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Parents criticize rollout as district reports 187 student selections in TIDE transition
Summary
Parents sharply criticized the district's communication after the board-approved closure of TIDE Academy; district staff reported 187 students selected new schools (84 Menlo Atherton, 46 Woodside, 41 Sequoia, 12 East Palo Alto Academy, 4 Carlmont) and said confirmation letters and IEP/504 outreach are next steps.
The Sequoia Union High School District on Wednesday reported final student selections for the TIDE Academy transition and faced forceful public criticism from parents who said the district’s March plan was unclear and disruptive.
Naomi Hunter, the district’s public information officer, told trustees the district recorded 187 students who selected placement options after the February decision to transition TIDE. Hunter said 84 students selected Menlo Atherton High School, 46 selected Woodside High School, 41 selected Sequoia High School, 12 selected East Palo Alto Academy and 4 selected Carlmont High School. Hunter said district staff carried out targeted outreach before the March 9 enrollment deadline and that confirmation letters would be sent and families would be contacted about 504 plans and individualized education program meetings.
The numbers came as several parents said the rollout fractured the TIDE cohort and left families without clear information. “The follow-through on that decision has been very poorly executed,” said a parent who spoke during public comment, describing stress that led her to request an IEP for her child. Mary Jane Leonard, another parent, said many families chose Menlo Atherton because program details and transportation options were not communicated in time: “Trustees, this is the kind of leadership that you are allowing. That is to say a total lack of leadership.”
Resident Johanna Mahal, who identified herself as living in the district, criticized the board for voting to close TIDE and said she would support recalls of trustees and urged Superintendent Leach to resign. “I will enjoy the recall of you, all of you,” Mahal said, and added the district closed the school without many trustees ever visiting the campus.
The district said it will send confirmation letters early next week and reach out to families about IEP and 504 meetings. Hunter told the board that district staff held shadow days for TIDE students at multiple sites, including Menlo Atherton, Sequoia and Woodside, and that outreach efforts included emails and newsletter notices used to encourage families to complete enrollment selections.
The TIDE transition was presented as an information item; no board action was taken Wednesday. Trustees did not vote on reversing the closure; instead, staff described next steps for student placements and individualized services.
The district did not provide detail in the presentation on transportation arrangements beyond saying families would be contacted; parents at the meeting called for clearer, pro-active communication on logistics and program specifics. Trustees said staff would continue outreach and provide updates as confirmation notices go out.
