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Uploaded: Friday, April 24, 2009, 1:27 PM
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:30 AM

Laurence takes top San Mateo high schools post
Former Gunn, Paly principal departs after 23 years in the district

by Chris Kenrick
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by Parent, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by paula, a resident of another community, on Apr 24, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Why did you remove the negative comment above when you allow anonymous attacks on others to remain (sometimes indefinitely)?

Posted by New Start, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 3:13 pm

In Palo Alto Laurence currently is managing the school boundary adjustments that will be necessary when Garland Elementary School re-opens in 2011.

From the article:

"Carving out an attendance area for Garland, at 870 N. California Ave., is likely to affect boundaries for Addison, Duveneck, El Carmelo, Fairmeadow, Palo Verde and Walter Hays elementary schools. Laurence has met with parents on all those campuses to discuss their concerns.

The most recent proposal for a Garland attendance area would have the majority of students coming from south of Oregon Expressway."

Maybe someone else take his place and use more common sense about the Garland boundaries. Does it make sense for two-thirds of the students to be driving to North PA for their elementary school?

Posted by but seriously, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 3:23 pm

I'm just curious whether Mr. Laurence will be leaving Palo Alto with a big fat pension thanks to his precipitous promotion (which, some may recall, was supposed to protect the district from losing him!) just one year ago. How much will that cost the district?

Posted by Erin, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 4:00 pm

I love how everyone in this town thinks they can do a better job than the person we hired to do the job whether it's the teachers or the administrators. We hired these people by voting for the members of the School Board, who in turn hired the Superintendent. If you don't like the job they're doing go talk to your Board members but don't just complain anonymously on the online forums.

"Does it make sense for two-thirds of the students to be driving to North PA for their elementary school?"

This makes it seem like North PA is in another town than South PA when it's really just where you draw the dividing line. Garland is "barely" in North PA if you want to get down to the nitty-gritty. One block north of Oregon is not like kids are driving all the way to University or something.

Posted by Susan, a resident of the Monroe Park neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 4:13 pm

I don't know how school administrators can hack it. Laurence was forced to take the heat, when he applied the rules and the law, when that high school prank took place, a couple of years ago. He was practically called Atilla the Hun for simply holding the line. It was amazing how some parents and students took up the cause to villify him.

I wish him well in a more sane environment.

Posted by JA3+, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 24, 2009 at 8:42 pm

"...a more sane environment."

Perhaps not.

Here's a 2006 Grand Jury report worth skimming:

Web Link

Posted by PAUSD TEACHER, a member of the JLS Middle School community, on Apr 24, 2009 at 10:00 pm

I've worked closely with Mr. Laurence on a few issues over the past two years and he's always been fair and direct with a valid showing of compassion for the students involved. He's always thinking of the students first. Yes, he upholds the rules and school laws, but he always has the best interests of the student in mind.

San Mateo is very lucky to have him.

Posted by Scott Preston, a resident of another community, on Apr 25, 2009 at 8:53 am

Thanks Scotty for all your hard work over the last years, I know I would not be where I am with out your influence...good luck in San Mateo....

Any one that knows Scotty, knows that he is in it for the kids and parents...he is the best....

Posted by Declining, a resident of the Greenmeadow neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 5:50 am

New Start says: The most recent proposal for a Garland attendance area would have the majority of students coming from south of Oregon Expressway."

If that is so, why didn't the School District consider reopening the former Greendell site as an additional elementary school instead of Garland, then kids would not have to cross Oregon Expressway?

With the poor economic situation and with so many homes for sale in Palo Alto I predict a decline in 11th day enrollment figures. We may not need Garland.

Posted by New Start, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 9:09 am

Declining,

That is exactly my question too. Open a school in South Palo Alto. But we may not know all the politics involved, and there is always politics.

Back to subject, I have heard really good things about Laurence.

Posted by parent, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 10:04 am

San Mateo is very lucky to have him, congratulations to Mr. Laurence.

big loss for us,

I hope that instead of losing talent and going outside of PAUSD, they will look inside for top leadership.

Posted by Erin, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 10:33 am

Declining and New start,

There are many posts on the subject. You can do a search and find all of the discussions. The most obvious and clear-cut reasons are that 1) Greendell is in use by Preschool Family and Young 5s and Garland was only being leased out and 2) there IS a need in the North as well so really a school is needed in the middle of town.

Posted by New Start, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 10:48 am

Erin, Ventura is in the middle of town too.

Posted by Erin, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 11:44 am

Ventura would not help any of the kids in the Palo Verde/Addison area and it is being used by PACCC and I believe it is owned by the city but is possible to be bought back by the district. Interesting quote by Golton about the order of sites to be used in this link: Web Link

Sorry we're getting off topic, I just hate to see Scott go out with any negativity due to boundaries. Opening a school should be a positive to go out on and I think they're going above and beyond the norm of public involvement on Garland.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Apr 26, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Yeah, Ventura's owned by the city. The overcrowding in the north has been going on even longer than the overcrowding in the south.

Here are the sites the district owns that could be turned into elementaries:

Greendell--used by Preschool Family, Young Fives and the JCCC--the JCCC is leaving, so there will be half a school in a bit.

Garland--called in Stratford lease

Pinewood--used by Pinewood and up in the Palo Alto Hills.

Ventura is owned by the city, but could probably revert back, but it would involve some extra hoops.

Of all the sites, Garland is the most central. Greendell's probably the best choice/commuter site since it abuts the large Cubberly parking lot and is near several other elementaries (Fairmeadow/Hoover), but isn't that easily walkable.

Pinewood has the largest site, but it's nowhere near the areas of growth.

Now maybe we could get the city to turn down a few more housing developments--that would help.

Posted by alice, a resident of the Charleston Meadows neighborhood, on Apr 27, 2009 at 10:21 am

I wish Mr. Lawrence good luck. I hope whomever they hire has a clear vision of what the Palo Alto Schools should emphasize -- team work, character, integrity, holistic growth, and the necessary academic skills.

Posted by PA watcher, a resident of Los Altos Hills, on Apr 27, 2009 at 10:31 am

Scott was awarded a long-vacant position in an attempt to keep him when he had applied for a lesser (non-superintendent) role elsewhere.

I am glad to see he improved his bargaining power in the meantime but his position should not be filled. He had the smallest span of control of all the higher-ups at 25 Churchill and that role does not need to be replaced, not in the current budget environment.

Posted by Grateful, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 27, 2009 at 10:52 am

Thanks for the 25 years Scotty! We appreciate what you've done for our kids and this community during your tenure in PAUSD. We wish you weren't moving on but hope San Mateo works out well; they're fortunate to get you!

Posted by p.a. mom, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 27, 2009 at 11:33 am

Does anyone know what PAUSD's policy is on student searches? I was shocked at the facts in the recent U.S. Supreme Court case involving a strip search of a middle school student. Could this happen to my child here in Palo Alto? What is the policy/practice??

Posted by Paly Mom, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Apr 27, 2009 at 8:06 pm

Thank you for being a good role model and excellent teacher

for our 2 kids. Good luck in San Mateo!