TIDE Talking Points

Trustees,

Attached are talking points if needed. I ask that you copy me on all communication and best practice would be to check with me prior to responding. Please also remember, per our governance handbook the President is the spokesperson for the board.

Emails have been sent to the following:
all TIDE staff email
all TIDE family email
DO staff email
SDTA union president email
AFSCME union president
Former board members/superintendent (Chris Thomsen, Alan Sarver, Allen Weiner, Carrie, Jim Lianides)

I have my first TIDE staff meeting tomorrow at 4. I will provide you with next week's sets of meetings in this week's Friday update.

C-

SUHSD Board Members -- TIDE Academy Talking Points

(Post 11/12, Pre 12/10--these will be updated as the process continues)

Shared Core Messages

• No decision has been made to close TIDE Academy. The Board did not vote to close TIDE Academy on November 12.
• On November 12, the Board gave direction to the Superintendent to bring back a plan at the December 10 Board meeting for how the District will discuss and consider a possible closure of TIDE Academy. This plan will outline communication steps, community engagement, and what information and data will be brought back to the Board.
• For several years, the District has been examining its structural deficit and monitoring enrollment trends at TIDE Academy as part of a broader review of how resources are used to support students and sustain strong programs over time.
• TIDE is a very small school, and the District is facing a structural deficit--ongoing costs are growing faster than ongoing revenue. Operating a very small school increases per-student costs and can limit program breadth. Over time, continuing to operate TIDE at its current size can mean fewer classes, electives, and program options for TIDE students than the District can offer when resources are better aligned across more students and schools.
• Many people see Sequoia Union High School District as a well-resourced district. At the same time, the District is facing a structural deficit, and the Board is looking closely at how resources are used so programs can remain strong and sustainable for students.
• No one wants to close a school. District leaders and Board members understand that even talking about this possibility is upsetting and unsettling for students, families, and staff, and they do not take that impact lightly.
• District and school leaders have a responsibility to make decisions that give students--those at TIDE and across the District--the strongest educational opportunities the District can sustain over time.
• On December 10, the Superintendent will share a process and timeline for how the District would discuss and consider TIDE's future, including communication steps, community meetings in December and January, and what information will come back to the Board.
• Throughout this process, the District will strive to communicate clearly and in a timely way, provide structured opportunities for families, students, and staff to be heard, and be honest about what is known, what is not yet known, and what is still being worked out.

Board-Specific Framing

• For several years, the District has been examining its structural deficit and enrollment trends at TIDE as part of a broader review of how resources are used to support students.
• After that report, the Board directed the Superintendent to bring back, on December 10, a plan for how the District will discuss and consider a possible closure of TIDE Academy.
• The Board did not vote to close TIDE Academy.
• The November 12 direction was about approving a process, not making a final decision about the school's future.
• If the Board considers something as significant as closing a school, it intends to do so through a transparent, student-centered process with meaningful opportunities for input.

Board Q&A

Q: Did you vote to close TIDE Academy?
A: No. The Board did not vote to close TIDE Academy. The Board directed the Superintendent to bring a plan on December 10 for how the District will study and discuss TIDE's future, including communication and community engagement. Any decision about closure would come later, after that process and community input.

Q: Why are you doing this if the District is well-resourced?
A: It is true that many people see Sequoia as a well-resourced district. At the same time, for several years the District has been examining a structural deficit--ongoing costs are growing faster than ongoing revenue. TIDE's very small size makes it expensive to operate on a per-student basis and limits the classes and programs that can be offered there. Over time, continuing to operate TIDE this way means students at TIDE may have fewer classes, electives, and program options than the District can provide when resources are aligned more effectively across schools. The Board has a responsibility to address both the structural deficit and the quality of student opportunities.

Q: Why now? Did this come out of nowhere?
A: No. This work did not begin last week. For several years, the District has been looking at its structural deficit and enrollment at TIDE as part of a broader review of how resources are used. What is new now is that, on November 12, the Board formally directed the Superintendent to bring forward a specific plan and timeline on December 10 for how the District will discuss and consider TIDE's future with the community.

Q: Do you want to close a school?
A: No one on the Board wants to close a school. Board members understand the emotional, practical, and community impact that would have. However, they also have a duty to be honest about the District's finances and about what students experience in very small schools over time. The November 12 step was about ensuring that, if the Board considers this possibility, it does so through a clear, respectful, and student-centered process.