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Agenda Notice 12/10/25
Agenda Materials Regular Board Meeting December 10, 2025 The SUHSD Board of Trustees will hold its Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Annual Reorganization Meeting: 4 p.m. Closed Session: 4:30 p.m. Public Session: 6 p.m. Click Here for Agenda Public Comments The Board will convene the Annual Board Reorganization meeting at 4 p.m. Public comments on closed session agenda items will be open at 4:30 p.m. before the meeting recesses. You can join in person or via the Zoom webinar link on the agenda's front page. More information regarding public comments for this meeting is located on the agenda under Public Protocols, Item #4.1 Participate via Zoom Thank you for your interest in Sequoia Union High School District
Saturday, Dec 06 2025
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Board Notes, November 20 Meeting
SUHSD Board Notes November 21, 2025 Board Notes highlights key information and actions from the Sequoia Union High School District board meetings. Official board minutes will be approved by the Board at a subsequent board meeting. The November 20 meetings was a special meeting of the Board of Trustees and included only one action item, as described below. Full details and attachments on all items below can be viewed on the agenda. View Full Board Meeting Agenda Board Action Item Action Item The Board approved the 2025-2026 Tentative Agreement with the American Federation of State, Local, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 829, Office, Technical and Paraprofessional (O,T&P) and Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Units and Supervisors, Sequoia District Teachers' Association (SDTA), and Certificated and Classified Management, Confidential, and Unrepresented Employees. On November 5, 2025, the District and SDTA came to a tentative agreement regarding a wage increase of 3.0% in Appendix A, B, and C, of the collective bargaining agreement for the 2025-2026 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and a one-time, off-schedule payment in the amount of $1,000 to be paid to unit members and other provisional language as provided in the attached tentative agreement. On November 10, 2025, the District and AFSCME reached a tentative agreement regarding a wage increase of 3.0% for classified positions identified in the collective bargaining agreement for the 2025-2026 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and a one-time, off-schedule payment in the amount of $1,000 to be paid to unit members and other provisional language as provided in the attached tentative agreement. Also on November 10, 2025, the District and AFSCME Supervisors came to a tentative agreement regarding a wage increase of 3.0% retroactive to July 1, 2025, and a one-time, off-schedule payment in the amount of $1,000 to be paid to unit members, for all AFSCME Supervisor positions identified in the collective bargaining agreement for the 2025-2026 school year. Further, in order to provide parity for the classified and certificated management, confidential, and unrepresented employees with the selective bargaining agreements approved for SDTA, AFSCME, and AFSCME Supervisors, the District recommends that the salary schedule for classified and certificated management, confidential, and unrepresented employees reflect a 3.0% wage increase, and the one-time off schedule payment amount of $1,000 in all ranges and steps commensurate with the terms of the agreement between SDTA, AFSCME, and the District. The estimated increase for the 2025-2026 school year salary schedules for all groups included on the attached AB1200 is $6,296,943. AFSCME 2025-2026 Tentative Agreement - Nov. 10.pdf AFSCME Supervisors 2025-2026 Tentative Agreement - Nov. 10. 2025 .pdf SDTA 2025-2026 Tentative Agreement - Nov. 5.pdf SDTA, AFSCME AND MGMT AB1200 Disclosure_-_Collective_Bargaining Nov 20, 2025 (1).pdf View minutes of past meetings SUHSD Website
Friday, Nov 21 2025
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Information on water main break at Carlmont High School
Important Information Water main break at Carlmont High School On November 21 at 7:15 am, the Carlmont Plant Manager was notified by the Mid Peninsula Water District that a water main was broken under the road near campus at the intersection of Alameda de las Pulgas and Chula Drive. Water to the school was turned off to fix the break. Prinicpal Buckland-Murray was subsequently notified. After determining a timeline for possible repairs, the decision was made to close the school. Notifications via text message, audio call and email were sent to parents, students and staff between 8 am and 8:15 am. We do not have further details on the status of the repair, but we will provide updates as we learn details. We expect school to be in session on Monday, as scheduled.
Friday, Nov 21 2025
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SUHSD Update: NOVEMBER 2025
SUHSD Update News from Sequoia Union High School District November 20, 2025 Photo of the Month Students at East Palo Alto Academy celebrating Latine Heritage Month in October. Photo Credit: Victor Suarez, EPAA Science Teacher & Volleyball Coach Do you have a photo to share for possible publication in a future newsletter? Email Naomi Hunter with the photo and a brief caption. We are looking for photos of AND by students. A Message from Superintendent Crystal Leach Dear SUHSD Community, As we approach Thanksgiving, I am grateful to work in a generous community that extends care and compassion to our students and their families. November is a month when we think about feasting on delicious food, but earlier this month it seemed possible that local families might not have enough to eat. In the midst of worry and concern, I saw compassion all around me -- staff sent emails asking how they could help our families, our County Office of Education organized a food drive for Second Harvest, and local non-profits stepped up to offer support. As we head into the final weeks of autumn, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our students, families, and staff. This time of year reminds me how important it is to belong to a community that shows up for one another. I also recognize that some in our community are living through stress or uncertainty that intensifies during the holiday season. Please know that our schools continue to be places of support, connection, and care. I am thankful every day for the resilience and compassion I see across our district, and I remain committed to ensuring every student and family feels seen and supported. About this newsletter As always, we have a lot of important information to share with you. Please scroll down to read important updates and things you need to know, including: Cell Phone Policy Update District Hires New Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Coming Soon: Website Improvements Why Attendance Matters Upcoming Events and Opportunities Showcasing SUHSD Reporters Honoring the Past: 130 Years Strong Please feel free to reach out to me at cleach@seq.org if you have questions or feedback to share. Sincerely, Crystal Leach Superintendent Important Information Please read to stay up to date Need Help with Food? SUHSD offers breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students. No forms are required, and every student is welcome to participate. No proof or paperwork is needed. Cell Phone Policy Update In the September and October newsletters we provided opportunities for parents, students and employees to provide input as we develop a districtwide policy on student cell phone use by July 1, 2026. Students had the opportunity to provide feedback during class time. Initial results from parents show: Majority favor limited or educational use only Safety remains a core concern Strong awareness of distraction risks Preference for consistency across district Understand both the educational utility and behavioral risks Most negatively impacted group Initial results from students show: Most students support limited use Students recognize distraction Preference for autonomy during downtime Balanced view Open to regulation but resist full prohibition Aligns with research Initial results from staff show: Majority report phones as a distraction Most teachers state phones negatively impact learning. Enforcement challenges Already strict no-phone policies Need equity in enforcement Recommended Policy Draft Based on the findings of the survey, the recommendation will be for a policy that limits use of cell phones during class time. This recommendation aligns with parents, students, and staff majority opinions, promotes instructional focus while maintaining emergency communication access, complies with AB 3216's intent to reduce harmful smartphone use while respecting local flexibility, and reduces enforcement burden compared to a total ban. Highlights of the draft policy 5131.8 include: Smartphones in storage during all instructional periods. Permitted use during non-instructional time/exceptions. Progressive supports for noncompliance Exceptions notes, including Teacher discretion You can read the full draft here. Give Feedback on Policy Draft District Hires New Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services At the October 29 board meeting, the trustees approved the employment of Janea Marking as Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, effective December 2, 2025. Ms. Marking replaces Christine Gong, who is retiring. As Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, Ms. Marking will lead the district’s business, finance, and operational departments, ensuring strong systems that support the district’s students and their families. Ms. Marking brings 20 years of experience in public school district management. Before joining Sequoia Union, Janea served as Chief Business and Operations Officer for the Sacramento City Unified School District. She has also held leadership roles with the San Diego County Office of Education, Santa Ana Unified School District, South Bay Union School District, and Highline Public Schools in Burien, WA. “We are thrilled to welcome Janea Marking to our district,” said Superintendent Crystal Leach. “We conducted a comprehensive recruitment process, and she emerged as our top candidate. As the former leader of our Administrative Services Department, I understand the strong value of her reputation for collaboration, strategic financial stewardship and commitment to supporting student learning through strong operational systems.” Beyond district leadership, Janea is committed to developing aspiring executives through active involvement with California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). She is an instructor for the Business Executive Leadership Program, and was previously president of the San Diego/Imperial section. “My experience in public education have led me to believe that thoughtful and transparent resource management create the foundation for every student to thrive,” said Ms. Marking. “These are the values that will guide my work at Sequoia Union High School District.” Ms. Marking is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned a Master’s degree from Indiana University. She also holds a School Business Management Certificate from the University of Southern California. Coming Soon . . . SUHSD Website Improvements SUHSD is making improvements to its website in the coming months, and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Please take a moment to answer a few short questions to help us understand what matters most to you. Provide website feedback Why Attendance Matters When students show up every day, they build strong academic habits, deepen friendships, and stay connected to caring adults. Even a few missed days can make it harder to keep up in class or feel confident socially. Research shows that missing just two days a month, excused or unexcused, can put students at risk of falling behind. We want every student to benefit from our great teachers, positive peer connections, daily routines, and extra-curricular opportunities. Regular attendance is one of the simplest and most important ways to support your student’s success. Excused vs. Unexcused Absences According to California Ed Code, excused absences include: Illness Medical, dental, or vision appointments Funerals for immediate family Court or immigration appointments Religious holidays or ceremonies Unexcused absences include: Vacations or travel on school days Oversleeping or transportation issues Staying home for reasons not permitted by Ed Code “Not feeling like going” Both excused and unexcused absences count toward chronic absenteeism, but unexcused absences may lead to additional school follow-up. Chronic absenteeism means missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason. That’s roughly two days each month, whether the absences are excused or unexcused. Chronic absenteeism can make it harder for students to keep up in class, build strong routines, and stay connected at school. Please read the district's Attendance Handbook. (English, Spanish) for more information about attendance policies, or refer to the school's attendance flyers: Carlmont Menlo-Atherton Sequoia High School TIDE Academy Woodside High School How to Report an Absence If your student must miss school, please contact your school’s Attendance Office as soon as possible—ideally the morning of the absence. Include: Student’s name and ID Date(s) of the absence Reason for the absence Your name/relationship and a phone number Absences should be cleared within five school days. You will find the contact information for each school on each school's website, and on the District Attendance Page on the district website. If You Receive an Absence Notification You may get a text, phone call, or email if your student is marked absent. If you do: Check in with your student. Review the marked class period(s). Contact the Attendance Office if the absence was an error or needs to be excused. Responding quickly helps us keep accurate records and support your student. Over the last eight years in SUHSD, attendance is consistently the highest for 9th graders and the lowest for 12th graders. Thank you for Supporting Daily Attendance We know it’s not always easy to wake teens, arrange transportation, adjust schedules, and keep your student's school informed of necessary absences, but please know your efforts DO make a difference. Upcoming Events and Opportunities Sequoia High School 16th Annual Dream Club Dinner The Sequoia High School DREAM Club is holding its 16th Annual Making DREAMs Come True Fundraiser Dinner on Friday, November 21! Similar to previous years, the event will include burritos, and feature an art piece that the DREAM Club students have been working very hard on, a performance piece, and powerful student stories. Carlmont Instrumental Music Winter Concert Series: Dec 3-5 Don’t miss the Winter Concert Series from Carlmont’s award-winning instrumental music program. You have three feasts for your ears, all at 7 p.m. at the Carlmont Performing Arts Center. Get Tickets “You Can’t Take It With You” Please join us for Woodside High School Drama’s presentation of the fall play, “You Can’t Take It With You,” with three shows, Nov 21-22-23. Everyone involved in the show is working hard to bring this production to life. It’s hard to beat the $5 and $10 ticket prices. Get your tickets here today! M-A's Academy Mentor Program M-A's Computer Academy is seeking Bay Area professionals to mentor our 11th-grade students. These mentors offer support, consistency, and opportunities for our students to develop an understanding of the skills needed to achieve their future goals. There are four on-campus sessions throughout the year. For each session, you are provided with a guide to support your student with building a resume, preparing for college, and considering the many careers available to them. Sign up here. If you have any questions before signing up, please reach out to Joe Paz Showcasing SUHSD Reporters Articles written by our student journalists Each month we feature the voices of our talented student journalists and encourage the growth of the next generation of storytellers! We select and spotlight articles, stories, and reports written by students from schools across the district to celebrate their creativity, critical thinking, and journalistic skills. We hope this will offer you, our readers, unique perspectives on the events and issues that matter to our students. Click on the links below to read the student stories. When SNAP Falls Short, M-A. Steps Up By Niya Desai and Lucia Rose M-A Chronicle, Menlo Atherton High School Woodside’s undefeated football team’s key to success that brought them to CCS By Antonio Gutierrez The Paw Print, Woodside High School Key Club works with Kiwanis Club to host local food drive By Jude Abrams-Scheppler, Scot Scoop, Carlmont High School Preparing the Next Generation: The Recent Events of Sequoia's HCA By Noah Pegna, The Raven Report, Sequoia High School Honoring the Past 130 Years Strong! Throughout this milestone year, we will feature historic photos or interesting stories from our long legacy of educating students in San Mateo County. Do you have a historic photo or story to share? Please email Public Information Officer Naomi Hunter with tips: nhunter@seq.org. Sequoia Adult School Students, 1963 (Photo provided by current Adult School Guidance Information Specialist Carmen Paredes.) SUHSD Website
Thursday, Nov 20 2025
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Special Board Meeting
Agenda Materials Special Board Meeting November 20, 2025 The SUHSD Board of Trustees will hold its Special Board Meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Public Session: 5:30 p.m. NOTE: The Sequoia Union High School District is not required to offer online/remote access to a Special Meeting. However, the meeting is available to members of the public who desire to attend a public session in person. Click Here for Agenda Public Comments Information regarding public comments for this meeting is located on the agenda under Public Protocol, Item #2.1. Thank you for your interest in Sequoia Union High School District
Wednesday, Nov 19 2025
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Board Notes, November 12 Meeting
SUHSD Board Notes November 12, 2025 Board Notes highlights key information and actions from the Sequoia Union High School District board meetings. Official board minutes will be approved by the Board at a subsequent board meeting. Full details and attachments on all items below can be viewed on the agenda. View Full Board Meeting Agenda Board Consent, Information and Action Items Recognitions Superintendent Leach recognized Carlmont High School's Student Ambassadors 8th Grade Transition Team for leading tours for prospective students: Scarlett Buchanan, Natalie Chu, Avi Davidovits, Nate Dempsey, Declan Emberley, Ryan Evert, Alex Farrell, Abby Goldman, Audrey Gong, Zoe Hardman, Grace Hardman, Jacob Heller, Lucas Heller, Zoe Hendricks, Hana Hinkston, Sienna Hubert, Olivier Kondo, Aayush Kumar, Sienna Lee, Gemma Lee, Rocky Lee, Ella Lee-Donley, Mark Levental, Jacob Ma, Lea Moskovits, Piper Nguyen, Zoe Norris, Ishan Patel, Sahana Patel, Twisha Rao, Andrew Rodriquez, Sara Saheb, Ava Schett, Candence Sharma, Rowan Sheng, Ashlynn Son, Sana Tanaka, Tyler Wells, Ryan Wilkinson, Kassidy Wong, Lindsay Wong, Hannah Yeh, Andre Zabrouskov Student Advisory Council Three student members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council (SAC) -- Addya Agarwal, Asteris Ling, and Michelle Peng -- who serve as student trustee representatives, made comments related to several topics recently discussed by the Student Advisory Council, including: Diversity of students and inclusivity of culture clubs Holiday goods drive Vaping regulations Deliberative Democracy Club Trash Pick-Up and Recycling AI usage and phone policies Safety drills Sports teams Consent Items The Board approved all items on the Consent Agenda. Information Items The Board heard a presentation on progress and updates related to the 2024-27 Strategic Plan. Discussion Items The Board heard a first reading of Revised Board Policies and Administrative Regulations (Misc. Series) Student Services Department. Presentation of the review: PRESENTATION REVISED CSBA Policy Updates for Misc Student Services 12 November 2025 .pdf The specific policies can be viewed on the Agenda, Item 13.1. Board Committee Report Trustee Mary Beth Thompson reported on Board Committee work completed with Trustee Rich Ginn to review enrollment, program offerings, and the long-term fiscal health of the District. This work builds on several years of examining the District’s structural deficit and monitoring enrollment throughout the district as part of a broader review of how district resources are being used to support students and sustain programs. The Board directed Superintendent Leach to develop a plan for how the District would discuss a possible closure of TIDE Academy, and requested the plan be presented at the December 10 board meeting. View minutes of past meetings SUHSD Website
Thursday, Nov 13 2025
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Board Notes, October 29 Meeting
SUHSD Board Notes October 29, 2025 Board Notes highlights key information and actions from the Sequoia Union High School District board meetings. Official board minutes will be approved by the Board at a subsequent board meeting. Full details and attachments on all items below can be viewed on the agenda. View Full Board Meeting Agenda Board Consent, Information and Action Items Recognitions Superintendent Leach recognized Carmen Moreno, Campus Security Aide from Redwood High School. Student Advisory Council Two student members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council (SAC) -- Ashlyn Wong and Mason Consani -- who serve as student trustee representatives, made comments about several items recently discussed by the Student Advisory Council, including: The need for AI guidelines in the classrooms Student well-being and mental health in light of the recent closure of Star-Vista Types of drill conducted for student safety Consent Items The Board approved all items on the Consent Agenda. Action Items The Board approved an Amendment from Verde Design, Inc. for Added Design and Construction Administration Scope at Carlmont High School – Highland Multi-Use Field Project. The Board approved the Sequoia High School Potholing Amendment #2 with RK & Associates DBA Escon Builders. The Board approved the Contract with P2S for Commissioning Services related to the New E Wing Classroom Building at Woodside High School. The. Board approved the employment of Janea Marking as Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services, effective December 2, 2025. Attachments to all Action Items can be viewed in Section 14 on the agenda. View minutes of past meetings SUHSD Website
Thursday, Oct 30 2025