Superintendent's Update - October 24, 2025
Superintendent's Update - October 24, 2025
From the Office of the Superintendent
Board Agenda Calendar
View Calendar of Board Items 2025-26
Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .
It’s easy to forget that PAUSD is a large organization with an impact on our community that reaches beyond teaching and learning. As a large employer with many sites, we work closely with the City of Palo Alto on many issues. I want to take a minute this week to share a few of the things that are on the radar, looking to the future.
We recently had some time to take a deeper look at proposals for rail crossings at Meadow, Charleston, and Churchill. These crossings have been the source of a lot of discussions and debate. I am not commenting on the specifics of each proposal. Instead, my observation is that any work is going to be disruptive. The ambitious plans are necessary and may be beneficial in the long run. In the short term, each project will have a major impact on our traffic patterns.
While parents should be most concerned with how their students get to school and home, PAUSD also must consider how our buses operate, how maintenance vehicles are deployed, and how construction can impact safety plans. We have a good relationship with the staff at the City and appreciate our opportunities to express our insights on projects and better understand the big picture.
Another big topic is the addition of housing. While new housing is important for many reasons, the number and location of housing have an impact on our planning. For example, when large projects are planned in condensed areas, it may eventually shift school boundaries or necessitate additional building. With many of the plans occurring on the fringes of our boundaries, we see scenarios that could significantly change the way we think about our current school locations, functions, and enrollment patterns.
As plans emerge and start to take shape, we will provide updates. For now, we are thankful for the partnerships we have with the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University. We appreciate our communication lines and the way we navigate these issues together.
Unity Day 2025: Coming Together through Inclusivity, Kindness, and Acceptance
Across PAUSD, our students, staff, and families came together to celebrate Unity Day, a day dedicated to kindness, inclusion, acceptance, and taking a stand against bullying. Everyone was encouraged to wear orange as a visible sign of support and community 🧡.
Across our elementary schools, students engaged in creative and joyful activities to celebrate unity. Highlights included a Unity Day Pumpkin Patch at Barron Park, a Kindness Chain and Unity Tree at Escondido, and a family lunchtime picnic at Duveneck. At Addison, students showed their spirit by wearing orange as part of a weeklong celebration organized by student leaders, while Palo Verde held an anti-bullying assembly and Noon-Art activities. Fairmeadow students and staff joined their walking club and participated in lunchtime kindness events. Ohlone students took a drone photo spelling their school name and made orange-bead bracelets, and Hoover’s Inclusion Ribbon pledge displayed hundreds of ribbons at the entrance to show students’ commitment to inclusivity. Other sites also celebrated with classroom projects, spirit days, and creative art displays promoting kindness and inclusion.
Middle school students participated in daily kindness challenges at JLS, a school Unity Day photo at Fletcher, and a spirit day with a temporary tattoo station at Greene. High school students shared “Shout Out” postcards to celebrate each other’s contributions, and Paly students enjoyed pet therapy and a painting activity focused on messages of kindness and community. In addition, Q Corner hosted a lunchtime resource table to promote inclusion and support for all members of the campus community.
The district provided mood pencils and Unity Day stickers for elementary students and foam putty and stickers for middle and high school students, generously delivered with the help of the Special Education PTA. We are grateful for their support and ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students.
These activities showcase the many ways students and staff across the district embraced unity, inclusion, and kindness, making Unity Day a memorable and impactful celebration for the entire community.
Arts in Unusual Places 2025:
November 1st from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at Stanford Shopping Center
AIUP Poster Designed by Gunn High School Graphic Design Student Colette F.
We're excited to host our 4th Annual Arts in Unusual Places event at Stanford Shopping Center on Saturday, November 1, from 10 AM to 1 PM, located in the outside lounge area between Free People and Tommy Bahama.
This special event will feature a pop-up outdoor art gallery showcasing High School 2D and 3D student artwork, along with small ensemble performances in Choir, Band, Jazz, Orchestra, and Theatre by students from both high schools. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their learning and artistry with the community.
Schedule of Events
2D and 3D Visual Art from Palo Alto and Gunn High Schools on display from 10:00-1:00 pm
10:00 - 10:20 AM: Palo Alto High School and Gunn High School Improv Troupe
10:30- 10:50 AM: Palo Alto High School Chamber Group
11:00- 11:20 AM: Gunn Clover String Quartet
11:30- 11:50 AM: Gunn High School Sax Quartet & Sax Choir
12:00- 12:20 PM: Palo Alto High School Madrigals
12:30-1:00 PM: Gunn Jazz Combo
