A plan to relocate students with special needs from Burlingame High School was retracted by the San Mateo Union High School District after concerns were made by parents and the community over what felt like a discriminatory and unnecessary action.
Three weeks after parents of students enrolled in the Bay Academy program at Burlingame High School were told their kids would be transferred to two other campuses in the next school year, Superintendent Randall Booker said Monday he rescinded the planned relocation. “While our original intent was to strengthen program access and opportunities for students, I recognize that the value of an established, supportive community is equally important and must be carefully weighed,” Booker said in an email to parents.
Parents were initially notified of the sudden decision to relocate students on April 1. Frustrated and confused, families and members of the larger Burlingame High School community sent letters of concerns and showed out in numbers at the Board of Trustees meeting April 16.
Public comments captured the impact the program has had not only on the 25 students enrolled, but on the general education population as well. Students at Burlingame High School talked about the friendships they’ve made with students in Bay Academy and their vital role in the school’s community.
“I appreciate the advocacy, honesty and care that you have shown in sharing your perspectives,” Booker said in the email. “Your voices matter, and they play an important role in helping us better serve our students.”
The rationale for relocating Bay Academy students at Burlingame High School to Mills and Hillsdale high schools — where the program also exists — was to “strengthen and expand the program to better support students,” Booker said previously.
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This included bolstering coursework for the Alternative Diploma pathway that grants eligible students with disabilities the chance to earn a regular high school diploma.
The district’s focus now will be on ensuring the Bay Academy program at Burlingame High School will have access to strong instruction with the Aligned Diploma pathway, Booker said in the email to parents Monday. He’s working to ensure students can continue to thrive with the necessary support, coursework and structures, he said.
While Booker presented the decision to relocate students as final at the board meeting April 16, the change came just a few days later after reconsideration.
“This decision reflects the importance of listening and continuing to work in partnership with families, especially when decisions have such a direct impact on students’ experiences and sense of connection,” Booker said.
Bay Academy is a special education program serving students with intensive educational support service needs. It establishes access to general education electives and classes with a home base within one of two classrooms dedicated to the population. Students rang in abilities; some are high-functioning students with autism spectrum disorder and others have epilepsy or are nonverbal.
The program is hosted at Burlingame, Mills and Hillsdale high schools within the San Mateo Union High School District.
Thank you, Superintendent Booker and the SMUHSD Trustees, for keeping the Bay Academy program at BHS. As stated in this article, the program has benefits for all students at BHS, not just the students in Bay Academy. And thank you to all the people who made public comment to express your support for keeping the program at BHS. It demonstrates that advocacy and speaking out for what you believe in does work.
Thank you Daily Journal for your coverage on this issue and to Superintendent Booker for listening and responding positively to the young adults and families impacted by this decision.
The change was implemented for one simple reason- Mr. Booker got caught!
Superintendent Randall Booker's own public statements (link below), "using the parents" but directed to the Trustees disclose his intent.-It was to remove the program- Done
”… While early communication would have helped the process, it would NOT change how you feel about the decision.”
A Thank You is not appropriate for getting caught- The decision was set in stone…until the BHS Bay Parents “outed” the covert actions of the SMUHSD administration.
The Trustees were ignorant of this action… like many others… and their ignorance is part of the plan.
There is/has been an Information Firewall between the administration and the Trustees. The administration is documented as withholding information from the Trustee, as seen in this embarrassment-
There is a very large difference between changing the minds of the Trustees and the Superintendent getting caught.
The Trustees had NO IDEA this act was in the works or the complete failure of communication with parents and possible legal action.
This removal of Bay Academy was a Done Deal when the Board Meeting was opened on the Thursday evening, as there was no Board Agenda or Public Hearing to discuss the BHS Bay Academy.
The NEW decision cannot reverse the needless anxiety, trauma, and fear experienced by these parents and their children.
The reversal of the SMUHSD decision comes BECAUSE these parent brought the issue into the sunlight and educated the Trustees of yet ANOTHER action where the Board is 100% ignorant of the acts and intent of its administration.
Booker’s own statements into the public record state- poor planning, execution, communication, and an overall failure… yet he was going to implement the change no matter his failures.
A statement on the record, ONLY AFTER getting caught. ..
Booker—”… While early communication would have helped the process, it would NOT change how you feel about the decision.” (26:00)
As stated by the parents, Booker’s DECISION was made prior to April 1, 2026 phone call each received, well before the Baord meeting.
This change was in full motion and it was not going to be changed.
If Booker intended to make a change or listen to parents, then why make his pre-empting statement using the fears of parents, WHILE speaking TO THE TRUSTEES choosing the following words, “It would not change how you feel about the decision…”
Getting Caught is much different than Changing a Decision or changing Minds….
Posted on April 18, 2021- Original Bay Academy Article
There is/has been an Information Firewall between the administration and the Trustees. The administration is documented as withholding information from the Trustee, as seen in this embarrassment as well.
The Firewall scheme was presented in the 2020 Trustee election and if Neal Kaufman had been elected, the public would not see any of these acts as he had the ethics and courage to take on the fraud.
As stated by the BHD Bay Academy parents, there is a concern of retaliation as they know this is a real factor.
The solution- pull this decision from any future agenda until sunlight can be shown on the real intent of this move....along with "other" moves that have taken place.
The SMUHSD is and has been in deep trouble as illustrated by this attempt to circumvent the Trustees and the public. The Trustees knew nothing of this move by Booker as illustrated by their response to the public and complete ignorance of the “planned move” and demonstrated failures in its planning.
The Information Firewall “protects” the known, demonstrated, and documented negligence of the SMUHSD District office leaders as Trustees have abdicated their supervision and oversight role.
The Trustees are in possession of documentation of civil, criminal, and education code violations by the District office leaders and some site staff yet ignore their duty to take action.
The Palo Alto School District recently paid out a $3.25 million settlement and removed the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent at a cost of another $825,000 in contract severance for a lesser and limited “situation.” The “pending” financial damages to the SMUHSD, beyond the Bay Academy debacle is far worse.
The SMUHSD Trustees and administrators should look to the former San Mateo Superior Court and the SMCCD’s Chancellor Galatolo’s recent convictions for “similar behavior” and practices.
The Trustees need to engage in ACTIVE “supervision and oversight” rather than relying on ”well organized parents” to do their job.
The job of the Trustees NOW is to hold the negligent administrators responsible for their actions, in this event and the list of others....
Galatolo may received the "Get out of Jail Free," card, there may not be a second one in the SM Superior Court.
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(3) comments
Thank you, Superintendent Booker and the SMUHSD Trustees, for keeping the Bay Academy program at BHS. As stated in this article, the program has benefits for all students at BHS, not just the students in Bay Academy. And thank you to all the people who made public comment to express your support for keeping the program at BHS. It demonstrates that advocacy and speaking out for what you believe in does work.
Thank you Daily Journal for your coverage on this issue and to Superintendent Booker for listening and responding positively to the young adults and families impacted by this decision.
Don't "thank" the Superintendent...
The change was implemented for one simple reason- Mr. Booker got caught!
Superintendent Randall Booker's own public statements (link below), "using the parents" but directed to the Trustees disclose his intent.-It was to remove the program- Done
”… While early communication would have helped the process, it would NOT change how you feel about the decision.”
A Thank You is not appropriate for getting caught- The decision was set in stone…until the BHS Bay Parents “outed” the covert actions of the SMUHSD administration.
The Trustees were ignorant of this action… like many others… and their ignorance is part of the plan.
There is/has been an Information Firewall between the administration and the Trustees. The administration is documented as withholding information from the Trustee, as seen in this embarrassment-
There is a very large difference between changing the minds of the Trustees and the Superintendent getting caught.
The Trustees had NO IDEA this act was in the works or the complete failure of communication with parents and possible legal action.
This removal of Bay Academy was a Done Deal when the Board Meeting was opened on the Thursday evening, as there was no Board Agenda or Public Hearing to discuss the BHS Bay Academy.
The NEW decision cannot reverse the needless anxiety, trauma, and fear experienced by these parents and their children.
The reversal of the SMUHSD decision comes BECAUSE these parent brought the issue into the sunlight and educated the Trustees of yet ANOTHER action where the Board is 100% ignorant of the acts and intent of its administration.
Booker’s own statements into the public record state- poor planning, execution, communication, and an overall failure… yet he was going to implement the change no matter his failures.
A statement on the record, ONLY AFTER getting caught. ..
SMUHSD Board Meeting- Booker-24:00
https://www.youtube.com/live/tZfkdDf2CqQ?si=vX6M0Q3D47DGp7Eb&t=1457
Booker—”… While early communication would have helped the process, it would NOT change how you feel about the decision.” (26:00)
As stated by the parents, Booker’s DECISION was made prior to April 1, 2026 phone call each received, well before the Baord meeting.
This change was in full motion and it was not going to be changed.
If Booker intended to make a change or listen to parents, then why make his pre-empting statement using the fears of parents, WHILE speaking TO THE TRUSTEES choosing the following words, “It would not change how you feel about the decision…”
Getting Caught is much different than Changing a Decision or changing Minds….
Posted on April 18, 2021- Original Bay Academy Article
There is/has been an Information Firewall between the administration and the Trustees. The administration is documented as withholding information from the Trustee, as seen in this embarrassment as well.
The Firewall scheme was presented in the 2020 Trustee election and if Neal Kaufman had been elected, the public would not see any of these acts as he had the ethics and courage to take on the fraud.
As stated by the BHD Bay Academy parents, there is a concern of retaliation as they know this is a real factor.
The solution- pull this decision from any future agenda until sunlight can be shown on the real intent of this move....along with "other" moves that have taken place.
The SMUHSD is and has been in deep trouble as illustrated by this attempt to circumvent the Trustees and the public. The Trustees knew nothing of this move by Booker as illustrated by their response to the public and complete ignorance of the “planned move” and demonstrated failures in its planning.
The Information Firewall “protects” the known, demonstrated, and documented negligence of the SMUHSD District office leaders as Trustees have abdicated their supervision and oversight role.
The Trustees are in possession of documentation of civil, criminal, and education code violations by the District office leaders and some site staff yet ignore their duty to take action.
The Palo Alto School District recently paid out a $3.25 million settlement and removed the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent at a cost of another $825,000 in contract severance for a lesser and limited “situation.” The “pending” financial damages to the SMUHSD, beyond the Bay Academy debacle is far worse.
The SMUHSD Trustees and administrators should look to the former San Mateo Superior Court and the SMCCD’s Chancellor Galatolo’s recent convictions for “similar behavior” and practices.
The Trustees need to engage in ACTIVE “supervision and oversight” rather than relying on ”well organized parents” to do their job.
The job of the Trustees NOW is to hold the negligent administrators responsible for their actions, in this event and the list of others....
Galatolo may received the "Get out of Jail Free," card, there may not be a second one in the SM Superior Court.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.