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Sequoia Union High School District

Sequoia Union High School District
View of District Headquarters
District Headquarters
Location
San Mateo County, California
United States
Coordinates37°28′56″N 122°14′12″W / 37.4821°N 122.2367°W / 37.4821; -122.2367 (Sequoia High District office)[1]
District information
TypePublic high school district
Grades9-12
Established1895; 130 years ago (1895)
SuperintendentCrystal Leach
NCES District ID0636390[2]
Students and staff
Students8,743 (as of 2021–2022 school year)
Other information
Websitewww.seq.org

The Sequoia Union High School District is a public union school district in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily serving the southern San Mateo County communities of Atherton, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Ladera, San Carlos, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, and Woodside.[3] The District currently serves more than 9,000 students, and also owns the radio station KCEA.[4]

Schools

High Schools:

Charter Schools:

Other Schools:

Governance

Superintendent

  • Crystal Leach (December 15, 2022–present)[5]

Board of Trustees

The SUHSD Board of Trustees are elected by 5 districts,[6] each representing a different geographic area served by the district. The trustees include:

  • Amy Koo, Area A
  • Carrie Du Bois, Area B
  • Richard Ginn, Area C
  • Sathvik Nori, Area D
  • Shawneece Stevenson, Area E

Controversy

Further information: Menlo-Atherton High School § controversy

In 2018, former Vice Principal Jennifer Cho of Carlmont High School was investigated by the district for inappropriate relationships with male students. During this investigation, spurred by a Change.org petition signed by thousands of Carlmont High School students, Cho was placed on administrative leave before being relocated elsewhere in the district.[7]

On August 3, 2020, the Sequoia District Teachers Association announced a vote of no-confidence in Sequoia Union High School District Superintendent Mary Streshly's leadership, and asked for her removal from office. In the letter, teachers Streshly of mishandling the district's Covid-19 response. Along with this, it cited her inability to make and communicate plans and her dismissal of racial tensions in the district. The resolution and accompanying letter received 344 out of the 500 members votes. Also in August, a second letter signed by District and Menlo-Atherton administrators additionally called for removal.[8] In September 2020, Streshly resigned from her post[9] and was succeeded by Crystal Leach, who served as interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year until the district hired Dr. Darnise Williams.[10]

On Friday, December 9, 2022, the Sequoia Union High School District called a special meeting and swore in two board members so they could participate in the private meeting that immediately followed. In that meeting they voted 4-1 to hire attorney Eugene Whitlock as their legal representative. This exasperated rumors that the new board was planning to fire Superintendent Dr. Darnise Williams.[11] On Monday, December 12, 2022, the board heard public comment on the matter. They faced criticism from Sequoia District Teachers Association president Edith Salvatore for violating community trust. No community member expressed support for the board's actions. On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, the board announced Williams' resignation, confirming rumors. Many expressed their anger and frustration for the lack of communication about Williams' resignation.[12] Williams received a $299,000 severance package—the same package she would have received under her contract had she been fired. Following the board's actions, the M-A Chronicle, Menlo Atherton High School's newspaper, published an editorial criticizing the board's secrecy on their website, machronicle.com, and as a guest opinion on the Almanac.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sequoia Union High School District". GeoNames. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Sequoia Union High". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  3. ^ Loy, Whitney (2008). "County of San Mateo: State of California High School Districts" (PDF). Jefferson Union High School District. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  4. ^ Walsh, Austin (24 October 2018). "Officials weigh fate of school's radio station". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  5. ^ Chen, Sheryl (2023-03-23). "Board Appoints Crystal Leach as Superintendent". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  6. ^ "Sequoia Union High School District - District Elections". www.seq.org. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  7. ^ "Carlmont vice principal investigated for inappropriate conduct with male students". The Mercury News. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  8. ^ Taylor, Violet (2020-10-19). "Multiple Public Letters Preceded Superintendent's Resignation". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  9. ^ Nori, Sathvik (2020-09-21). "Breaking: SUHSD Superintendent Resigns". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  10. ^ "High school superintendent Mary Streshly announces resignation amid calls for district to fire her". The Almanac. 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  11. ^ Leslie, Dylan Lanier, Ella Bohmann Farrell, Samuel (2022-12-13). "New Board Accused of Covert Plan to Fire Superintendent, Racism, and Breaking the Law". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Lam, Megan (2022-12-20). "Breaking News: Board Announces Plan for Interim Superintendent, Public Anger Remains". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  13. ^ The Editorial Board (2023-01-18). "Editorial: The Board's Secrecy Fails the Public". M-A Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
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