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Students tout internships; board approves $45,000 consultant payment to Nova School
Summary
Thirty-two students completed PVPUSD's inaugural Advanced Internship Program; students described research, environmental and industry placements, and the board approved a $45,000 consultant payment to Nova School for phase‑2 work supporting the summer program.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District highlighted its inaugural Advanced Internship Program and LEAD Summit during the Aug. 27 Board of Education meeting, where students described workplace projects and public presentations that district leaders said will help prepare students for college and careers.
Dr. Serrano and program leads said 32 high school students participated in the grant-funded program this summer. Becky Egan, coordinator of the summer advanced internship program, told the board the district is the only one in the South Bay offering this grant-funded pathway that records five UC‑approved elective units directly on students’ transcripts.
Nova School founder Shubra Kathuriel said the program partnered with about a dozen employers—ranging from tech and AI work to environmental organizations—so students could tackle authentic projects. “Every single student felt that they left with way more confidence than what they started with,” Kathuriel said.
Students gave brief accounts of their placements. Coco Nee (Peninsula High) described workshops and a research project on AI and the future of work; Ryan Chang (Peninsula High) summarized an environmental internship at AltaSea focused on aquaculture and carbon‑sequestration education; Amy Wen (Palos Verdes High) described work in the superintendent’s office that included redlining board policies; Ryan Lowe (Palos Verdes Peninsula High) said his SDverse placement included budgeting and product communications work.
At consent, the board approved an amended consultant contract (L‑1a) to pay Nova School up to $45,000 to compensate for phase‑2 summer work that included one‑on‑one support for students and coordination of the LEAD Summit. Board members said the cost reflects work already completed and the higher-than-expected student participation.
The board discussed expanding the program and involving more employers and mentors next year.
