Hi Jennifer-
Thank you for reaching out. First, I appreciate how you worded your question. What happened at the November 12 board meeting was that the Board directed the Superintendent to develop a plan at the December 10 board meeting for how the District will discuss and consider a possible closure of TIDE Academy. This plan will outline communication steps, community engagement, and what information and data will be brought back to the Board. As you might expect, TIDE students, staff and parents are concerned about what happens next, as am I. We are all at TIDE because we love the school and what it offers. Last night we heard from staff members that they plan to engage in the process and ensure the board hears from them through this decision making process. Our students, staff and families are also engaged in a SAVE TIDE campaign.
Below is a communication that I sent to staff after the board meeting, and last night Superintendent Leach met with our staff to listen to their questions and concerns.
Letter I sent to TIDE community:
Dear TIDE Families,
As you know from Superintendent Leach's communication tonight the Board gave direction to the Superintendent to bring back a plan at the December 10th Board meeting for how the District will discuss and consider a possible closure of TIDE Academy. As stated in the communication, no decision has been made to close TIDE Academy.
I understand that even discussing the possibility of closure can be unsettling and cause worry or confusion. The district will provide structured opportunities for our families, students, and staff to be heard.
I encourage you to attend the community meetings next week. At these meetings, Superintendent Leach will share more context, describe the initial process and timeline, invite your questions, concerns and suggestions and use your input to help shape the process that will be presented to the Board on December 10.
You will also have an opportunity to provide input ahead of and at the December 10th board meeting.
As your school leader, please know TIDE has been a labor of love for me over the last 4 plus years. This has nothing to do with the quality of our commitment to teaching and learning, the efforts we have undertaken to recruit students, to build a very unique school culture, and to commit to core programs including dual enrollment, CTE Pathways and our Nucleus courses.
Please know my commitment is to continue to focus on what TIDE students can access in terms of classes and programs, now and in the future - and be here to support you as we understand what this process will look like. I am on this journey with you, grappling with the considerations, and how the process will unfold.
At this time all day-to-day operations, classes, and programs at TIDE continue as usual. Our focus remains on providing a high-quality educational experience for your student(s) and supporting their success.
Thank you for continuing to show the care and focus that make TIDE such a special community.
Simone Kennel
Principal
TIDE Academy
On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM Jennifer Yoshikoshi <jyoshikoshi@embarcaderomedia.org> wrote:
Thanks for getting back to me! I look forward to connecting with you, Naomi.
Jennifer Yoshikoshi
Reporter, Almanac News
2345 Yale St. Fl. 1
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.326.8210 650.223.6536 (direct)On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 12:23 PM Simone Rick-Kennel <srkennel@seq.org> wrote:
Hi Jennifer-
I have connected with Naomi on this and she will reach out to you later today.
Thanks,
SimoneOn Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 9:55 AM Jennifer Yoshikoshi <jyoshikoshi@embarcaderomedia.org> wrote:
Hi Naomi and Simone,
I just caught up to the board meeting from Wednesday and heard that there is a consideration to close TIDE. I wanted to reach out to you, Simone, about how you feel with announcement, what the school will be doing next, and whether you have received any communication about how the community can share their input.
If you can get back to me as soon as possible, that would be great. If a phone interview is easier, you can call me on my personal cell at [REDACTED].
Jennifer Yoshikoshi
Reporter, Almanac News
2345 Yale St. Fl. 1
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.326.8210 650.223.6536 (direct)