The District Board of Trustees convened for their third meeting of the school year on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Trustees, excluding Amy Koo, recognized M-A’s cheer team, listened to public comments and requests to renew a charter school, and reviewed revisions to 31 District policies.
Cheer Team Celebrated
Members of the M-A Cheer team, along with coaches Averi Westbrook and Danielle Daniels, received a certificate of recognition from the District.
Principal Karl Loosekoot introduced the team, saying they “represent M-A in a way that few groups do.” He also shared a personal anecdote about the cheer team’s performance at a recent M-A freshman football game. “I was struck by the power of their presence,” he said.
Loosekoot emphasized the team’s representation of different backgrounds. “They are a diverse, unified, powerful, and perhaps most importantly, fun group at M-A,” he said. Following his introduction, the team gave a brief energizing performance with lifts and chants.
Associate Superintendent of Educational Services Bonnie Hansen then handed each team member and coach an individual certificate for their “unwavering spirit” and for “proudly exemplifying the dedication and integrity of the Menlo-Atherton High School Cheer team,” Hansen said.
Comments on Coach Mo’s Absence
During public comment, multiple community members, including basketball coach Mike Molieri’s brother Dan Molieri, pressed the board for more details on Mike Molieri’s leave of absence.
M-A parent Virginia Davis was the first to speak about the absence. “I am here to express my dissatisfaction and disappointment with the administration’s failure. It’s day 67 you’ve kept [Mike Molieri] away from the school doing what he does best, and that’s to care for students in the IEP program or coaching the basketball team.”
Administrative Assistant Ofa Taimani, who is currently on medical leave due to a work-related injury, also spoke on behalf of Mike Molieri. “[Mike Molieri’s] union rights are being violated and the students are the ones being affected the most,” she said.
Former M-A Faculty Advisor Jeremy Arey and his wife Kari Cheng both spoke on Mike Molieri’s absence via Zoom and made comments about the District’s general lack of care for students.
During his comment, Dan Molieri criticized the District for using taxpayer money to cover the ongoing legal conflict with Mike Molieri. “You are on 67 days of keeping my brother home. Why do [the taxpayers] have to pay for your guys’ crimes?”
Petition to Renew Summit Prep
Summit Preparatory, a Redwood City charter school founded in 2003, received a two-year charter in 2022. A compilation of eight teachers, parents, and students spoke of their love for the school and requested a contract renewal of five years.
Speakers highlighted the school of less than 400 people’s mentorship program and individual attention to students. “They say it takes a village to raise a child and I’m so happy to have [Summit Prep] as part of my village,” said Andrea Villanueva, the mother of a Summit Prep student.
To close, Summit Prep executive director and school board candidate Mary Beth Thompson gave a presentation displaying statistics on successful college preparation and giving personal anecdotes.
“The numbers are impressive, but it’s the stories that keep me coming to the doors everyday,” Thompson said.
Bargaining Agreement
Sequoia District Teachers Association President Edith Salvatore announced that a tentative agreement had been reached in bargaining with the District for increased teacher pay. No specific number was mentioned.
Despite the agreement, Salvatore encouraged collaboration regarding the District’s cooperation. “You don’t have to wait for us to raise questions and concerns, a partnership goes both ways,” she said.
Updates to District Policy
Dr. Elizabeth Chacón, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, presented a slideshow covering various proposed revisions to 31 District policies based on statewide guidelines.
Before the presentation, M-A English teacher Abbie Korman spoke up about her skepticism regarding the abundance of policies being revised.
One of the updates clarifies the causes, consequences, and timelines for expulsion, suspension, and alternative disciplinary programs.
Chacón clarified that if a student is hospitalized, it’s up to the teacher to provide adequate make-up work. “As a parent who has a child with a medical condition, this doesn’t feel very clear to me,” Board president Shawneece Stevenson said as a response to this policy. Following additional comments from Hansen, it was determined that teachers must ensure the student understands the concepts missed, not necessarily the specific assignments. Additionally, a whole day of absence every semester is allowed for religious retreats, instead of the previous half day.
All schools are also now potentially required to maintain two units of naloxone—a medicine that can reverse a fentanyl overdose—at all times.
Furthermore, the word “funeral” may be replaced with “grieving” in its leave policy. This allows students to be excused from school if they need time to attend a mourning service or to grieve the loss of “a person closely associated” with the student, not only an immediate family member.
None of these policies have been passed and will be discussed further the next time the Board meets on Oct. 30.
