Re: 11/12 Committee Report-Out

Good for you. I'm proud of your courage in taking on important, hard work.

KS

On Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM Crystal Leach <cleach@seq.org> wrote:
Thank you. Rich and I chatted and he had similar suggestions. We made some changes.

C-

On Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 10:03 AM Kevin Skelly <kevinskelly42@gmail.com> wrote:
Crystal:

I REALLY like this statement. It lets the community know what you are thinking and what you are considering. Folks may not like it, but they can't complain that they aren't informed. Your next challenge is putting together a process that works.

On the next to last paragraph, I think you are being asked to present a plan for how a decision will be made not the complete future of TIDE. Is that correct? If so, I might work on some of the phrasing.

Happy to discuss.

Kevin

On Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM Crystal Leach <cleach@seq.org> wrote:
Rich and MB,

Below is the committee read out. I propose MB read the statement, Rich can make any additional comments (please discuss with me prior) and then ask for an additional trustee to support. I will reach out to Sathvik today. I will be available today after 3 or Wednesday morning before 10 or after 2 if you need or would like to discuss.

If the board directs me to move forward. As soon as the board meeting adjourns emails will be sent to site staff, site families, and union reps.

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Draft Board Member Statement – 11/12 Committee Report-Out

This evening I'm reporting out on the work of the Board Committee that has been reviewing enrollment, program offerings, and the long-term fiscal health of our district.

Over the past several years, the District has been looking closely at its structural deficit and at enrollment patterns throughout the district and at our small schools as part of a broader effort to understand how our resources are being used and whether we are able to sustain strong, equitable programs for students at all of our schools.

As a Board, we have a responsibility to make sure that every student in Sequoia Union High School District has access to strong, diverse, and sustainable educational programs. What we are seeing with TIDE Academy is that, because it is such a small school, it requires a disproportionate amount of resources to operate, and over time that means students there are likely to have fewer classes, electives, and program options than we can offer when resources are better aligned across the district.

Our committee is recommending that the Board ask the Superintendent to develop and bring forward a clear plan for how the district would discuss and consider a possible closure of TIDE Academy. That plan should lay out:
– how and when we will communicate with students, families, and staff;
– how the community will be informed and invited into the conversation; and
– what information and data will be brought to the Board as we deliberate.

I want to be very clear: no one on this Board wants to close a school. We understand how deeply that possibility affects students, families, and staff, and we do not take that impact lightly. At the same time, we have a duty to look honestly at our overall financial picture — including our structural deficit and the costs of operating very small schools — and ask whether we are creating the best possible opportunities for all of our students, including those currently at TIDE.

We are asking the Superintendent to present a plan for the future of TIDE and its current students at the December 10 Board meeting, so that the Board and the public can see the process, understand what engagement will look like, and know how their voices will be heard before any final decision is made.

Again, no decision about closure is being made tonight. This step is about ensuring that, if we are going to consider such a significant action, we do it with a thoughtful, student-centered, and transparent process that respects the impact on our community.