Its grief.Taja Henderson, a teacher in the district, said she knew when (Williams) was hired that a target was put on her back, but she never thought that her departure would happen in less than two years.This board should be recalled, she concluded, her voice shaking.Speakers described the feeling of loss of trust in the district leadership and a traumatic upheaval, particularly for the districts students of color. I agree. According to Williams contract, the board had the right to terminate her employment at any time without cause or a hearing, on the condition that the district would pay her a severance of one years salary and the amount which the Superintendent earns from any other employment-related source.. Now, if we just move to expel kids left and right to appease some rich privileged people in the suburbs who dont have to deal with the realities of gun violence, we have created a situation where guns will still come to school, but kids will just be smarter about hiding it. Fridays meeting was, according to sources, more than four hours long, after which board members reported that they had voted 4-1 to hire new counsel, Eugene Whitlock, for an unspecified purpose.Williams, who was appointed by the board in April 2021 for a three-year contract that started in July 2021, most recently had her evaluation in August, where trustees, except for Du Bois, gave Williams positive feedback.Williams could not be reached for comment before the Wednesday night meeting. Privacy Policy Casually dismissing a life and death issue? I strongly maintain my position that there was cause to fire this woman and it was not because of the color of her skin. Dr. Williams leadership has been recognized at the local, regional and state levels for her focus on disrupting educational inequities.The announcement came after a chaotic week of closed session meetings and rumors about a possible ousting of the superintendent. Your contribution matters. It would help the community understand the truth. Mountain View Voice Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. The point being that school staff and district officials are constantly walking on eggshells, and unfortunately choices must be made regarding general school safety, the well-being of individuals, and the ever-present threat of lawsuits. If that is not what happened in this case, then I am at an absolute loss as to what prompted the firing. Hi Hmmm, Makes one wonder what else goes on outside of the public eye. If you are curious you can always talk to the school or police department and get your facts right before assuming. Terms of Use "It's likely that an anonymous student reported the incident to the school administration." Life is full of trauma. Ignore this point if you choose to but don't pretend to care about the children and the issue if you do. I've really put my neck out here, and I am done now. Nothing else matters." ReginaR, thank you for being courageous. Some of the schools still contain asbestos and lead pipes, while others . Become a Member DGS Links DGS Home DSA Home DSA News Tracker Links Project Status Home "Maybe it is about guns" Time to read: about 6 minutes. District Website SHS Website Contact Us Phone: (503) 874-1579 Alternate Phone: (503) 949-4236 Spanish Help Line: (971)707-0302 Hours of Operation Monday- Friday: 7:30AM - 4:00 PM Sat- Sun: CLOSED CLOSED all of July Returning Monday August 7th News & Info What is Sequioa? Assuming the Superintendent chose the folding option, and Im not asserting that was the best option, the counter assumption seems to be that this was part of her larger agenda. They have focused on expelling kids. However, 3 of our main high schools were built in the 1950s and the original Sequoia campus in the 1920s. The conduct of the board is the evidence that something not right is going on. For a lot of people, as long as those two kids were expelled and we advertise expulsion as a punishment, they will move on and think the situation is fully handled when it really isn't. News. She refused to answer, he said.Salvatore shared similar frustrations.I have been in the dark as has the rest of the community about all of it, she said . That reporting process occurs outside of any "system supporting equity". The young man came from a very well to do Caucasian family and speculation was that the superintendent feared a potential lawsuit. Sequoia Union High School District officials announced they selected Darnise . It leads me to question her competence. Our students . Bail unchanged for man charged in Sequoia Samuels death - Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian It is based on guilt or denial. "Not enforcing the rules or the law because "it might traumatize little Johnny" is total BS. The Board should provide its reasoning for taking this action. We thank Superintendent Williams for her grace, devotion and leadership during this unprecedented time. During this transition, the continuation of the districts equity work and a focus on student achievement will be a priority, she added. Many people in this community are unable to see those realities from their privileged positions. 94062, Redwood City, We have no facts about why the superintendent was removed. If your great grandfather lived it, and your grandfather lived it, and your father lived it (feel free to insert the maternal side as well), then mistrust of the system is ingrained. And this role has hard limits. Thank you for pointing out the complexity of race relations. (E) Assault or battery, as defined in Sections 240 and 242 of the Penal Code, upon any school employee. Judging by the comments, people will look at her removal and a strict policy of expulsion as the issue being "solved". To anyone who is reading this: Participating in a community means listening to people openly without being defensive or quick to dismiss or belittle their valid concerns, especially when they take the risk of voicing their experiences and perceptions related to race or gender. Our community not understanding the larger issues around guns that students and teachers live through daily also makes our community less safe. Common sense must prevail, and it will only prevail if people are fearless in their support of common sense. Redwood High School; Sequoia District Adult School; Sequoia High School; TIDE Academy; Woodside High School; language . Perhaps a San Mateo County social worker can work with the student and family after the expulsion. "Maybe it is about guns, but most of us have been waiting" My fear is that whoever follows is not going to be able to make the decisions best for students because theyll always have to be looking over their shoulder wondering if the boards okay with it, she said. You can close your eyes to it if you wish. People who think that everyone in this world just going to do what they are supposed to do, especially those that have their own agendas, are just naive and wrong. This is a developing story and will be updated. Become a member today. Good job bettering yourself. Could the expelled student come back and create harm anyway? I expanded the conversation to include the full picture, and I choose to not close my mind to information that needs to be considered in solutions for safety. BELMONT Sequoia Union High School District Superintendent Mary Streshly has stepped down, tendering her resignation several weeks after receiving a no-confidence vote from teachers and. There would not be two former board members who called out the new board's actions if people were making things up out of thin air. The district fired Dr. Williams in secrecy and added meetings to the schedule that were not regular. Follow AlmanacNews.com and The Almanac on Twitter @almanacnews, Facebook and on Instagram @almanacnews for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. During the meeting, speakers accused the trustees of anti-Blackness, a lack of transparency and upholding white supremacy in a public condemnation that lasted nearly an hour. ReginaR, I'm pretty sure the football game was played on Menlo Atherton's field. Home & Real Estate Bingo. Each group feels "right" and the division maintains a system of inequality and racial hierarchy. A traumatized student with a gun. If her so-called agenda was so counter to community values, how come she was hired? I taught for 30 years and would not defend bringing a loaded gun to school. Notably this board has not done this yet. And it appears the Board decided her misguided philosophy was not only problematic, eventually it could lead to the harm of students or staff, and yes, result in a massive liability for the District. Punishment for the sake of illusion will not keep kids safe or help kids who possess guns as a result of serious trauma related to gun violence. I am taken aback by the amount of highly educated//sociologically uninformed people in my community. There was an hour of public comment on the matter before the boards Monday night closed session meeting before the board ended the comment period to evaluate Williams during a closed session meeting on Monday. The board will begin an official search in the new year, according to Ginn, who said he hoped to fill the superintendents seat by the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, if not sooner. This board should be recalled, she concluded, her voice shaking. Bottom line is, whatever the "district policy" is, it was NOT followed in this case, and as a result, my child along with all others, were put in harm's way. Copyright Carlmont High School; East Palo Alto Academy; Menlo-Atherton High School; Redwood High School; Welcome to 1975! The Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) serves more than 9,000 students in grades 9 through 12 from multiple diverse communities in the mid-Peninsula region between San Francisco and San Jose. She noted that in 2020, the board paired the news of Streshlys resignation with an announcement of who would temporarily take her place. What are we doing about that major safety issue? This is one of the few times I agree with commenter Davis. This statement is not supported by any facts. Dr. Williams had a target on her back from day one, and I would beg you to take a moment and consider the fact that as. Blooms hyperbole is unnecessary. No second chances here, it's just too much risk. You can disagree. 3 Due to the student's age, most likely yes, as there is still time to redeem the student and allow the student to live a productive life. The student committed a grave offense. Girl Scouts and Woodside still at odds over busing hundreds of children to summer camp at Huddart Park, Woodside grants an exception for Girl Scouts to bus children to summer camp, but Scout leaders are still fighting to change the law, See photos showing progress of Highway 84 reconstruction project in Woodside, Palo Alto man arrested for attempted murder with lighter fluid, knife, Obituaries: Local residents who have died recently. News. #939 in California High Schools. Whether some of you like it or not, these issues are complicated with many angles. That can make for a pretty contentious discussion. What they do instead is fold the student more into systems and programs that get to the root of the issue to prevent gun-related incidents from happening. The "initiatives" that the new board opposes is the idea that M-A should eliminate honors and AP courses in the name of "equity." 80 If the superintendent was asked to leave because she made a decision that put students safety at risk then that makes sense and seems perfectly reasonable. Without understanding the reason for the decision all commentary is useless. Although April 5 marked the first day Tessa and her peers at Sequoia Union High School's Independent Living Skills program could attend classes five days a week on campus, they lost more than a year of learning and socialization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sequoia also offers transportation to and from the . I validated good points and found points of agreement. Expulsion is necessary if we are lucky enough to catch a student with a gun. If they must push AP classes, I would like to see this school board vote for the new AP African American Studies pilot and hire more Black teachers. I know we have members calling for recalls, she said. I used the same public parks and facilities, I ate in the same restaurants and shopped in the same local stores as Hispanics, Blacks, Koreans and others, and I am a better person for it. MenloVoter, when you wrote Fridays meeting was, according to sources, more than four hours long, after which board members reported that they had voted 4-1 to hire new counsel, Eugene Whitlock, for an unspecified purpose. Race and gender play a role in the workplace in this country. Unfortunately in today's world there are people who knowingly (to promote an ideology) or unknowingly (bandwagon) who introduce "ism's" into a discussion. (B) Possession of any knife or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil. One speaker called the boards actions unethical and illegal, while another described the decision as a rolling back in history.Samantha Rodriguez-Velasquez, a student trustee, described feeling heartbroken.(Dr. Williams) absence today and for the rest of this year will continually break my heart, she said. The process will include hiring a search firm and setting a timeline for finding Williams permanent replacement. A Superintendent who didnt act on red flag warnings made by a principal? It is precisely because systems are in place promoted by the superintendent supporting equity and being less punitive that M-A was able to know these kids have guns and keep everyone safe. Your support is vital to us continuing to bring you education news. This district is well-known for its struggles retaining staff of color, including Black staff who are women. THAT IS WHY DR, WILLIAMS WAS FIRED, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. Thank goodness someone reported the condition. Guns are still going to be there after these two students were expelled. We aren't safer if we expel kids without understanding the reasons for them bringing a gun to school. Common sense dictates that if a student brings a gun to school that student should be immediately expelled, no further discussion. Recently retired board members, community members speak out. Did he care about being expelled? The decision to select an interim superintendent while searching for a full-time replacement was one of several options the board considered, including appointing a new superintendent directly or taking no action until the new year, according to Ginn. My three daughters attended M-A and am a strong supporter of our public education system. I think it had everything to do with a misguided philosophy, the basis of which has already been discussed on this forum by some, including Concerned Parent. Regina, we do not know why the superintendent was fired. I explained the valid basis that some have to feel that this situation was not handled properly, and why race is a factor for many people in the community/district. Trustee Stevens declined to comment. Trustee Shawneece Stevenson could be seen wiping away tears, while the other board members mostly remained stoic throughout the public comment. In my opinion, the decisions of the principal, who is in the trenches and not in a cushy office at the district, should trump those of the Superintendent. Arabic; Armenian; . Express / Weekend Express "Even though the principal wanted the young man expelled, she was overridden by the superintendent. Cannot be verified." The Sequoia Union High School District has appointed Associate Superintendent Crystal Leach once again to step in as acting superintendent until the district finds a permanent replacement. If the superintendent did something wrong, it should have been communicated to everyone properly. Im hurt, Im sad, Im grieving, Stevenson said at the end of the meeting in a call for racial healing within the board. Don't miss out on the discussion! Ginn declined to answer questions about the payment, saying, Anything relating to the superintendent and her job, I dont want to comment on.According to Williams contract, the board had the right to terminate her employment at any time without cause or a hearing, on the condition that the district would pay her a severance of one years salary and the amount which the Superintendent earns from any other employment-related source.It also precludes Williams from taking any legal action against the district and states explicitly that the resignation is a voluntary act, and that there was no coercion by the district. Per the contract, Williams employment ends on Dec. 31.Stevenson declined to speak to the Pulse. This is a complete misunderstanding. If you choose to terminate Dr. Williams' contract, you are people of violence because you snuffed out Black life in the same way your ancestors snuffed out Black life. MA is not alone in this regard, and if our society views public schools as the frontline defense against societys ills, then the schools are destined to fail. "And some are worried about HIS trauma? Sequoia High School / Homepage Sequoia News Quarter 4 Finals Diploma Pick Up Bell Schedule 2022-2023 New Sequoia Graduation Requirements Remind Quarter Calendar Dress Code District News New Board Agenda Management Software We are proud to announce the our board agendas will now be digital via the Diligent Community platform. This is another common misrepresentation. Former trustee Chris Thomsen said that Williams departure was absolutely news to him. I would suggest to you that this is not ordinary time for the district and that you may want to consider who best can restore trust in the district when you choose that president, he said. Trustees? That said, if the issue is complex and requires a deeper probe and understanding by many, then it does not help when people like Mr. Bloom go on a rant about violence and the destruction of black and brown bodies. The board was criticized for taking this action behind closed doors, a move that Thomsen called reckless, damaging to the district and possibly illegal.The board also elected Ginn and Stevenson to serve one-year terms as president and vice president, respectively, in a unanimous vote Wednesday.Though their election followed the regular rotation of officers, not everyone agreed with the decision.Thomsen recommended that the board consider breaking from its scheduled rotation and opt not to install Ginn as president.I would suggest to you that this is not ordinary time for the district and that you may want to consider who best can restore trust in the district when you choose that president, he said. "The Superintendent failed in her primary function, which is to preserve school safety. Sign up to be among the first to get our daily local news headlines sent to your inbox for free. Bad press? The Board of Trustees made the announcement Monday night, less than a week after the departure of its Superintendent Darnise Williams. Blogs It is precisely because systems are in place promoted by the superintendent supporting equity and being less punitive that M-A was able to know these kids have guns and keep everyone safe. Another shooting in the midwest happened where a student was bullied for over a year, reported the bullying, nothing was done, and he brought a gun to school and shot several people. Victim Information. The settlement also included a non-disparagement clause for both sides, which would prohibit either party from making or writing any derogatory or unfavorable remarks against the other.The Sequoia Union High School District and superintendent have mutually agreed to part ways, Du Bois read. If the student was a red flag, and nothing substantive was done until it reached a crisis level, well then, welcome to public education. Part of growing up is experiencing trauma and learning to deal with it." "There are kids who bring guns to school because they fear for their lives going back and forth to school. Even if the superintendent was fired, people should not be satisfied with that or expulsion as the only action the school board takes to keep us safe. And some are worried about HIS trauma? @Regina No arguments there. "to not expel students because that is what actually creates an unsafe situation and grudges where students come back and retaliate. " Leach previously served as interim superintendent after former superintendent Mary Streshly left amid calls for her resignation in fall 2020. We all agree on that and want our kids to be safe. (1) Other means of correction are not feasible or have repeatedly failed to bring about proper conduct. My political leanings are to the left. This is NOT THE CASE. I doubt you will find any sympathy in this case. Put 1500 other people on edge for the sake of not "adding" to one student's perceived trauma? Expulsion policies were enforced at that school. @ Parent, some of my replies to you just got approved a day late so you can scroll up to see them. WE WERE LUCKY THIS TIME. I think many others do as well, but are afraid to voice their agreement out of fear of being labeled. If a suit against Ms. Williams or the district is unrealistic, the fear is still quite palpable. Maybe youre the one who belongs in 1975. We're not dumb. Not enforcing the rules or the law because "it might traumatize little Johnny" is total BS. I didn't advocate against expulsion. "But immediate expulsion is required. I have responded with detailed analysis and objective realities. This is such a simple case. One participated in recovering the firearm. We're not dumb. "Not a racial issue, it would be an issue of bad decision leading to the risk of students." News . In my opinion, it's critical that people of the community speak up when faced with such "ism" tactics. Done. The Sequoia Union High School District has appointed Associate Superintendent Crystal Leach once again to step in as acting superintendent until the district finds a permanent replacement.The Board of Trustees made the announcement Monday night, less than a week after the departure of its Superintendent Darnise Williams. Privacy Policy They are not saying those things for fun. Start with the fact that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess a firearm and it is illegal for anyone (except law enforcement) to bring a firearm onto a school campus, the safety risks are evident. The law says this (irrelevant parts deleted): The situation is more troubling than it looks, and our kids need better solutions. They are also set up for failure in life if they are uncomfortable in diverse spaces. Guns were on the campus long before this superintendent was hired and will still be there after her firing. Simply expelling students or firing the superintendent for the lack of expelling a student regarding guns does not solve the issue of guns on our campus. Did Ms. Williams not seek the advice of anyone else, including district legal counsel? This is an undefined term meant to sway the reader. A lot of kids do not care about being expelled depending on the circumstances and hardships they are facing that cause them to bring guns to school. Palo Alto Online If there was an investigation, it was never acknowledged publicly.. It is unhinged. Mission Statement. I wish former Superintendent Williams well. What about the "administrative panel" or "governing board"? Sequoia Union High School District Please select the Project you want to review. It is very interesting that prior board members praised her on their way out and the new board comprised of two members who made it know they never wanted to hire her moved to fire her in a dishonest way. How many is many? 160. TheSixFifty.com Remember, no one person is the arbiter or decider of whether or not something has racial connotations or contributes to racial traumas experienced by members of our community. Photo by Leah Worthington. I qualified my opinions days ago, although it may be lost in all of the hyperbole, so I will repeat it. Inconvenienced? Whether it was a mutual agreement whether she quit or whether she was fired, that information will most likely always be kept confidential so people can make up whatever they want and choose any reason that suits their position and you'll never be able to say if it's right or wrong. People have experienced and documented racism in our district related to their background for a long time, and our district has a very hard time retaining staff of color. She did sign an agreement before leaving. I just want to say it is possible to disagree and be respectful of others. Hopefully the school and the superintendent agreed with this sentiment and acted immediately. The only criteria I see as valid is that the student violated the law, and a significant law at that. Common sense is everywhere! And do we consider the trauma of the the other students, teachers, and staff who are aware that a student brought a gun to school, and subsequently *returned to school* ? Superintendent. Share. In both cases it appears the tragedies could have been avoided if swift and/or pre-emptive steps had been taken. ReginaR, thank you for clarifying this was Freshman football. Home Their lack of representation and presence speaks to the silent unwelcome that this community is afraid of speaking of. They are the ones in the classrooms. The way they handled this is very irresponsible. I feel sorrow, Du Bois told this publication before the meeting. Oh I dont think that Dr. Williams decision-making had anything to do with fear of a lawsuit. Even if they had to fire her, they could have done so in a way that invited her to still celebrate her successes. School districts are pouring more and more resources into risk management, but there are just too many to manage, especially given under trained or understaffed campuses. Many are speaking from a long history and experience with racism in the community, and seeing their concerns dismissed for decades. A person who has gone through a history of unfair experiences centered around race is usually not going to be so definite in dismissing racism as a factor in situations like this. I won't speculate on the reasons behind the closed door meetings, but certainly the gun incidents were frightening. That was a theory. Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. I am firmly in the Zero Tolerance camp on this one. Home Salvatore echoed concerns shared by other district teachers, students and staff, who described a loss of trust in the board due to its decision to let Williams go. I feel sorrow, Du Bois told this publication before the meeting. A lot of gun possession by kids in this area is related to trauma some kids go through where they feel unsafe going to and from school. Circulation & Delivery Embarcadero Media It is hard for those who have not lived through overt and institutional racism to see the BIPOC perspective, or the impact that racism has had generationally. Sign up for our. But hard limits must be drawn and respected. We thank Superintendent Williams for her grace, devotion and leadership during this unprecedented time. Now, if we just move to expel kids left and right to appease some rich privileged people in the suburbs who dont have to deal with the realities of gun violence, we have created a situation where guns will still come to school, but kids will just be smarter about hiding it. The school semester ends Thursday, with the spring term beginning Jan. 8.The board voted unanimously to offer Leach the position of district interim superintendent, dependent upon successful negotiations of an interim superintendent employment agreement and approval by the board in open session at the next regular board meeting, Board President Rich Ginn said during the meeting.Leach told The Almanac's sister publication, the Redwood City Pulse, she was honored to again be of service to our students, community, and staff.During this transition, the continuation of the districts equity work and a focus on student achievement will be a priority, she added.Leach previously served as interim superintendent after former superintendent Mary Streshly left amid calls for her resignation in fall 2020.The decision to select an interim superintendent while searching for a full-time replacement was one of several options the board considered, including appointing a new superintendent directly or taking no action until the new year, according to Ginn.The board will begin an official search in the new year, according to Ginn, who said he hoped to fill the superintendents seat by the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, if not sooner.
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