Students, parents urge PAUSD board to protect Pali theatre, demand clearer postvention after student’s death

Dozens of students, parents and alumni gave emotional testimony at the Palo Alto Unified board meeting on March 17, urging the board to preserve the Pali theater program and pressing for clearer, faster postvention (suicide‑response) communications after the recent death of a Pali student.

Speaking on behalf of a group that included the deceased student’s family, a father said his daughter "was a junior at Pali" and described theater as her "invincible refuge." Multiple students described the Pali theater teacher as a pillar and a "safe adult" who provided stability during difficult times. One student said, "Miss Thurman has been a lifeline in harder moments," and others connected the program to belonging for students, including LGBTQ youth.

Beyond calls to protect the teacher and program, students urged clearer district communications and specific postvention actions. One speaker asked the board to "implement a section of the PSD website to keep the public informed about your postvention process," arguing that students and families needed timely notice about support sessions and focus groups. Several students said wellness‑center meetings and focus groups were announced with little notice, making attendance difficult.

District staff and some trustees acknowledged the students’ concerns and described existing steps — including work with outside organizations such as the JED Foundation and Project Safety Net — while students and parents said they wanted more public clarity about what the district is doing and why. Students asked for targeted counseling outreach to identified friend groups and clubs that were likely affected and for more visible follow‑up so that grieving groups would not be left to rely only on each other.

School leaders and union representatives also spoke about the role educators and classified staff play in student well‑being, and several speakers tied program continuity and staff stability to students’ mental health. The board did not take immediate policy action on personnel or program assignments during the meeting; trustees directed staff to follow up and said certain matters would be agendized in the coming meetings.

Next steps: students and families asked the district to post a clear postvention process and earlier notices of support events; the board said staff would report back with updates and that some issues may be considered in future agenda items.