Superintendent Crystal Leach with trustees Shawneece Stevenson, Sathvik Nori, Amy Koo, and Carrie DuBois.
The District Board of Trustees held their fifth meeting of the school year on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Board recognized outgoing trustees, heard public comments, re-chartered Summit Prep, and approved superintendent Crystal Leach’s employment agreement.
Outgoing Board Members Celebrated
Outgoing trustee Carrie Du Bois and outgoing Board president Shawneece Stevenson received recognition from state senator Josh Becker and assemblymembers Diane Papan and Marc Berman for their public service.
Stevenson was recognized specifically for her contributions to the M-A Foundation for the Future and District Black Student Unions. Du Bois was recognized for her 19 years of service, her roles as delegate to the California and San Mateo School Board Associations, her involvement with youth organizations, and her commitment to student mental health.
Multiple principals and community members praised DuBois and Stevenson. “There are not enough words to thank you both for your service to our students, families, and staff,” Superintendent Crystal Leach said.
“These last few years have been a blessing, a challenge, and I’m glad that it’s over,” Stevenson said.
“Although this job has been challenging for me personally at times, it has also brought me many amazing opportunities, both inside the district and outside,” Du Bois said.
Public Comments
Following the celebration of outgoing trustees, community members Jeremy Arey and Dan Molieri criticized the Board during public comment.
“If you’re saying you feel like the District is in a better place, it proves that you haven’t really been listening,” Arey said. “I’ve seen multiple BSU advisors get pushed out of the District, and then I hear people talking about BSU support tonight, and that’s not really the case.”
Molieri criticized the Board’s spending on lawyer fees and accused the district of racial discrimination. “You’ve known about discrimination. You’ve known about retaliation. Your answer was to place another teacher like Mike Molieri, a coach and admirer who protects children at home, on leave,” he said.
Summit Prep’s Charter Renewed
Summit Prep, a Redwood City school, received a two-year charter from the District in 2022. Previous Board meetings included presentations on the school’s worthiness for charter renewal.
Summit Prep parents, staff, and students filled the room in support of their school. Two parents and a student, Lily Andrade, spoke about the school’s impacts on their life.
“In this community, surrounded by peers with similar economic and social backgrounds, I began to believe my dreams could become a reality,” Andrade said. “I gained valuable experiences, built my college resume, and collaborated with like-minded peers while prioritizing my academics.”
“Both my kids found the environment at Prep allowed them to be themselves in a way that the size of the local middle school didn’t allow,” Heather Logan, a parent of two neurodivergent Summit Prep students, said. “Summit isn’t a replacement for the District high schools, but it is a necessary alternative for students who need a different kind of learning environment.”
The Board unanimously approved the school’s charter through the 2029-2030 school year.
Superintendent Leach’s Contract Renewed
The Board voted unanimously to renew Superintendent Leach’s contract through June 2028. Leach was appointed superintendent in March 2023, having previously served twice as interim superintendent. She led the District through the COVID pandemic and recent Board controversies.
