San Mateo Union High School District retracts plan to relocate Bay Academy's special needs students

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. 

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.