Crystal,
If I can be of any assistance I would be happy to come in, but my involvement with TIDE began
with the passage of the bond in 2014 and ended with my retirement in 2017. The construction of
the school had just broken ground when I left. I can certainly provide information on why the
school was created and what our working plans for the instructional model were in 2017, but I’m
not sure how that helps you address the current situation. If it does, let me know. I would be
happy to come in.
Jim
On Nov 13, 2025, at 11:18 AM, Christopher Thomsen
wrote:
Crystal,
I’d be happy to participate, if you believe we can be helpful.
I understand that closing a school can be tough, and you’re correct to recall that our
board was thoughtful and diligent in adding the Tide option to the wonderful mix of
Sequoia options to meet the diversity of student needs.
Thanks for reaching out to us.
Chris
On Nov 12, 2025, at 8:21 PM, Crystal Leach
Hi Alan, Chris, Sarver, Carrie, and Jim,
I hate that I’m writing to you under these circumstances, but I wanted to
bring you into the conversation if you are interested. You were the
brains and the muscle behind the creation of TIDE, and your insight and
perspective are invaluable as we navigate what comes next. At tonight’s
board meeting on November 12, a Board Committee reported on
its review of enrollment, programs, and long-term fiscal
considerations related to TIDE Academy. Following that report,
the Board directed me to develop a plan for how the District
would discuss a possible closure of TIDE Academy.
Board members spoke about their responsibility to look at how
we are using limited resources across the District. One of the
concerns they raised is that, because TIDE is such a small
school, continuing to operate it at its current size can, over time,
result in fewer classes, electives, and program options for TIDE
students than we can responsibly offer when resources are better
aligned across the District. At the same time, we fully recognize
that TIDE is a close-knit community and that even considering
the possibility of closure is deeply upsetting.
I wanted to share this information directly with you and offer time to
meet if you would like to ask questions or talk through what this means.
I can also continue sharing updates as more information becomes
available.
Please let me know if you are interested in a meeting and we can
get something scheduled.
C-
Crystal Leach, Superintendent
Sequoia Union High School District
480 James Avenue
Redwood City, California 94062
(650) 369-1411