Education
PRESCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL
Palo Alto’s K-12 public schools are consistently ranked among the nation’s best, based on metrics ranging from Advanced Placement exams to SAT scores. The district’s 17 campuses are in the midst of major expansion and upgrade with funds from a $378 million facilities bond overwhelmingly approved by voters in June
2008. The projects include increased capacity to accommodate projected enrollment growth at all school levels over the next several years. At Gunn and Palo Alto high schools, substantial development has been completed and continues, including major new classroom buildings on both campuses, worldlanguage building and gym at Gunn and a Media Arts building at Paly. A new athletic center as well as a 600-seat theater also are planned for Paly, as well as a wellness center and central building for Gunn.
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto. Superintendent: Glenn “Max” McGee. Enrollment: 12,527. Class size: K-3: 22; 4-5: 24. Ethnic/racial percentages (2014-15): Caucasian 42.7; Asian 35.2; Hispanic 11.3; African-American 2.2; multiple races 7.6 • 650-329-3700 • pausd.org
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR
Veronica Weber
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
All schools are scheduled to receive technology upgrades three times in the next 11 years. In May 2015, Palo Alto voters approved Measure A, a $758-per-parcel tax that will generate more than $15 million for the district. The funds will go toward keeping class sizes down, investing in student health and wellness, academic support for struggling students and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) instruction.
First-graders Dylan Liao and Finn Harrington greet each other on the first day of school at Duveneck Elementary School in 2014.
Board of Education The Palo Alto Unified School District’s five-member Board of Education meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month during the school year. The board sets direction for the district, approves the annual budget, hires the superintendent and makes other policy decisions. Elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. • 650-329-3700 • pausd.org/community/board/ Melissa Baten Caswell president Email: mcaswell@ pausd.org Term expires: Nov. 30, 2016
Heidi Emberling vice president Email: hemberling@ pausd.org Term expires: Nov. 30, 2016
Terry Godfrey Email: tgodfrey@ pausd.org Term expires: Nov. 30, 2018
Ken Dauber Email: kdauber@ pausd.org Term expires: Nov. 30, 2018
Camille Townsend Email: ctownsend@ pausd.org Term expires: Nov. 30, 2016
School starts: Aug. 17, 2015, for grades 9-12; Aug. 18, 2015, for grades K-8 Labor Day: Sept. 7, 2015 Staff development day: Oct. 9, 2015 Veterans’ Day: Nov. 11, 2015 Thanksgiving break: Nov. 25-27, 2015 Winter break: Dec. 21, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016 (K-8 returns Jan. 4; 9-12 returns Jan. 5) Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 18, 2016 Staff development day: Feb. 11, 2016 Veronica Weber
Lincoln’s Birthday: Feb. 12, 2016 Washington’s Birthday: Feb. 15, 2016 Local holiday: March 11, 2016 Spring break: April 1-8, 2016 Memorial Day: May 30, 2016 Last day of school: June 2, 2016 48 • Info Palo Alto www.PaloAltoOnline.com
From left: Palo Alto school board members, Superintendent Max McGee and two high school student representatives talk during a board meeting on March 24, 2015.