castilleja head of school
That should be the baseline for discussion and is the baseline for the school's new proposal. Staff's preferred design combines these underground spaces with 11 new at-grade spaces and 26 existing ones for a total of 89 spaces. intellectual advantages of all-girls education. In theory the free market would solve this by building enough housing to meet their demand, but when you strictly enforce single family zoning (and make any possible exceptions go through a long and expensive bureaucratic maze), that isn't possible. Tuition Insurance (optional): $325 of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive. Amazing work from Castilleja. Casti is a bubble that feels very, very wealthy, and very liberal. I hope that Palo Alto City Council will press for safety over the desires of the elites who want their cozy Palo Alto location. Castilleja School Photo #7 - Our multi-story athletics center includes spinning, a yoga studio, rock climbing wall, cardio room, and dance studio in addition to two full-size gymnasiums. It's inevitable. Rob Levitsky, who lives near Castilleja, sees the situation differently. "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." However, they made their site large when they got the city to give them the 200 block of Melville in 1992, and merged 6 residential lots into the school, so they can't use size to qualify for a variance. Because current floor area is significantly in excess of what's allowed when you tear down 5 buildings to be replaced by 1 building, that's why they need a Variance. As a bunch of us joked last night, the Palo Alto process is "Portlandia with extra whine.". Education | Please include any comments on: The Harker School vs. Castilleja School Varsity Womens' Basketball. Your support is vital to us continuing to bring you city government news. Palo Alto backs e-bike ban on Baylands trails, Stanford sues Santa Clara County over tax exemptions for faculty residences, Hit-and-run driver kills man, crashes into five cars Sunday morning, Santa Clara County wants to put millions into child care, California homelessness: Where are the state's billions going? If traffic increases, they will not be allowed to increase enrollment. "They just want to have less parking on-site so that they can have a bigger more massive building. Time and time again, Castilleja has revised their plans to meet the demands of the neighbors, yet the neighbors turn down every solution. Building an unnecessary underground garage that isn't needed, is a threat to the environment and sets a dangerous precedent for other neighborhoods. Average ACT composite score out of 36, as reported by Niche users from this 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). In response to the writer above who asks "how can there be 'no new traffic'?" Blogs Based on recent reviews by an independent consultant, the city determined that Castilleja has an existing gross floor area of 138,345 square feet. The three other members requested changes but had no consensus about what needs to be changed.Board member David Hirsch urged significant revisions to the layout of the project, including setting the building's further back and creating a drop-off and pick-up area for students on Kellogg Street. The length and complexity of the approval process has not discouraged the school, Kauffman said, given the improvements in the project. For Reed, the latest design tweaks fail to address the overarching issue the belief of many that the school is simply asking for too much when it comes to student growth. Blah. 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. . of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. "Our plan now checks all the boxes," Kauffman told the planning commission Wednesday night. Not 26 (although you might be referring to previous iterations). of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic. Rob Levitsky, who lives near Castilleja, sees the situation differently. Tuition is for the highest grade offered and may have changed for the current school year. I know some people say this is a bad school, but as a 6th grader, trust me, it's the best. 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. Even the Fehr & Peers report, which was commissioned by Castilleja concludes that the garage is not necessary, For Reed, the latest design tweaks fail to address the overarching issue the belief of many that the school is simply asking for too much when it comes to student growth. 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! 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. Adalberto "Aldo" Toledo is a Bay Area News Group reporter who covers government on the Peninsula for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. If they reduced the footprint of the new building, there would be no need for an underground garage or other adjustments. Castilleja School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Castilleja School's tuition is approximately $49,900 for private students. Nor is concrete. Here's the new, best answer. Thank you, Lorraine, I appreciate your bringing that up. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. Move the school out of one of the most expensive neighborhoods in CA and lower tuition. And I say BRING ON the improvements, the modernization, the garage and the carbon-footprint improvements. [9] In its early years, some boys were allowed to take classes at Castilleja. In this article, Andie Reed states that she's most concerned about the enrollment proposal. While its plans call for increasing student enrollment, the project would actually constitute a reduction in total building area, according to planning staff. Provides auto-suggestions when entering text. In previous meetings, PNQL members have stated that they're fine with the enrollment increase as long as the garage isn't built. 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. One commissioner, Michael Alcheck, suggested at the onset of the meeting that the city's concerns about the proposed garage may be overblown. HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Castilleja Community, This summer, I reignited my fascination with a remarkable womanEleanor Roosevelta true woman learning, woman leading. ChatGPT is fascinating and alarming educational professionals. I am watching to see if PTC and CC are serious about climate change mitigation and sustainability. @Staying Home - In PA, housing is effectively a finite resource. 4. [8] She was encouraged by Stanford's first president, David Starr Jordan, to start a school that would offer girls a comprehensive, college preparatory education. To allow a private, tax-exempt educational institution to dramatically expand its enrollment, which largely consists of young women who live elsewhere and will likely contribute absolutely nothing to the community once they graduate. I am sure Casti supporters are tired of speakers against the proposal coming up with new arguments (ground water?) All rights reserved. Santa Rosa high school student stabbed to death in classroom Bay Area. No new traffic. [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. Come on, the teachers deserve better than that. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Fehr & Peers have monitored the peak period generation, on- site parking, and on-street parking adjacent to the school since 2012. Very bad timing on this report. of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy. This project has been under consideration SINCE 2016 - likely the longest project in Palo Alto history - because the demands keep shifting. "The TDM plan has been further enhanced and is expected to result in reduced parking demand.". of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons. Average SAT composite score out of 1600, as reported by Niche users from this school. Get the latest local news and information sent straight to your inbox. As in the past, the public was split between those who believe Castilleja is still asking for too much, particularly when it comes to its proposed underground garage, and those who argued that Castilleja's project is worthy of approval and that the city's process has already dragged on for too long.Bill Burch fell squarely in the latter camp. Recently, 2 extremely important reports were released to the public: Fehr & Peers 7/23/21 Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School Nanci Kauffman, Castilleja's head of school, told this news of organization that the school believes its new plans "check all the boxes" when it comes to addressing concerns from residents, city commissioners and the council. For me, the bottom line is education, accessible in our community, and respectful of the neighbors. Thanks for posting the specifics about the missing data. Thank you Castilleja! I have been following Castilleja's modernization project for the past 4 years. to oppose something that they don't want to see even though the council indicated it will approve some version of this project. They applied for a variance to keep the same square footage, but they base it on having a large lot. They are also increasing underground square footage by adding an additional 36,000 square feet underground. Thats legal now. Were really digging to see how we could get to yes, but I fear the conclusion may be no. This process has continued to devolve, as each time Castilleja changes its plan in deference to the naysayers, those [portion removed] pivot to some other minuscule detail to complain about. The 34-year-old got his wish . You are complaining about construction for a year or two, but what about construction for affordable housing in your neighborhood with underground parking? If the project advances, the floor area would be 128,687 square feet, according to planning staff. 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? Period. Years from now Palo Altans will be proud.. "That can be reduced so the building would be pushed back. A&E As a first-year teacher at an all-girls school, I was immediately impressed by my confident,decisive eleven-year-old students, who had acquired strengths and skills many of us work a lifetime to master. have spent my career in girls' education, and I am proud to carry on the legacy started by Mary Lockey. I'm pretty sure no neighbor that's not a parent has ever agreed with proposed enrollment increase. Obituaries Mountain View Voice Since 75% of the students come from outside Palo Alto, it's tough to see how Palo Alto benefits, especially when many Palo Alto residents who are also Casti alums and parents oppose this project as a violation of the school creed. remains true to its mission to give each young woman an "educated The school's gross floor area is significantly in excess of what is allowable by code (81,385SF). Palo Alto backs e-bike ban on Baylands trails, Stanford sues Santa Clara County over tax exemptions for faculty residences, Hit-and-run driver kills man, crashes into five cars Sunday morning, Santa Clara County wants to put millions into child care, California homelessness: Where are the state's billions going? Maybe Casti should pay its staff more so they can live closer? Council has to decide on whether we want to have this kind of intensification of use in this location, DuBois said. Casti should sell the property to a developer and put in low income housing then watch neighbors scream "NOOOO, We were only kidding! Terms of Use He said other schools that wanted to grow have moved to places with more acreage or created two locations., He added that if staff had come to us and said they have this issue about underground structures in (a residential neighborhood), maybe council couldve weighed in earlier., Castilleja Head of School Nanci Kauffman scoffed at the idea that the proposal came as a surprise, saying it was iterated multiple times based off feedback from city staff., She said she didnt understand why the council wouldnt support educating more women when were talking about not adding traffic and building a sustainable project.. Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. I bet you wouldn't be able to fight that project! Surely environmental science is part of the curriculum. "Our plan now checks all the boxes," Kauffman told the planning commission Wednesday night. Based on recent reviews by an independent consultant, the city determined that Castilleja has an existing gross floor area of 138,345 square feet. Teacher at California high school arrested after recording devices found in restroom These including new shuttle and bus routes, a bike-share program, a "guaranteed ride home" program for employees who don't drive but who need may need to leave the school for an emergency (they would be reimbursed for the cost of transportation) and a new Castilleja Lyft program that will provide free midday rides for faculty and staff, according to the plan that the school released last month. "If they were to request a 10% enrollment increase, we'd be looking at about 450 students and there's there's sufficient parking on-site for 450. That is just absurd since they will not make it to their club sport practice and games. "They must take into account the impact they make in the health, welfare and quiet enjoyment of their neighbors.". @Rita Vrhel, "The review process has gone on for long enough" is perhaps the worst argument for approval I've ever seen. "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. Contact Us What most disturbs me about this process is the ever shifting goalposts. Low-income included. I have lost confidence in the Palo Alto Planning organization and the City Council members. Of course schools have to modernize. "We take cars off the street, we save additional trees, we reduce our footprint, we exceed Palo Alto's sustainability goals and we educate more girls.". A shuttle would then bring them to the campus. Sponsored content Nielsen Buchanan opposed the garage due to its impact on climate change. Whether you are a prospective student, a current parent, a colleague, or an alum, this website is designed to provide you with the news and information you need to understand who we are. of students agree that they feel safe at their school. Have you checked out Casti's tuition lately? Books & Uniforms (new or used): $650 - 1,100 Continuing to ask for more give-aways from the City after they've already been granted the 200 Melville Ave. street, Stanford also used the same old "no new car trips, trust us" claim while dramatically growing its enrollment, the number of campuses, number of housing units, the whole Hospital / health care complex etc. 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. ", "There is no reason for the underground garage," Reed said. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. Because it is not. Neighbors would love to support a less massive project and reasonable enrollment increase. "If they were to request a 10% enrollment increase, we'd be looking at about 450 students and there's there's sufficient parking on-site for 450. Frankly, I am surprised that we arent hearing objections to the garage and tree removal from the smart young women who attend Castilleja. Palo Altos government officials should make a decision ASAP so that a storied Palo Alto educational institution can finally start the process of bringing its campus into the 21st century. No matter what changes Castilleja makes, they are not happy and will find ANY reason to oppose it. The problem is not the neighbors. "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. Tuition is $56,500 for the highest grade offered. As such, it is "anticipated to have fewer impacts on protected trees and construction-related disturbances," according to a new report from the Department of Planning and Community Environment. The application deadline for Castilleja School is Jan. 9. Maybe the Casti parents could start addressing it in their own companies, law firms and vc firms?? TheSixFifty.com I absolutely am a neighbor. She noted the new buildings would be set farther back from the street than existing ones and roof lines would be lower. [Post removed; successive comments by same poster are not permitted.]. At Castilleja we believe in an equitable, respectful, and inclusive community. Now they propose that the building be 3 feet taller and even more massive than the previously approved design. One option they suggested was to find a temporary campus, although no location was now known. "It's ridiculous.". 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. 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. Therefore, as discussed above, based on historical parking data, information from other institutions and available published industry standards, 104 parking spaces would be appropriate for an enrollment of 540 students. Not moving the pool and keeping the parking lots as-is saves a whole lot of the changes the school is going through. Castilleja has presented many solutions, it's time to let them move forward with this project. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. News 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. courtesy, character, courage, and charity - which set the standard 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. "I feel strongly that no modifications or adjustments are needed," Lee said. @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). [6][7] She was a charter member of Alpha Phi and was the first Stanford Alpha Phi elected to Phi Beta Kappa. The school has come up with options to address both. 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