As a parent of a TIDE student who is currently a sophomore, I write to you to urge in the strongest possible terms that you reconsider this sad, misguided, and ill-informed decision to place TIDE on the track to closure.
Although small, TIDE serves a key population of students who may not thrive in any of the districts other schools. [REDACTED] but at TIDE she can exercise her superb art and graphic design skills and be on track for an outstanding career and life. She loves this school and the school in turn has taken great care of her. The teachers have bent over backwards to see that she has every opportunity to learn and grow. She, and many of the other kids that are her friends and peers at TIDE, would NOT have thrived in a large impersonal environment like MA, but here they can.
TIDE fills a unique niche that is not filled by other schools in Sequoia Union's portfolio. The circumstances here cannot be replicated by a special track in some other giant school. If TIDE indeed closes, our family has the means to leave the district, and will do so. But many of the families at TIDE cannot easily do that. They will simply be left to struggle to find their way. I am writing on their behalf at least as much as my daughter's. They undoubtedly will suffer from the decision to close TIDE.
I voted for measure A in good faith to build schools like this. This is what you said you would do with that money and now you are taking it back. If that is what happens, then I can only think that measure A should be repealed.
Your actions as a board were not included on the posted agenda for the board meeting, preventing us from providing timely comment before. But now, we as parents are angry and will mount an organized and forceful response. I again urge you to reconsider your actions and stop this ill-advised, opaque money grab.
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Trustee district D