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Board approves $150,000 MOU with Dreamcatchers after dozens of parents and students testify in support
Summary
The Palo Alto Unified School District approved a memorandum of understanding to fund Dreamcatchers at $150,000 for the coming year; more than a dozen parents, students and tutors urged continued support during a lengthy public‑comment period.
The Palo Alto Unified School District Board on June 18 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dreamcatchers, a long‑running after‑school tutoring, mentoring and enrichment nonprofit, setting district support for the year at $150,000.
Dreamcatchers’ executive director, Nicole Chuong, told the board the program has expanded since 2008 and now served nearly 200 middle‑school students in PUSD last year and provided sustained service‑learning opportunities for roughly 187 high‑school students. “In 2022‑23 we served 160 students and this last year we served almost 200 middle school students in PUSD and provided a sustained Service Learning opportunity for 187 PUSD high school students,” she said.
During the public‑comment period more than a dozen parents, current tutors and alumni described tangible academic and social‑emotional benefits. A summer‑program participant and former student said the program improved confidence and study habits; another student‑tutor described Dreamcatchers as a community that encourages participants to return as tutors and classroom leaders.
Why it matters: The MOU formalizes district funding and clarifies that Dreamcatchers’ core program will be decoupled administratively from the district’s elementary learning‑options (ELOP) program so the nonprofit’s core work remains stable if ELOP funding or structure shifts.
Program details and oversight: Staff said the MOU increases Dreamcatchers’ base funding (historically about $45,000 in earlier years) to $125,000 plus additional support for sixth‑grade ELOP participants, for a total district compensation figure of $150,000 for the year. The MOU also clarifies program responsibilities, funding rhythm and annual reporting; board members asked staff to clarify program oversight and service‑counts in future reporting.
Next steps: The board voted to approve the MOU by unanimous roll call. Board members thanked parents, students and Dreamcatchers staff for their testimony and asked staff to provide ongoing program metrics and participation counts in forthcoming board packages.
Representative public comments (paraphrased): Parents said the program helped students navigate language and cultural transitions and improved school success; student speakers described the program’s impact on confidence, academic habits and opportunities to return as tutors.
