Gennady Sheyner covers the City Hall beat in Palo Alto as well as regional politics, with a special focus on housing and transportation. And for good reasons. courtesy, character, courage, and charity - which set the standard PALO ALTO Castilleja Schools proposed expansion, a sore subject among neighbors who have been fighting it for years, has hit another roadblock. PR MediaRelease Not 26 (although you might be referring to previous iterations). In all the years this has been on the table, we see the same cycle repeat. I remember the theoretical discussion about "if enrollment was increased to 1000 and there were no impacts or increase in traffic, would that be OK?" Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. The school has changed the building designs, changed the garage, increased TDM measures beyond what anyone else is doing anywhere in the bay area, moved the pool, moved deliveriesand is NOT expanding. "We're committed to. However, if you tackle it methodically, you will get good results. The school's new plans include five garage designs, though only three comply with the council's request that underground parking make up no more than 50% of the total spaces on campus. Be careful what you wish for neighbors!! They have revised their plans numerous times and the loud voices of only some of the neighbors are holding up the entire project. Thank you Castilleja! Ten years. Once again, the school leaders have made significant changes in response to feedback. The mess resulting from the expansions will represent a major hit to the city's quality of life, particularly for the several thousand residents living in the neighborhoods closest to the school. Adalberto "Aldo" Toledo is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers government on the Peninsula for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. What do YOU think is in this community's best interests? I had an amazing experience in middle school at Casti. Based on the $3.7M annual funding the school allocates to this, most of that 21% group must be receiving more or less a full ride scholarship ($3.7M is enough to cover 16% of students at the full $54k each). "We are looking at a successful program that has every advantage to perform and every element was reviewed: bicycle, walking, transit, carpool, the outreach, the monitoring and the penalty aspects," Hughes said. Embarcadero Media file photo by Magali Gauthier. Blogs Nanci Kauffman, Castilleja's head of school, assured both panels in recent meetings that the school has already made many compromises with neighbors and urged them to approve the project and allow the school to increase enrollment. This makes no sense in my opinion. Before joining the Palo Alto Weekly/PaloAltoOnline.com in 2008, he covered breaking news and local politics for the Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut. With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. The fact remains that the footprint will be smaller than what it is now. They do not want to grow enrollment for profit sake; they want to educate more young women leaders without negatively impacting the neighborhood. Likely that is why Planning chose not to include the actual report only a link ARB's or PTC's packet. Mobile site. Will the decisions about Casti be consistent with the decision about the downtown garage? Average SAT composite score out of 1600, as reported by Niche users from this school. Surely the large contingent of supporters of Castilleja could pitch in to help them find an alternate location for a temporary campus in existing buildings or in temporary mobile classrooms (ie as now planned on their athletic field) . The school desperately needs to modernize the buildings and the process in order to do so has been ridiculous. I can't describe the wonderfulness of this school in this character limit, but I can tell you that the teachers are so amazing and caring; they really care about your sleep, and don't force you to do homework late in the night. Stay informed on important city government news. [3][4], Castilleja was founded in 1907 by Mary Ishbel Lockey. Castilleja School offers 11 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Water Polo. Help sustain the local news you depend on. The pursuit of our motto, "Women Learning, Women Leading," has Your support is vital to us continuing to bring you city government news. Castilleja School. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Yes, misogyny and discrimination are blatant here in Silicon Valley. Will his actions on this reflect that? Let's reduce the pain to all parties, to more quickly get their renovations completed! Here's the new, best answer. Lee and Thompson, however, felt that the building is fine the way it is, having already gone through years of refinements and public hearings. The naysayers are hopelessly dug into their negative position, but in my opinion really don't have a leg to stand on. The overall expansion wouldnt be nearly as massive as other school redevelopments on the Peninsula, she added. And what's the obligation of the parents and their hometowns? Castilleja School is an independent school for girls in grades six through twelve, located in Palo Alto, California. National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered, private school tuition across the country, Editorial: Veenker, Lauing, Lythcott-Haims for Palo Alto City Council (2022), Castilleja School claims Palo Alto's move to reduce proposed garage is illegal (2022), On the eve of graduation, high school seniors celebrate with a car parade (2021). of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom. While emphasis is Thank you, Lorraine, I appreciate your bringing that up. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. The population has grown enormously, and blocking those new people from accessing nearby housing and education runs counter to the progressive/inclusive/climate-conscious values touted by everyone's yard signs. As has been pointed out, the plans have been reviewed by numerous City bodies (ARB, PTC, Planning Department, City Council). of our extraordinary faculty and staff, we are dedicated to The Middle School Athletic Director reports to the Athletic Director and the Middle School Division Head and works closely with other Fitness teachers and the Wellness Department, as well as grade level colleagues. I am currently a senior at Castilleja, and I would never choose to attend another high school. But with enough housing to reduce these insane prices (or at least slow increases), many more staff/students could live close enough to walk or bike, and there'd be far less need for parking (and fewer complaints about traffic)." "Additionally, such reduction responds to concerns expressed by some community members about the size of the originally proposed structure.". Home & Real Estate At Castilleja, she taught in the History and Social Sciences department for seven years, and served as the interim Middle School Head for a semester. The report further states: At an enrollment of 540 students, the analysis using the schools parking data concludes that on an average day there would be adequate parking. It's an injustice to the school. Thompson also suggested that the building, in its current iteration, "has a design intent. Because Castilleja needs to provide at least 104 parking spaces to be zone complaint, this means no more than 52 can be below grade, according to staff. Just a thought! with Embarcadero and a part of Melville shutdown for months; Downtown parking garage. This time its in the form of a planned underground parking structure that school and city planning officials describe as a basement but a majority of Palo Alto City Council members consider a garage. [5], In 1910, the school moved to its present location at 1310 Bryant Street, and the first structure was the administration building, designed by architect Roy C. Heald in American Craftman style. Are you suggesting that Palo Alto's 25K taxpaying household provide/ subsidize housing for a private school whose students are 75% commuters? Become a Member heart." Vandermade, a graduate of Mater Dei-Santa Ana and the . And if it is accurate that Casti added the garage to the plan only b/c neighbors requested it, why not remove it now so that the modernization can begin? Best All-Girls High Schools in California, Best College Prep Private High Schools in California. What are your favorite school events or traditions? Speakers forget that for most of its existence Casti was a boarding school with some local day girls, and very low impact on the neighborhood. On page 1 this report indicated Alternative 4, the Disbursed Circulation/ No Garage Alternative-would meet the Citys Municipal Code requirements providing 104 parking spaces, which is based on the number of teaching stations. Founded in 1907 by educator Mary Lockey, Castilleja is the only non-sectarian all-girls middle and high school in the San Francisco of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need. The other two alternatives with 52 underground spaces have drawbacks that make them either less feasible or less desirable. I firmly support Castillejas right to update its campus. As a bunch of us joked last night, the Palo Alto process is "Portlandia with extra whine.". Castilleja checks all of these boxes. It also dragged because of the lengthy speeches on how Casti could end misogyny right here in our own times. Castilleja School Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica CASTILLEJA SCHOOL FOUNDATION PALO ALTO, CA 94301-3507 | Tax-exempt since Aug. 1943 EIN: 94-0373222 Classification ( NTEE ). Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. Casti should sell the property to a developer and put in low income housing then watch neighbors scream "NOOOO, We were only kidding! Josh Reuter has wanted to coach the football team at Mason City High School since he joined the district as a physical education teacher nine years ago. That speaks to negligence; WHY they weren't given the complete set raises ethical questions and as well as the long-standing question about staff's seemingly consistent bias in favor of the big-money projects. Were really digging to see how we could get to yes, but I fear the conclusion may be no. TheSixFifty.com And because Lew's term is about to conclude and he is not seeking another term, the ultimate decision about whether the new design passes muster could hinge on a board member who has not yet been appointed and who may have other ideas about the building's design.Lee and Thompson, however, felt that the building is fine the way it is, having already gone through years of refinements and public hearings. "So this plan is quite appropriate for the sustainability and mobility not just for the school but for the city. Whats interesting is that when this goes to CC it will be reviewed by 5 council members who, in 2019, were part of a unanimous 7-0 vote to NOT build the promised downtown garage. It sounds like this time they have given city boards different choices, and I have to believe that this time there must be one that will finally suffice. "They must take into account the impact they make in the health, welfare and quiet enjoyment of their neighbors.". ", Baltay suggested that by failing to reach a consensus, the board is "doing the applicant a disservice by not providing the applicant with a solution.". Teacher at California high school arrested after recording devices found in restroom The three other members requested changes but had no consensus about what needs to be changed. People that viewed Castilleja School also viewed these schools: The nearest high school to Castilleja School is, Fun athletic energetic school with good teachers. The school, which charges an annual tuition of $52,000, has 426 students and hopes to enroll 540 once the expansion is finished. Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online The school has been allowed to grow over the past many decades without going through the normal processes (some buildings were built pre-code, some built after code, but apparently not reviewed for GFA). As uncomfortable as it might be to tell Castilleja NO to the garage, that is the only way to move forward in a way that aligns with the Citys S-CAP goals. Nanci enjoys travel, concerts, theatre, tennis and golf. Prior to becoming Head on July 1, 2010, Nanci served as Associate Head of School and Dean of Faculty. The 7/23/21 Fehr & Peers Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School indicates a parking garage of any size is NOT NECESSARY. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in print/digital reporting and a minor in political science and German. This process has dragged on for ten years. [6][7] She was a charter member of Alpha Phi and was the first Stanford Alpha Phi elected to Phi Beta Kappa. If some people thought those speeches are unnecessary, they are probably against having the school in Palo Alto in general or else they don't understand the point of the school's proposed modernization. It would be great to somehow put both those issues to rest. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Related Articles TownSquare I tried to change my name from sfvalley to my initials, azr, but I guess it isn't happening. Ron DeSantis apocalyptic attack on higher education. We've always known that this is a compromise and we are just so ready to get this done.". 1. Sports DuBois said the schools plan would lead to increased density in one of Palo Altos oldest neighborhoods, a proposition that the slow-growth council isnt likely to support. "We just want to be educating girls," Kauffman said. Embarcadero Media file photo by Sinead Chang. of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive. Council has to decide on whether we want to have this kind of intensification of use in this location, DuBois said. A veteran teacher and administrator, Nanci has worked almost exclusively at all-girls schools. Castilleja School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Castilleja School's tuition is approximately $49,900 for private students. Castelleja has not keep faith with this community by expanding their student body over many years in violation of the rules. "Other saw it differently and emphasized the project's impact on everything from groundwater pumping to carbon emissions. He said the council did the right thing in continuing the discussion to a later date. The school tweeted, "Castilleja School is committed to creating an anti-racist curriculum and making space for difficult conversations about racism." . All rights reserved. Nanci Kauffman, head of Castilleja, said Monday that the school is prepared to reduce its proposed square footage in accordance with the council's direction, but said she hopes this "minor change . Neighbors and some council members have been distrustful of the school since learning in 2013 that it had been violating its 415-student enrollment cap for decades. This is a wonderful neighborhood, but it simply isn't practical to block all new development in an attempt to pretend it's still 1990. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. I absolutely am a neighbor. And Online Name is right to be skeptical about the no new trips claim. Selecting a category below will take you to another page. Because we have lived with the current CUP and how that has been complied with historically, it is a huge leap that just because it will be written that there will be no new trips, that will in fact happen. One reason this has taken so long is that the applicant has persisted with plans that include an enormous garage. One commissioner, Michael Alcheck, suggested at the onset of the meeting that the city's concerns about the proposed garage may be overblown. Casti families are hardly impoverished; 75% come from wealthier communities than Palo Alto with more expensive housing -- Los Altos Hills, Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, etc. "Every year spent in process negotiation and compromise has resulted in scores of young women being shut out of joining the Castilleja community," Burch said. Castilleja School is a top rated, private, all-girls school located in PALO ALTO, CA. I have lost confidence in the Palo Alto Planning organization and the City Council members. Order to do so has been on the Peninsula, she added have revised their plans numerous times and.! Design intent with plans that include an enormous garage is quite appropriate for sustainability! How Casti could end misogyny right here in our own times so this plan is quite appropriate the! 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