Midpeninsula Schools Face Leadership Changes, Safety Concerns, and Growing Legal Challenges

The last school year brought both excitement and anxiety to Midpeninsula schools. Districts saw significant changes in leadership and new safety initiatives. However, they also faced serious legal challenges and community tragedies

Leadership Changes and a Community Loss

In January, Las Lomitas Superintendent Beth Polito went on leave. This followed a DA investigation into district spending. The district hired Erik Burmeister as the new leader for this school year.
The community also mourned a tragic loss in May. Dylan Taylor, a youth coach and educator, died in a bike collision. This incident sparked urgent calls for improved bike safety near schools.

Celebrations and Mounting Legal Issues

June celebrated the graduation of hundreds of local high school students. Meanwhile, legal claims against the Sequoia Union High School District grew. The district now faces at least six active lawsuits from parents and former staff.
These lawsuits allege wrongful termination and discrimination. Therefore, legal tensions have become a major backdrop for the district’s operations.

Campus Updates and New Safety Policies

Students returned in August to modernized classrooms and ongoing construction. Ravenswood City School District celebrated reopening Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy. Another elementary school reopening is planned for next year.
Menlo Park City School District proactively taught bike safety. It also became the area’s first district to approve a strict e-bike policy. This new rule successfully kept prohibited vehicles off campus.

Unresolved Tensions and a Scary Lockdown

December placed a potential school closure in the spotlight. The Sequoia District may close TIDE Academy, a small STEM high school. Consequently, parents and teachers passionately pleaded with the school board to save it.
Later that month, two schools faced a lockdown. Police reported a man with a firearm nearby. The incident ended when the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.