Superintendent recommending TIDE phase-out

Trustees will decide whether to close the school’s campus June 30 and move the academy program to Woodside High School, do the same a year later, or close TIDE Academy in June 2029 and allow the remaining enrolled classes to graduate at their campus. 

Data presented in recent months “suggest that keeping TIDE open and running as it currently exists is not sustainable nor equitable toward the other schools,” the staff report reads. 

“This is a hard trust that exists alongside another hard trust: TIDE has become a safe and comfortable place for many students, who have thrived there,” the staff report reads. 

TIDE Academy’s possible closure was first raised by trustees in November 2025 and is under consideration due to its high cost to operate, considering the particularly small campus and unavoidable expenditures.

Included in the agenda is an overview of the potential scenarios and associated budget impact and savings. 

If TIDE Academy is phased out at Woodside beginning in the next school year, the four years of savings is estimated to be approximately $14.5 million. If TIDE Academy is phased out at its current location, without moving students, the four-year savings is projected to be just over $7 million. 

The estimated expenditures of TIDE Academy for the 2025-26 school year is $8 million. This is equivalent to 42 teaching positions, 66 classified positions, 25 district office administrators or 30 classified management positions. 

“While the district is relatively well funded compared to some neighboring districts, our resources are not unlimited,” the recommendation reads. 

Relocating the phase-out to Woodside High School could mean more access to opportunity for TIDE students and result in increased operational efficiency, according to the staff report. 

More planning will need to be made for transition support, scheduling and advising. TIDE students would also receive enhanced mental wellness supports, according to the staff report. 

Should students graduate at TIDE Academy’s campus, they would have a predictable runway for students and their families, according to the staff report. More planning will need to be made to adjust to a phase-out on the campus, which would shrink considerably from its already small size. 

The meeting will be held at the Sequoia High School District meeting room at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Trustees will vote after public comment and information is presented.

“The question in front of you now is how to change the school in a way that serves the current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students at TIDE, ensuring their well-being and academic preparedness, and still address the long-term sustainable issues that are the responsibility of a School Board,” the staff report reads. 

Detailed implementation plans depending on the board’s decision will be provided as an informational item at a future board meeting.