TIDE Academy -- Parent Request for Transparency and Student Protection(6 messages)

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is [REDACTED], and my son, [REDACTED], is a 10th grade student at TIDE Academy. I am writing because the committee recommendation you presented on November 12 -- to begin a formal process that may lead to the closure of TIDE -- has already caused significant distress to our families and students.

[REDACTED] is a student who, for years, struggled to find a school environment where he felt safe and supported. We tried multiple schools, including private ones, and none of them provided what TIDE has given him: a sense of belonging, friends he trusts, teachers who know him personally, and academic programs that genuinely engage him. For the first time, he is thriving -- socially, emotionally, and academically.

TIDE was created intentionally by SUHSD, designed by district leadership, funded with voter-approved Measure A bond money, and built as a long-term STEM/STEAM investment. It is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus opened only five years ago.
Any proposal to consider closing TIDE so soon is not only destabilizing -- it contradicts the District's own commitments and obligations to taxpayers, who funded this school based on the promise of a permanent, innovative program.

Parents deserve to know:

• why TIDE was targeted without prior communication
• what data your committee used
• why small schools are being examined selectively
• and what alternatives were considered before recommending a closure process

I will be present at the November 19 meeting among other parents and we expect a clear, transparent explanation of how this recommendation was formed and why families were excluded from the initial review. Our community deserves accountability, and our students deserve stability -- not uncertainty.

We will not quietly accept a process that endangers a school intentionally built by the District and relied upon by so many families. Parent voices, including mine, must be fully included as this moves forward.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]
TIDE Academy Parent
[REDACTED]

Do you want me to draft something based on the notes provided? If so how much do you want me to address her questions?

Begin forwarded message:

From: [REDACTED]
Date: November 14, 2025 at 1:12:03 PM PST
To: mbthompson@seq.org
Subject: TIDE Academy -- Parent Request for Transparency and Student Protection

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is [REDACTED], and my son, [REDACTED], is a 10th grade student at TIDE Academy. I am writing because the committee recommendation you presented on November 12 -- to begin a formal process that may lead to the closure of TIDE -- has already caused significant distress to our families and students.

[REDACTED] is a student who, for years, struggled to find a school environment where he felt safe and supported. We tried multiple schools, including private ones, and none of them provided what TIDE has given him: a sense of belonging, friends he trusts, teachers who know him personally, and academic programs that genuinely engage him. For the first time, he is thriving -- socially, emotionally, and academically.

TIDE was created intentionally by SUHSD, designed by district leadership, funded with voter-approved Measure A bond money, and built as a long-term STEM/STEAM investment. It is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus opened only five years ago.
Any proposal to consider closing TIDE so soon is not only destabilizing -- it contradicts the District's own commitments and obligations to taxpayers, who funded this school based on the promise of a permanent, innovative program.

Parents deserve to know:

• why TIDE was targeted without prior communication
• what data your committee used
• why small schools are being examined selectively
• and what alternatives were considered before recommending a closure process

I will be present at the November 19 meeting among other parents and we expect a clear, transparent explanation of how this recommendation was formed and why families were excluded from the initial review. Our community deserves accountability, and our students deserve stability -- not uncertainty.

We will not quietly accept a process that endangers a school intentionally built by the District and relied upon by so many families. Parent voices, including mine, must be fully included as this moves forward.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]
TIDE Academy Parent
[REDACTED]

Heather and Naomi,

I am concerned about the expectations regarding the meeting on the 19/20th.

I think we need to send another communication Monday/Tuesday to inform what the Wednesday/Thursday parent meeting is about and when they can get these answers.

Similar email for staff. Maybe a thank you for all who attended last night from me and reminding them of the process and opportunity to have a presentation and ask questions.

Mary-Beth would like me (so you) to write her a response to this parent email. My guess is that the parent reached out to her because she led the discussion at the board meeting.

Thank you to you both.

C-

From: [REDACTED]
Date: November 14, 2025 at 1:12:03 PM PST
To: mbthompson@seq.org
Subject: TIDE Academy -- Parent Request for Transparency and Student Protection

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is [REDACTED], and my son, [REDACTED], is a 10th grade student at TIDE Academy. I am writing because the committee recommendation you presented on November 12 -- to begin a formal process that may lead to the closure of TIDE -- has already caused significant distress to our families and students.

[REDACTED] is a student who, for years, struggled to find a school environment where he felt safe and supported. We tried multiple schools, including private ones, and none of them provided what TIDE has given him: a sense of belonging, friends he trusts, teachers who know him personally, and academic programs that genuinely engage him. For the first time, he is thriving -- socially, emotionally, and academically.

TIDE was created intentionally by SUHSD, designed by district leadership, funded with voter-approved Measure A bond money, and built as a long-term STEM/STEAM investment. It is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus opened only five years ago.
Any proposal to consider closing TIDE so soon is not only destabilizing -- it contradicts the District's own commitments and obligations to taxpayers, who funded this school based on the promise of a permanent, innovative program.

Parents deserve to know:

• why TIDE was targeted without prior communication
• what data your committee used
• why small schools are being examined selectively
• and what alternatives were considered before recommending a closure process

I will be present at the November 19 meeting among other parents and we expect a clear, transparent explanation of how this recommendation was formed and why families were excluded from the initial review. Our community deserves accountability, and our students deserve stability -- not uncertainty.

We will not quietly accept a process that endangers a school intentionally built by the District and relied upon by so many families. Parent voices, including mine, must be fully included as this moves forward.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]
TIDE Academy Parent
[REDACTED]

I agree that this should be clarified in a follow up email to parents, and also highlight that two additional meetings are being planned for December where you will share and discuss the data, review the financial information, and explain how small schools are being evaluated. I'll draft up both the parent and staff communications and send them to you to review.

Draft response to email--for review and editing before sending to Mary Beth

On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM Crystal Leach <cleach@seq.org> wrote:

Heather and Naomi,

I am concerned about the expectations regarding the meeting on the 19/20th.

I think we need to send another communication Monday/Tuesday to inform what the Wednesday/Thursday parent meeting is about and when they can get these answers.

Similar email for staff. Maybe a thank you for all who attended last night from me and reminding them of the process and opportunity to have a presentation and ask questions.

Mary-Beth would like me (so you) to write her a response to this parent email. My guess is that the parent reached out to her because she led the discussion at the board meeting.

Thank you to you both.

C-

Crystal Leach, Superintendent

Sequoia Union High School District

480 James Avenue

Redwood City, California 94062
(650) 369-1411

From: [REDACTED]
Date: November 14, 2025 at 1:12:03 PM PST
To: mbthompson@seq.org
Subject: TIDE Academy -- Parent Request for Transparency and Student Protection

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is [REDACTED], and my son, [REDACTED], is a 10th grade student at TIDE Academy. I am writing because the committee recommendation you presented on November 12 -- to begin a formal process that may lead to the closure of TIDE -- has already caused significant distress to our families and students.

[REDACTED] is a student who, for years, struggled to find a school environment where he felt safe and supported. We tried multiple schools, including private ones, and none of them provided what TIDE has given him: a sense of belonging, friends he trusts, teachers who know him personally, and academic programs that genuinely engage him. For the first time, he is thriving -- socially, emotionally, and academically.

TIDE was created intentionally by SUHSD, designed by district leadership, funded with voter-approved Measure A bond money, and built as a long-term STEM/STEAM investment. It is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus opened only five years ago.
Any proposal to consider closing TIDE so soon is not only destabilizing -- it contradicts the District's own commitments and obligations to taxpayers, who funded this school based on the promise of a permanent, innovative program.

Parents deserve to know:

• why TIDE was targeted without prior communication
• what data your committee used
• why small schools are being examined selectively
• and what alternatives were considered before recommending a closure process

I will be present at the November 19 meeting among other parents and we expect a clear, transparent explanation of how this recommendation was formed and why families were excluded from the initial review. Our community deserves accountability, and our students deserve stability -- not uncertainty.

We will not quietly accept a process that endangers a school intentionally built by the District and relied upon by so many families. Parent voices, including mine, must be fully included as this moves forward.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]
TIDE Academy Parent
[REDACTED]

--

Heather McGowan, MA APR
Founder | Education Strategy & Impact Consultant
McGowan Impact Consulting
heather@mcgowanimpact.com
916.673.8868
www.mcgowanimpact.com

Fabulous, thank you.

C-

Crystal Leach, Superintendent

Sequoia Union High School District

480 James Avenue

Redwood City, California 94062
(650) 369-1411

On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM Heather McGowan <heather@mcgowanimpact.com> wrote:

I agree that this should be clarified in a follow up email to parents, and also highlight that two additional meetings are being planned for December where you will share and discuss the data, review the financial information, and explain how small schools are being evaluated. I'll draft up both the parent and staff communications and send them to you to review.

Draft response to email--for review and editing before sending to Mary Beth

On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM Crystal Leach <cleach@seq.org> wrote:

Heather and Naomi,

I am concerned about the expectations regarding the meeting on the 19/20th.

I think we need to send another communication Monday/Tuesday to inform what the Wednesday/Thursday parent meeting is about and when they can get these answers.

Similar email for staff. Maybe a thank you for all who attended last night from me and reminding them of the process and opportunity to have a presentation and ask questions.

Mary-Beth would like me (so you) to write her a response to this parent email. My guess is that the parent reached out to her because she led the discussion at the board meeting.

Thank you to you both.

C-

Crystal Leach, Superintendent

Sequoia Union High School District

480 James Avenue

Redwood City, California 94062
(650) 369-1411

Draft response. Please BCC me and the board when you reply.

Dear [REDACTED]
Thank you for writing and for sharing [REDACTED] experience. I hear how important TIDE is to him and to your family, and I'm sorry for the worry this is causing.
To clarify: on November 12th, the action the Board took was to direct the Superintendent to begin a public, community-involved process -- one that engages parents, students, and staff -- to discuss and consider TIDE's future before any decision is made. The Superintendent will present that process and timeline at the December 10 Board meeting.
Here's what to expect next:

Parent meetings (next week, TIDE-only)

• In person: Wednesday, November 19, 6–7 p.m.
• Zoom: Thursday, November 20, 7–8 p.m.
  Purpose: recap the Nov 12 direction (again, no decision to close), explain why the Board initiated a process (structural deficit, enrollment trends, small-school sustainability over time), and gather your questions and priorities to shape the plan that will be presented on Dec 10.

Board meeting

• Wednesday, December 10, 6:00 p.m. at
  Purpose: the Superintendent will present the overall process and timeline — how input will be gathered, when/where meetings will occur, and how information will flow to the Board.
  (This is not a data/alternatives presentation.)

December parent meetings (scheduled after Dec 10)

• Dates and details will be announced at the beginning of December.
  Purpose: share and discuss the data, review financial information, and explain how small schools are being evaluated — with time for questions and feedback.

January Parent Meetings & Board update, dates will be shared on Dec 10

• Parent Meetings: (additional input)
• Board update: synthesis of what's been heard; the Board may vote or request more information

Day-to-day school operations continue, and nothing about your student's current experience changes as a result of the Nov 12 action.
If you'd like to submit specific questions in advance for the Superintendent's team, email {name/email address}. These questions help shape the December and January meetings.
Thank you again for your thoughtful message and advocacy. Your voice — and [REDACTED] — will be part of this process.

Crystal Leach, Superintendent

Sequoia Union High School District

480 James Avenue

Redwood City, California 94062
(650) 369-1411

On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM Mary Beth Thompson <mbthompson@seq.org> wrote:

Do you want me to draft something based on the notes provided? If so how much do you want me to address her questions?

Begin forwarded message:

From: [REDACTED]
Date: November 14, 2025 at 1:12:03 PM PST
To: mbthompson@seq.org
Subject: TIDE Academy -- Parent Request for Transparency and Student Protection

Dear Ms. Thompson,

My name is [REDACTED], and my son, [REDACTED], is a 10th grade student at TIDE Academy. I am writing because the committee recommendation you presented on November 12 -- to begin a formal process that may lead to the closure of TIDE -- has already caused significant distress to our families and students.

[REDACTED] is a student who, for years, struggled to find a school environment where he felt safe and supported. We tried multiple schools, including private ones, and none of them provided what TIDE has given him: a sense of belonging, friends he trusts, teachers who know him personally, and academic programs that genuinely engage him. For the first time, he is thriving -- socially, emotionally, and academically.

TIDE was created intentionally by SUHSD, designed by district leadership, funded with voter-approved Measure A bond money, and built as a long-term STEM/STEAM investment. It is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus opened only five years ago.
Any proposal to consider closing TIDE so soon is not only destabilizing -- it contradicts the District's own commitments and obligations to taxpayers, who funded this school based on the promise of a permanent, innovative program.

Parents deserve to know:

• why TIDE was targeted without prior communication
• what data your committee used
• why small schools are being examined selectively
• and what alternatives were considered before recommending a closure process

I will be present at the November 19 meeting among other parents and we expect a clear, transparent explanation of how this recommendation was formed and why families were excluded from the initial review. Our community deserves accountability, and our students deserve stability -- not uncertainty.

We will not quietly accept a process that endangers a school intentionally built by the District and relied upon by so many families. Parent voices, including mine, must be fully included as this moves forward.

Sincerely,
[REDACTED]
TIDE Academy Parent
[REDACTED]