", 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.". Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. The school has made compromises many of them and it begins to feel like (it) will never be enough. Express / Weekend Express The opposition to this project keep referring it to a large scale expansion and that Castilleja wants bigger buildings. The overall expansion wouldnt be nearly as massive as other school redevelopments on the Peninsula, she added. HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Castilleja Community, This summer, I reignited my fascination with a remarkable womanEleanor Roosevelta true woman learning, woman leading. Let me repeat their findings: 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. 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). Don't miss out on the discussion! Castilleja's 6th through 12th grade program offers opportunities for girls across all grade levels to develop a keen sense of self and an unbridled zeal for exploration, innovation, and friendship. Why are people who dont live on the street moving against the wishes of people who do? I also heard that a non-Black student said the n-word, and there were complaints that this was not dealt with severely enough. Advertising Info Responding to city feedback and community criticism, Castilleja School has revised its plan to rebuild its Bryant Street campus in Palo Alto so that it now features a smaller garage, enhanced tree protection and additional measures to encourage alternatives to driving. My LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and more gender-nonconforming presentation also were received extremely positively. non-sectarian all-girls middle and high school in the San Francisco I tried to change my name from sfvalley to my initials, azr, but I guess it isn't happening. "He and others suggested that Castilleja's project is being unfairly held up by a small but vocal group of opponents who are continuously moving the goal posts. It was then that I recognized the unique potential of an all-girls learning environment to empower young womento find their voices. For more information, please contact the school. I have lost confidence in the Palo Alto Planning organization and the City Council members. Be careful what you wish for neighbors!! All rights reserved. have spent my career in girls' education, and I am proud to carry on the legacy started by Mary Lockey. and current research that affirm the significant personal and @Online Name - It's worth noting that 21% of Castilleja students receive tuition assistance, so the students are clearly *not* all from wealthy families who you implied could easily afford to live in PA but choose not to. $3.3 million in Tuition Assistance per year to 22% of student body. There aren't endless acres of undeveloped, properly zoned/approved PA land, just waiting for more single family homes to be built - we need to build many more duplexes, triplexes, apartments, etc, on the finite amount of land we have. 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). 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. 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. Become a member today. Kauffman said Castilleja has followed the citys process every step of the way and been working with staff for quite a long time. She said there appears to be a lack of trust between the council and staff and wondered whether this process would be a lot less challenging if there were more trust to the work that has been done.. And isn't the staff already stuck parking in the Baylands and being shuttled onto campus while students will use the campus parking? At one point they even tried to have it classified as a basement. Please. [16], Castilleja is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, and the College Board. A minus. In both cases, the public hearings are intended to solicit early feedback and will not include any formal action.Among the biggest differences between Castilleja's prior plan and its current one is the size of the proposed underground garage. But just to be clear, the plans proposeto move a pool to make room for one large building that replaces 5 older buildings, which takes away 60 currently existing surface parking spaces. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. "The planning commission, which had already reviewed and approved an earlier version of this plan, is expected to dive into the details of the current one at its upcoming meeting." While this would require a 14% reduction in the parking requirement, Planning Director Jonathan Lait suggested in a report that staff would be amenable to adjusting the parking requirements, given Castilleja's suite of measures that discourage driving to school. Castilleja has been around before any of the neighbors. ChatGPT is fascinating and alarming educational professionals. Finding the right school for your child is a major project. A shuttle would then bring them to the campus.While project critics, including members of the group PNQLNow, have advocated for such a program, the revised plans are unlikely to satisfy all their concerns. Elizabeth Hughes, a consultant who developed the transportation-demand-management plan for Castilleja, assured the commission and the public that the programs in the plan will keep traffic levels steady. "We don't need a CO2-belching industrial concrete garage in our neighborhood," Levinsky told the commission. Additional Expenses: These activities, which would be relegated to the underground garage in the original proposal, would now take place in designated loading areas in the Emerson parking lot. Terms of Use Lee and Thompson, however, felt that the building is fine the way it is, having already gone through years of refinements and public hearings. Castilleja Head of School GUIDING THEMES Each year, Ms. KauffmanHA carefully selects a theme for the school year and distributes a sticker on opening day: Belonging 2019-20, Justice 2020-21,. Maybe Casti should pay its staff more so they can live closer? Time and time again, Castilleja has revised their plans to meet the demands of the neighbors, yet the neighbors turn down every solution. Likely that is why Planning chose not to include the actual report only a link ARB's or PTC's packet. Will the decisions about Casti be consistent with the decision about the downtown garage? Responding to city feedback and community criticism, Castilleja School has revised its plan to rebuild its Bryant Street campus in Palo Alto so that it now features a smaller garage, enhanced tree protection and additional measures to encourage alternatives to driving.It includes five different designs for the garage, as well as new restrictions on the number of school events a source of consternation for some of the school's neighbors. Print Edition/Archives A related question to massing of the Kellogg building is Why did the ARB reverse its decision of early this year to approve the Kellogg building design, when NO changes had been made to the design since then? Everyone in Palo Alto will be affected, including emergency responders. Christian high school basketball team forfeits tournament rather than play against transgender player, Opinion: Gov. 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. Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. If traffic increases, they will not be allowed to increase enrollment. It makes sense that it is time for Castilleja to modernize its campus. Continuing to ask for more give-aways from the City after they've already been granted the 200 Melville Ave. street, The problem is not the neighbors. "There are elements of the building that could be cut back and there's the space between that no longer needs access to the cellar," Hirsch said. Compare Castilleja School to Other Schools. The other, known as Scheme A, creates 104 spaces but it does so by utilizing space on an athletic field, an option that both staff and Castilleja are hoping to avoid. Another member of the public said a garage would invite more traffic. Roy, I'm well aware that the earlier discussion about PTC decision-making wasn't specifically related to Casti but to the "Planning" department's overall performance. In 2009, Castilleja was given the highest accreditation rating by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It may be limited to public school teachers. Home & Real Estate In late 2007, the Wall Street Journal identified Castilleja School as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success. Here, however, the split occurred between the five board members, who were charged with further refining the building's faade. "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. 2023 Palo Alto Online. Here's a roadmap to finding the school you want. Now they don't want a garage. Misogyny. Why provide Castilleja. It's inevitable. "Staff conceptually supports a parking adjustment for the project given the Council's direction to reduce the size of the garage and Castilleja's robust TDM plan," Lait wrote. Promotions 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 . "Additionally, such reduction responds to concerns expressed by some community members about the size of the originally proposed structure. Instead, new housing construction has consistently fallen short of local job growth for decades, then the people blocking housing have the gall to complain about teachers or students who need to live far away and drive here. 3. This suggestion would decrease construction time by 1.1 years from 34 months to 21 months. All rights reserved. A&E You cannot convince me that Embarcadero traffic will be worse with a hundred more students using the transportation measures Castilleja has imposed. I absolutely am a neighbor. Period. I invite you to explore these pages, to visit our campus, and to learn more about how we are preparing the next generation of women leaders. Threatening the well-being of protected oaks and redwoods; The surface parking would be created by shifting the school's swimming pool eastward, moving the pool stairs and eliminating the below-grade ramp that was intended for deliveries and trash pickup. Castilleja School's polarizing bid to rebuild its Bryant Street campus and construct an underground garage will return to the spotlight this week, when Palo Alto's two main land-use bodies start reviewing the school's plans.The school's bid to expand its enrollment and reconstruct its facilities has been moving through the city's approval process since 2016, when Castilleja applied for a new conditional-use permit that would allow it to gradually grow its student population from its current level of 426 to 540. Nanci enjoys travel, concerts, theatre, tennis and golf. Understanding the importance of actively teaching and learning antiracism, our leadership competenciesprepare Castilleja graduatesto lead with compassionand insight toeffect meaningful change in the world. Other duties as assigned by either the Head of School, Head of Middle School, or Director of Athletics. The information contained in these 2 reports should cause the PTC to send Castillejas expansion plans back to the drawing board. One, known as Scheme B, would create a total of 83 spaces and, as such, require a 20% parking reduction, the maximum allowed under the zoning code. This project is worth fighting for. where they work and hold top positions. 5. Visitor Info, Send News Tips And for good reasons. We explore the importance of teaching students how to attribute the work and ideas of others. 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. Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox. To sfvalley: "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. Perhaps because the opposing group is such a small but very vocal minority? The application deadline for Castilleja School is Jan. 9. Despite all that, deep pockets, and an army of experts, repeated trips to the drawing board are not resulting in a viable expansion plan. 26 While this would require a 14% reduction in the parking requirement, Planning Director Jonathan Lait suggested in a report that staff would be amenable to adjusting the parking requirements, given Castilleja's suite of measures that discourage driving to school. It was then that I recognized the unique potential of an all-girls learning environment to empower young womento find their voices. The projects density isnt relevant, Kauffman said, adding that whats relevant is its impact. intellectual advantages of all-girls education. "It's often called an 'expansion,' but the footprint would be smaller. Council has to decide on whether we want to have this kind of intensification of use in this location, DuBois said. Just a few important points: One, known as Scheme B, would create a total of 83 spaces and, as such, require a 20% parking reduction, the maximum allowed under the zoning code. they remain out of compliance with. Well have to continue to deliberate.. Thanksfor the article on Castilleja'sexpansion. Enough is enough. The Almanac Maybe Castilleja could pay their staff more, but unless they're going to match Google, Facebook, etc, (which obviously can't/won't happen), highly paid tech workers will just keep bidding up the price of our very limited housing and leave teachers still unable to afford it. A North Texas high school is mourning the loss of a beloved wrestling coach. placed on academic development, Castilleja is just as committed to Among the biggest differences between Castilleja's prior plan and its current one is the size of the proposed underground garage. 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. @Online Name - I get that this school targets higher income families who may be less responsive to housing prices, but fair to assume the teachers and support staff aren't paid enough to live in Palo Alto (at least at current prices). 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. "I feel strongly that no modifications or adjustments are needed," Lee said.Thompson also suggested that the building, in its current iteration, "has a design intent. "It's just a pusillanimous City Council members and commissions who are allowing this to proceed as if this is good government and it's not," Deborah Goldeen said. But then again, the city council does like bending over for bad actors on the community, so maybe its on brand after all. I doubt these families are rushing to downsize into cheaper homes on much smaller lots and give up their staff, cars and other amenities so their daughters can bike to school. The school's modernization plans have polarized the Professorville and Old Palo Alto neighborhoods, with some residents panning Castilleja's construction plan as a colossal overreach and an affront on the surrounding single-family neighborhood, and others calling a sorely needed upgrade for an acclaimed institution dedicated to educating young women. [Post removed; successive comments by same poster are not permitted.]. "There's a lot of breaks happening in its faade, there's a lot of void. Laptop: $1,000 - $2,000 Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online Ten years. "The project encountered a similar division at the Architectural Review Board hearing on Dec. 2, which focused less on transportation and more on the design of the building. He and other members of the group Preserve Neighborhood Quality of Life Now (PNQLNow) argued that it is the school and planning staff who are responsible for the process taking so long. Will his actions on this reflect that? Circulation & Delivery, About Us Community Calendar Education | She was a bold and opinionated . The school's "transportation management plan" includes, among other features, shuttles, carpool programs and a 2015 policy that requires staff to rely on alternative modes of transportation at least three times per week. Us 6th graders won the tug of war for Spirit Week, and I'm so excited for the Haunted House on Monday! I am watching to see if PTC and CC are serious about climate change mitigation and sustainability. In fact, even if they got more students, they have enough surface spots on-site to accommodate them with the (planning) director's discount. This is all at a time when accommodations such as Castilleja is seeking need to be made for "overriding public needs" such as affordable housing, which the Castilleja property would be an excellent home for! In response to Leland J.: of students agree that they feel safe at their school. Average ACT composite score out of 36, as reported by Niche users from this school. Advertising Info He and other members of the group Preserve Neighborhood Quality of Life Now (PNQLNow) argued that it is the school and planning staff who are responsible for the process taking so long. Ron DeSantis apocalyptic attack on higher education. Here's the new, best answer. This project has been under consideration SINCE 2016 - likely the longest project in Palo Alto history - because the demands keep shifting. 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