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Sequoia Union High School District board meeting, Apr 22, 2026

2 h 50 min · 10 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 2 h 50 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  6. Rich GinnVice President/Clerk
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Sequoia Union board motion on consistent honors course offerings fails 2:37:03

  • A motion carried 5⁠-⁠0, and after Amy Koo commented on the Tongan course proposal, another motion carried 5⁠-⁠0. 45:28
  • The board heard presentations on sustainability, the local control and accountability plan and the Measure W bond program. 48:09
  • A motion by Rich Ginn that the AS and honors offerings at MA Woodside, Sequoia and Carlmont be consistent, achieved by adding, not removing course offerings, failed. 2:37:03
  • The board approved the purchase of 2,200 Chromebooks for incoming 9th grader students 5⁠-⁠0. 2:48:02

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and closed session report 0:00
    • A quorum was present at roll call, with the board president attending via Zoom. 2:48
  2. Recognitions 3:35
    • A staff member recognized 10 debate team members who qualified for the National Parliamentary Debate Tournament of Champions, along with teachers, aides and staff who support newcomer students. 4:40
    • A staff member said 2 of the school's teams were named co-champions. 7:05
    • Sathvik Nori said debate had a special part in their life since high school and said the team's effort had paid off. 9:04
  3. Public comment on items not on the agenda 17:19
    • A speaker at public comment called on the board to release depositions and said more costly legal disputes were coming. 20:01
    • Another speaker said summer school would not be hosted at East Palo Alto Academy and asked the district to provide transportation if it is held at MA. 23:11
  4. Board and superintendent comments 25:46
    • Amy Koo described chaperoning an IB Environmental Systems and Society field trip to Pacifica State Beach. 30:23
    • Rich Ginn noted Secretary's Day and thanked the board's secretary on behalf of the board. 32:06
    • The superintendent said a student publication was selected as a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Award winner for 2026. 32:55
  5. Consent agenda and Tongan course proposal 36:43
    • Amy Koo pulled item 13.5 and said the course creates another world language opportunity that fulfills A through G requirements. 44:44
    • One board member said they support the proposal. ~47:00
    • A motion carried 5⁠-⁠0, and after comments on item 13.5, a second motion carried 5⁠-⁠0. 45:28
  6. Student sustainability presentations 48:09
    • A student presenter proposed a regulation requiring climate impact assessments for proposed district policies, projects and purchases. 51:51
    • Sustainability Committee presenters asked the board to review a 2026 climate resolution in full and schedule a vote. 57:41
    • Amy Koo asked how many non-students are involved in the committee. 1:02:43
  7. Tide Academy transition update 1:05:40
    • A speaker at public comment questioned the decision to close Tide and asked for more transparency in the board's decision-making. 1:06:24
    • A staff member reported that school placement letters were sent to families and that counselors from other high schools met with Tide students to select courses. 1:09:50
  8. Local control and accountability plan 1:10:50
    • A staff member said the district is in year 2 of a 3-year cycle and that none of the goals have changed. 1:11:16
    • Amy Koo asked about the student survey data shown in red, and a staff member said feedback led to adding the student survey and the Healthy Kids Survey, tied to focus groups. 1:15:14
    • Mary Beth Thompson asked about new staff survey questions on test proctoring. 1:17:20
  9. Review of plan changes at EPA 1:21:00
    • A presenter said after-school tutoring would be eliminated due to low enrollment and that the Boys and Girls Club would provide tutoring next year. 1:24:24
    • The presenter said new math intervention classes would be added next year. 1:24:52
  10. Measure W bond construction update 1:28:50
    • The chief facilities officer said a new T-wing building would grow from 15,166 square feet to 32,584 square feet. 1:29:35
    • The chief facilities officer said a bleacher replacement project would increase seating from 954 to 1,475. 1:40:24
    • A staff member said there was no change to the program budget and that other campuses, which include satellite campuses and infrastructure projects, total $125 million. 1:47:27
  11. Ninth grade honors and advanced courses 1:58:21
    • Rich Ginn said the item was placed on the agenda at the request of community members and had no staff presentation. 1:58:55
    • Several speakers at public comment addressed the item, with some speaking for heterogeneous 9th grade classes and others for restoring honors courses. 2:01:34
    • One board member said students should have access to differentiated English and science in 9th grade, while another board member said the heterogeneous approach is the right thing. 2:26:23
    • A motion by Rich Ginn that the AS and honors offerings be consistent, achieved by adding, not removing course offerings, failed. 2:37:03
  12. Declaration of need for educators 2:41:11
    • The board considered requests for declaration of need for qualified educators for the 2026⁠-⁠2027 school year. 2:41:11
    • The motion carried 5⁠-⁠0. 2:42:12
  13. Facilities contracts and agreements 2:42:16
    • The board considered contract amendments for a topographic survey and interim housing architectural services at Woodside High School. 2:42:16
    • The board also considered roofing projects at Woodside, Claremont and Sequoia high schools. 2:43:33
    • The board considered releasing a draft mitigated negative declaration for the Sequoia High School facilities upgrade. 2:46:18
  14. Technology purchases 2:47:33
    • The board considered the purchase of 2,200 Chromebooks for incoming 9th grader students, network infrastructure purchases and interactive classroom displays. 2:47:33
    • The board considered Resolution Number 17 declaring the futility of public bidding for a sole source purchase of Apple products. 2:49:20
  15. Future agenda items and adjournment 2:50:00
    • The board took up future agenda items and a motion to adjourn. 2:50:00

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “SUHSD Board Meeting, April 22, 2026”