Superintendent's Update - October 4, 2024
Superintendent's Update - October 4, 2024
From the Office of the Superintendent
Board Agenda Calendar
View Calendar of Board Items 2024-25
Superintendent Austin’s Message . . .
PAUSD #8 IN NATION (#1 DISTRICT OVER 8,000 STUDENTS)
The yearly Niche rankings came out recently. Commonly seen as the gold standard for school and district rankings, Niche ranked PAUSD as the 8th best school district in the entire nation, top in California, and first in the nation for school districts over 8,000 students. You can find the entire list HERE.
KIDS, PARENTS & SPECIAL EDUCATION
I had a conversation with a parent that helped me to better understand some things about raising a child with special needs. By nature, my default is to be clinical about situations. For that reason, I really appreciate hearing stories from people to fill in the gaps. This parent did exactly that for me.
In recent discussions, we’ve recognized the need for expanded support for our students with autism who require more specialized interventions. As the number of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to rise, we are mindful of the diverse and complex needs these students face daily. While many thrive in our current inclusive settings, there are some whose unique challenges require more individualized attention and structured support. Our goal is to ensure that every student, no matter their needs, has the opportunity to succeed academically and socially. If there is a school district in the nation that can do uncommon things on behalf of students, PAUSD is the place.
At this point, we are in the very early stages of discussing and planning. We are committed to having an open dialogue with those who are impacted and have already begun some early outreach efforts. Families, educators, and staff will play a vital role in shaping any future plans, as we want to ensure that all voices are heard. The well-being of our students is at the heart of this effort, and any program development will be done with their best interests in mind, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in our schools.
I understand any mention of something new can create anxiety. We have talked about exploring ways to help this particular population of kids for quite a while. For now, we are just gathering information and hoping to speak with stakeholders.
For broader information about PAUSD Special Education services, please visit our newly updated website HERE.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Palo Alto Unified has many programs that other school districts do not. Over time, it makes sense to evaluate what we are doing to see if it is meeting the needs of today. Early childhood programs are a great example. When I arrived seven years ago our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classes were located exclusively at the Greendell campus. This approach made sense when it was put in place. Later, however, the best practices in TK pointed to hosting those classes on traditional school sites. We moved the programs to our local schools with some success. We later determined that there were benefits to housing two classes on a site for the sake of planning for teachers and equipping facilities. Now, elementary schools with the program have two classes. In this example, our approach evolved without losing the purpose.
It's time to examine TK, kindergarten, Young Fives, Springboard, Special Education Preschool, and our adult school program, Preschool Families. Each component of our early childhood program was created to serve specific needs. With so many options for a small band of students, we may have opportunities for improvement across the board. Information about Young Fives and Special Education Preschool can be found HERE.
We will launch an ad hoc committee on this topic soon to evaluate our current state, examine opportunities, and consider options. There is nothing to do right now. We will reach out to people soon to see who is interested in participating.
9th GRADE MATH PLACEMENT
I remember debating math placement back in the early 2000s when I was a high school principal. My department chair was a Marine veteran helicopter pilot who was intimidating at times, but we shared a commitment to doing what was best for students.
Back then, we debated whether a required test score should be used to enter 9th grade Geometry. Despite some opposition, we moved to a placement test that served as a guide for families. As usual with math placement, strong opinions formed on both sides.
One day, our Chair came into a meeting with a handwritten spreadsheet to show me that half the students who wouldn’t have qualified under the old system were now earning a C or lower. He had the data to prove we’d accelerated too many students.
I listened, then pointed out that the other half of the students who would’ve been screened out were getting a B or better. In this case, I had the data to prove my point. Neither of us was wrong, but we saw the same data through different lenses.
Over 20 years later, little has changed. Our community continues to have differing views on math placement. Some will highlight the benefits of expanded access to Geometry and beyond, while others will point to students struggling with acceleration. But this debate isn't unique to PAUSD and it’s been happening across the country for decades.
Regardless of where people stand, PAUSD remains committed to refining our practices, evaluating progress, and supporting every student's math journey. It’s unlikely this debate will end with everyone happy, but we will continue to lean on our teachers as professionals and evolve our approaches over time
CUBBERLEY SITE CONDITIONALLY SOLD TO CITY OF PALO ALTO
After MANY years of negotiations, planning, false starts, and missteps, PAUSD and the City of Palo Alto are near a deal that would shift seven acres of our Cubberley site on Middlefield Road to the City. Most details are more in the weeds than the average person will care to know. The short version is that we have a term sheet going to the City Council on October 7 and to the Board of Education on October 8 outlining a transfer ownership.
The agreement is still subject to approval by both elected bodies and is conditional. The City will attempt to pass a bond to finance the deal with PAUSD. If successful, the City will provide PAUSD with funding of $65.5 million in the summer of 2027. If a City bond does not materialize, the two parties retain their current ownership status and will maintain a similar relationship to our current state. More detail can be found on our board agenda for those who would like additional information.
The big takeaway here is that our Board of Education and the City of Palo Alto have presumptively solved a problem that has existed for a long time. While the entire school board participated in the process, Jennifer DiBrienza and Shounak Dharap served as our ad hoc committee members and did exceptional work. I would like to thank our City Manager, Ed Shikada for his close partnership and tireless effort. It wasn’t easy!
Fletcher AVID Students Visit CSU Monterey
On September 26th, the Fletcher AVID class traveled to CSU Monterey Bay to take an official tour of the campus. A CSUMB student liaison gave the group a tour of the campus that included the science buildings, the business building, the library, and the student union. Students asked questions about campus life and learned about the dining and dorm facilities. At the end of the tour, they attended a presentation that gave details about programs, the cost of attending, and the history of the campus.
AVID is a middle and high school elective course that aims to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. The elective is designed to help students who may be the first in their families to go to college or who may face other educational challenges. They learn academic skills, critical thinking, time management, communication skills, organization, study skills, how to build relationships and about college and career options. This class is taught by a dedicated group of teachers at all five of our secondary schools.
Arts In Unusual Places on Saturday, October 19th
Stanford Shopping Mall
10:00am-12:30pm
All Performances and Visual Art on display will be near Free People and Sunglass Hut
Join us for the 3rd Annual Arts in Unusual Places event at Stanford Shopping Center on Saturday, October 19th, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM! We're bringing the vibrant creativity of our High School VAPA Programs beyond the classroom and into the heart of the Palo Alto community. The event will feature pop-up performances from Band, Orchestra, Theatre, Choir, and Jazz Band, along with stunning displays of 2D and 3D Visual Art. Experience live music performances, theater showcases and visual art exhibits by VAPA students from both Gunn and Paly in a dynamic, open-air setting that celebrates artistic expression in unexpected spaces.
STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES
It’s Annual Tasting Day Time!
In celebration of National School Lunch Week, October 14th through 18th , the Student Nutrition Services Department will host their Annual Tasting Day on Monday, October 14th at the JLS breezeway from 11:00 am-1pm.
Students, parents and staff are welcome to come taste the new entrees, salads, and breakfast items we are working on utilizing locally grown produce and provisions.
Cast your vote for the items you want us to add to the upcoming menus.
