The District Board of Trustees convened for its monthly meeting on Wednesday. The Board heard public comments from proud East Palo Alto Academy (EPAA) parents, TIDE Academy updates and parent requests, and comments from M-A’s student trustee.
TIDE Transition Update
SUHSD’s Public Information Officer Naomi Hunter provided updates regarding the closure of TIDE. TIDE students shadowed at Sequoia, EPAA, Woodside, Middle College, Carlmont, and M-A on March 3. She also described the District’s email reminders to TIDE students about completing next year’s enrollment form and targeted correspondence with students who hadn’t completed it.
Hunter also revealed the enrollment breakdown for the 187 TIDE students, consisting of current students and rising ninth graders who enrolled in TIDE before the closure was announced. The vast majority chose to attend M-A, with 84 total. In comparison, 46 students plan on attending Woodside, 41 to Sequoia, 12 to EPAA, and four to Carlmont. To continue the transition process, the District will send out letters regarding students’ 504 and IEP needs next week.
The Board began the meeting by recognizing TIDE senior Jesus Chavez, who was named the Peninsula Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year representative. Chavez has taken advantage of all TIDE has to offer, including computer science courses, and has explored opportunities outside of school, such as a META summer academy internship and an internship at Cloudera. Chavez is also the student body president and was one of the first students to complete three years of journalism at TIDE.
During public comment, TIDE parent Johanna Mahal shared her opinions on the school closure process. “East Palo Alto Academy, it breaks my heart to hear you beg and ask them to come visit, because we did the same thing. And they closed our school, many of them without ever stepping foot on it,” she said.
“You have essentially destroyed TIDE as an academy and a cohort. The kids are not sticking together. Everybody is confused about what they should do,” Mahal said. “So congratulations, if that’s what you wanted to do, you’ve ruined the lives of 200 kids.”
TIDE parent Marijane Leonard also expressed frustration about the consideration of new schools for TIDE students. “What if that school of interest was across the peninsula from where you live or where the child goes to school now? Transportation would probably be your next consideration,” Leonard said. “What if the people in charge of transportation said, ‘We’ll have to see, it depends.’ Would you choose that school?”
Comments from Student Trustee:
Student Trustee and M-A student Sophia Nguyen addressed the Board about a recent incident at M-A, where a firearm was recovered from a PE locker. She expressed concern about safety and the school’s lack of communication with students.
Statements from EPAA Parents
EPAA parents invited the Board to visit the school to see the community they have created. “Our school is not only beautiful, but please come and walk our halls, step into our classrooms, and most importantly, take the time to truly get to know our community,” EPAA bilingual parent liaison Viridiana Luna Sanchez said. “What you will find is something powerful and deeply inspiring.” They stated that the strength of the school lies in the bonds they have formed, and in the future, the school hopes to increase enrollment and expand opportunities.
Luna Sanchez spoke about the close-knit community in EPAA. “We show up for one another, we advocate for what our students deserve, and while we always lead with collaboration and respect, we are also prepared to stand firm and advocate with purpose when it comes to protecting and uplifting our community,” Luna Sancez said.
To end their statements, the three speakers reiterated their invitation to the Board to see EPAA. “Please come and walk out halls, step into our classrooms, and most importantly, take the time to truly get to know our community,” Luna Sanchez said.
The Board will reconvene on Wednesday, April 22.
