DRAFT: Follow-Up on Board Discussion Tonight(3 messages)

Crystal, here are a couple of paragraphs you could use as an intro if you forward the TIDE staff communique to DO employees tonight. Heather, this came up late in the day, so I drafted this, but welcome any suggestions or recommendations you have. It occurred to us that staff here at the DO interact with staff and we don't want them to hear it through the grapevine. I thought about specifically encouraging them not to speculate or spread rumors, but I honestly could not come up with a way to say that that did not sound condescending, so I chose to focus on ensuring that only accurate info is shared.

Dear DO staff,

I want all of you to be aware of a communication I sent to the staff of TIDE Academy, below, after tonight's board meeting. Following a Board Committee report on its review of enrollment, programs, and long-term fiscal considerations related to TIDE Academy, the Board directed me to develop a plan for how the District would discuss a possible closure of TIDE Academy. That plan is scheduled to be shared with the Board at a Board meeting on December 10. I encourage you to read the full text of the email below, which provides context and an explanation of next steps.

This will be difficult news for TIDE staff to hear and process, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me as you may interact with staff over the next few days. Please know that we are committed to communicating as openly and promptly as possible with all involved to ensure that accurate information is shared. I encourage you to reach out to me or to your supervisor if you have questions.

As stated below, no one wants to close a school, and we understand the impact that even entering into this discussion will have on TIDE staff and the students and families they serve. Please join me in supporting our TIDE staff and families as we enter the challenging process of determining next steps.

Sincerely,

Crystal Leach
Superintendent

This is great--if there was one thing I'd suggest it would be to add: "If you receive any media inquiries about this, please direct them to Naomi Hunter {with your phone # and email address}. We will be developing an informational page with FAQs on our website, and will be holding meetings with staff and parents over the next few weeks."

On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM Naomi Hunter <nhunter@seq.org> wrote:

Crystal, here are a couple of paragraphs you could use as an intro if you forward the TIDE staff communique to DO employees tonight. Heather, this came up late in the day, so I drafted this, but welcome any suggestions or recommendations you have. It occurred to us that staff here at the DO interact with staff and we don't want them to hear it through the grapevine. I thought about specifically encouraging them not to speculate or spread rumors, but I honestly could not come up with a way to say that that did not sound condescending, so I chose to focus on ensuring that only accurate info is shared.

Dear DO staff,

I want all of you to be aware of a communication I sent to the staff of TIDE Academy, below, after tonight's board meeting. Following a Board Committee report on its review of enrollment, programs, and long-term fiscal considerations related to TIDE Academy, the Board directed me to develop a plan for how the District would discuss a possible closure of TIDE Academy. That plan is scheduled to be shared with the Board at a Board meeting on December 10. I encourage you to read the full text of the email below, which provides context and an explanation of next steps.

This will be difficult news for TIDE staff to hear and process, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me as you may interact with staff over the next few days. Please know that we are committed to communicating as openly and promptly as possible with all involved to ensure that accurate information is shared. I encourage you to reach out to me or to your supervisor if you have questions.

As stated below, no one wants to close a school, and we understand the impact that even entering into this discussion will have on TIDE staff and the students and families they serve. Please join me in supporting our TIDE staff and families as we enter the challenging process of determining next steps.

Sincerely,

Crystal Leach
Superintendent

done. thank you both.

C-

On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM Heather McGowan <heather@mcgowanimpact.com> wrote:

This is great--if there was one thing I'd suggest it would be to add: "If you receive any media inquiries about this, please direct them to Naomi Hunter {with your phone # and email address}. We will be developing an informational page with FAQs on our website, and will be holding meetings with staff and parents over the next few weeks."

On Wed, Nov 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM Naomi Hunter <nhunter@seq.org> wrote:

Crystal, here are a couple of paragraphs you could use as an intro if you forward the TIDE staff communique to DO employees tonight...

Dear DO staff,

I want all of you to be aware of a communication I sent to the staff of TIDE Academy, below, after tonight's board meeting. Following a Board Committee report on its review of enrollment, programs, and long-term fiscal considerations related to TIDE Academy, the Board directed me to develop a plan for how the District would discuss a possible closure of TIDE Academy. That plan is scheduled to be shared with the Board at a Board meeting on December 10.

This will be difficult news for TIDE staff to hear and process, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me as you may interact with staff over the next few days.

As stated below, no one wants to close a school, and we understand the impact that even entering into this discussion will have on TIDE staff and the students and families they serve.

Sincerely,

Crystal Leach
Superintendent