Twelve hours after announcing that the return of eighth-graders would be delayed by a week, Los Altos School District Superintendent Jeff Baier emailed parents and staff Thursday night (Jan. 14) to inform them that the reopening of junior high schools is now indefinitely on hold after a change in state guidance.
As pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, eighth-grade history teacher Katie Mather started getting emails from students, checking to see if she was watching the news.
They wanted to make sure she knew that “the Capitol was being overtaken by an angry mob,” said Mather, who teaches at Blach Intermediate School. Mather set aside class time to talk through the day’s events. A history teacher who discusses current events with her classes regularly, Mather said she takes her cues from students.
In an emotional meeting Monday night, the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees heard from teachers and parents about whether the district should continue with its reopening plan, after the teachers’ union sent the district a letter last week advocating against in-person classes.
The Los Altos School District reopened campuses and resumed in-person classes today (Jan. 11), despite the teachers’ union asking the district to stay remote.
As 2020 draws to a close, local school boards have selected their new leadership for the upcoming year.
Fiona Walter is the new president of the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District Board of Trustees; Vaishali (Shali) Sirkay is president of the Los Altos School District board; Jerry Liu now leads the Cupertino Union School District board; and Peter Landsberger heads the Foothill-De Anza Community College District board.
Before the pandemic, when students were struggling in class, a teacher could stop by their desk, tap them on the shoulder and provide some one-on-one support. On Zoom, that can’t happen.
