16 January 2024 Palo Alto School Board Meeting

1. 3A – Briones Equity Presentation … actually good focus on Special Ed, but it would be nice to have more numbers! This has been a very good first year of this, I hope that there will be a review for more consistent reporting going forward using the best from each school.

2. The Middle College Update… maybe a good fit for some SWD (and others)

3. Annual Audit Report… I don’t have time to go through before tonight. Important stuff!

4. 3D – Human Resources Report… no date on churn (even more so by department) :( Also no data on hiring of disabled workers. BIG POINT – In the 3 years my family has been in PAUSD, we’ve lost 300ish students… that is close to an Elementary School worth of kids. This is a topic we need to discuss (not just SWD).

5. 5D – 4 Special Ed Aides hired, 3 Aides resigned.

6. 5G – Legal Affairs Coordinator being hired… should add ADA skill set given recent Supreme Court ruling.

7. FYI – Management Salary Schedules published.

8. 8A – 2023 California Dashboard is out. SPED issues – larger than state average gap between SPED and overall students (better absolute numbers). And actual issues in attendance and suspensions. SPED students are basically the weakest cohort in the district.

9. 8B – Parcel tax – if we are to give money to future parcel taxes (and PIE) we should have better data on staffing which is the key focus of those funds.

“Attract and retain highly qualified teachers;

Add support staff to help at-risk students who are struggling with the basics”

10. 8E – Ad Hoc Committee on Positive Belonging at Green … lack of data and information on inclusion of SPED :(

11. 8G – Public Records Request – Almost every time I’ve asked for data, the PAUSD has been helpful and prompt. I have one had open on some relatively basic data on the Special Education program since September. Perhaps it would be useful to have data here on how long some of these are open and the age of them…