staff members and slashing budgets. It wasn't hard to see, but many lacked the discipline necessary to avoid financial issues in the first place. We did not (and will not) make that mistake. We do, however, have things to examine that have long-term impacts. There are conditions we share with districts having to make massive financial corrections. We will lay those out at the upcoming meeting.
Gunn DECA Students Shine at Silicon Valley Regional Competition
From January 9–11, 2026, 63 Gunn High School DECA students competed at the Silicon Valley Career Development Conference, joining more than 1,200 students from 14 schools across the region. Students demonstrated their skills through role plays, presentations, and multiple-choice exams in areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, business administration, marketing, and hospitality and tourism.
Gunn students performed exceptionally well, earning numerous finalist placements and top finishes across a wide range of competitive events, including two first-place overall awards. Their success reflects the dedication, preparation, and professionalism our students bring to career-connected learning experiences.
We are incredibly proud of our students for representing Gunn High School with excellence and standing out in such a large and competitive field. We look forward to cheering them on as they carry this momentum into the state competition next month!
Building Global Connections: PAUSD Welcomed Korean Educators
PAUSD had the privilege of hosting a delegation of K-12 science educators from Busan, Korea, last week. The visit began at the District Office, where the delegation learned about the District’s Promise, robust work-based learning program, and the innovative opportunities it provides for students. The educators were impressed by the caliber of the Advanced Authentic Research projects and were particularly intrigued by PAUSD’s Work Experience program, which includes required job-site visits to ensure student safety.
The visit continued at Ohlone Elementary School, where the delegation toured the farm classes, and concluded at Greene Middle School. There, the educators toured the campus, visited classrooms, and met with science teachers to learn more about instructional practices across the District.
Many thanks to everyone who extended their time to make this experience memorable for the delegation!
Connecting Learning to Careers: Showcasing Student Innovation and Creativity
PAUSD proudly hosted its annual Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways Showcase, celebrating the creativity, innovation, and real-world learning taking place across our schools. Held at the Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center, the event featured student work and interactive displays from a wide range of pathways, including biomedical sciences, journalism, computer science, design and technology, and culinary arts.
The showcase provided students, families, and staff, particularly middle school students and underclassmen, with valuable insight into how PAUSD’s CTE programs connect learning across grade levels and support future college and career exploration. The event highlighted the impressive work of our students and the dedication of our educators in bringing career-connected learning to life.
Photo credit: Bill Truong, Gunn High School Student
PAUSD’s Tri-Middle School Musical Auditions!
Don’t miss the opportunity to audition for the PAUSD Tri-Middle School Musical! This year we are proud to present Shrek The Musical JR.! Our production will be performed at Spangenberg Theatre at Gunn High School on May 8th, 9th and 10th. Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and the fantastic Broadway musical. It's a "big bright beautiful world" as everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.
Audition Information: Shrek Jr Auditions will be taking place at each of the middle school sites:
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Greene: Feb. 2nd after school in Room B3
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Fletcher: Feb. 2nd after school in C7
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JLS: Feb. 2nd and Feb. 4th after school in Room 130
This is a "cast all" production, meaning no one will be turned away. This opportunity is open to all Middle School students, even those who are not currently enrolled in a drama course. Students who intend to audition must be prepared to commit to all rehearsals and performances. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Middle School drama teacher.
