Community Calendar The projects density isnt relevant, Kauffman said, adding that whats relevant is its impact. Misogyny. "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. And isn't the staff already stuck parking in the Baylands and being shuttled onto campus while students will use the campus parking? However, the community is one of care, and everyone at the school aims only to celebrate your achievements and encourage you to put forth your best work. Because of its aggressive transportation-demand-management program, which includes shuttles, carpool programs and a requirement that staff drive no more than twice per week, Castilleja would also receive a 14% reduction in parking requirement from the city. As a bunch of us joked last night, the Palo Alto process is "Portlandia with extra whine.". they remain out of compliance with. 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. Castilleja, for its part, has consistently rejected the notion that it is looking to "expand." And what's the obligation of the parents and their hometowns? In all the years this has been on the table, we see the same cycle repeat. 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. Castilleja School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in California for most sports offered. and variances that the general public wouldn't receive; This option would be a gift to the greater neighborhood surrounding the school and to the health and safety of their students. to oppose something that they don't want to see even though the council indicated it will approve some version of this project. Global Investigator trip for all 11th graders. where they work and hold top positions. Niche users from this school are most interested in the following colleges. Business relationships. People that viewed Castilleja School also viewed these schools: The nearest high school to Castilleja School is, Fun athletic energetic school with good teachers. -- on larger lots with 1-acre+ zoning 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. My LGBTQ+ sexual orientation and more gender-nonconforming presentation also were received extremely positively. Three of Castilleja's proposed designs include 52 underground parking spaces, while two other options have 57 and 69 underground spaces, respectively.So far, planning staff is leaning toward what's known as "Scheme E," which combines a 52-space underground garage with 11 new at-grade parking spaces. Castilleja School Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica CASTILLEJA SCHOOL FOUNDATION PALO ALTO, CA 94301-3507 | Tax-exempt since Aug. 1943 EIN: 94-0373222 Classification ( NTEE ). Will the decisions about Casti be consistent with the decision about the downtown garage? 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. Nanci enjoys travel, concerts, theatre, tennis and golf. March 1, 2023 at 6:20 p.m. St. Ignatius announced Lenny Vandermade as the team's head football coach via a press release on Wednesday. A&E As has been pointed out, the plans have been reviewed by numerous City bodies (ARB, PTC, Planning Department, City Council). Terms of Use Will decisions align with S-CAP goals? The other two alternatives with 52 underground spaces have drawbacks that make them either less feasible or less desirable. Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. "We don't need a CO2-belching industrial concrete garage in our neighborhood," Levinsky told the commission. 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. Andie Reed, one of the group's co-founders, noted that even the revised project includes elements that residents have consistently deemed to be problematic namely, an underground garage that many believe is incompatible with the neighborhood. ChatGPT is fascinating and alarming educational professionals. It may be limited to public school teachers. The interior of Castilleja School's campus on July 16, 2019. Web Link "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. What most disturbs me about this process is the ever shifting goalposts. A North Texas high school is mourning the loss of a beloved wrestling coach. Once again, the school leaders have made significant changes in response to feedback. Casti should sell the property to a developer and put in low income housing then watch neighbors scream "NOOOO, We were only kidding! Very bad timing on this report. 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.. [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. 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 . [3][4], Castilleja was founded in 1907 by Mary Ishbel Lockey. Low-income included. 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. 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). 23 TheSixFifty.com It's inevitable. I cant but help think that if Casti truly feels it is so important to increase the number of young women benefiting from their education, Casti would want to move to a location where they can grow and not limit this wonderful opportunity to only 540 young women. I have participated in some of the S-CAP meetings. Castilleja School. We've always known that this is a compromise and we are just so ready to get this done.". Help sustain the local news you depend on. Living on Embarcadero about 3 blocks from campus. Stop dragging this on, approve the project, and let the amazing accomplishments of these incredible young women continue to enhance the neighborhood and the surrounding area. Ron DeSantis apocalyptic attack on higher education. Everyone in Palo Alto will be affected, including emergency responders. PR MediaRelease 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. The City Council, ARB & PTC members have had YEARS to consider the schools many proposals, each of which has sought to compromise in ways that responded to neighbors concerns. [13][14] One concern has been traffic impact. "We are saving more trees in the newest version and we're actually reducing our footprint," Kauffman said. One commissioner, Michael Alcheck, suggested at the onset of the meeting that the city's concerns about the proposed garage may be overblown. Alcheck asked his colleagues.The revised proposal includes five garage designs, though only three of them meet the council's March direction of the underground facility to include no more than 50% of the required on-site parking, which amounts to 52 spaces. With the support OOPS! The 7/23/21 Fehr & Peers Castilleja Parking Study commissioned by Castilleja School indicates a parking garage of any size is NOT NECESSARY. "We think a 30% increase in enrollment excessive," Reed said in an interview. True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. 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? When is enough enough ? Castilleja School is a top rated, private, all-girls school located in PALO ALTO, CA. "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. 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. 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. Threatening the well-being of protected oaks and redwoods; Community Calendar During C, you can go to teachers and ask for help, and they help you. Council has to decide on whether we want to have this kind of intensification of use in this location, DuBois said. With public testimony stretching until nearly midnight, the planning commission deferred its own discussion of Castilleja's plans until Dec. 15. Blogs Education | Kauffman said she worries that people are choosing not to hear the facts because of something that happened eight years ago.. Sign up for the Peninsula Foodist newsletter. Embarcadero Media Us 6th graders won the tug of war for Spirit Week, and I'm so excited for the Haunted House on Monday! Place a Legal Notice Yet another said the EIR did not fully address GHG emissions. My life is forever changed and I will bring the lessons you have taught me throughout the rest of my life. On Wednesday night, as Castilleja held its first hearing in front of the Planning and Transportation Commission on its new plan, the panel heard from more than 50 residents, who in some cases pooled their allotted time to make longer presentation. What do YOU think is in this community's best interests? When I first came, I was a little nervous as I had heard of Casti's reputation as rigorous and competitive. They are creating a need that is already satisfied with current conditions. Well have to continue to deliberate.. It is absolutely appropriate to block this expansion if it does nothing for community. She was a bold and opinionated . The opposition to this project keep referring it to a large scale expansion and that Castilleja wants bigger buildings. A&E Castilleja School Photo #9 - The Class of 2013 is all smiles at the splish-splash party! In previous meetings, PNQL members have stated that they're fine with the enrollment increase as long as the garage isn't built. If I were a Republican I would not feel safe voicing that aspect of my identity. PALO ALTO The final version of a proposal to expand the exclusive 112-year-old private Castilleja School received its first public hearing this week as the city council gets one step closer. "The TDM plan has been further enhanced and is expected to result in reduced parking demand. Annual Report 2019-2020. The other two members, Peter Baltay and Alex Lew, found themselves between the two camps, with Baltay suggesting that Castilleja should modify the buildings' cornice line and the middle portion of the building, as well add more variability to its window locations. You must not be a neighbor. Prior to becoming Head on July 1, 2010, Nanci served as Associate Head of School and Dean of Faculty. of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in. This is AMAZING. Privacy Policy lt's a lot to ask teachers to park a distance away from school and that they can only drive to campus three days a week. Neither can be avoided 100%, but why add whats not really needed? Tuition is $56,500 for the highest grade offered. In response to Leland J.: 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. What are your favorite school events or traditions? Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. And Online Name is right to be skeptical about the no new trips claim. And I say BRING ON the improvements, the modernization, the garage and the carbon-footprint improvements. Here's the new, best answer. "It's often called an 'expansion,' but the footprint would be smaller. Related Articles I firmly support Castillejas right to update its campus. 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. "Our plan now checks all the boxes," Kauffman told the planning commission Wednesday night. A shuttle would then bring them to the campus. I also want to point out that there are underground garages in residential neighborhoods in Palo Alto. Vandermade, a graduate of Mater Dei-Santa Ana and the . did Castie ever comply with existing CUP and enrollment numbers? There aren't many Black students, which my Black friends said harmed their experience. The school has listened to the Council and incorporated their feedback. Our teachers prioritize experiential and project-based learning that is engaging and relevant to girls. It would occupy about 24,294 square feet, which is 8,186 square feet less than in the original proposal. Castilleja School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in California for: Castilleja School's tuition is approximately $49,900 for private students. Despite all that, deep pockets, and an army of experts, repeated trips to the drawing board are not resulting in a viable expansion plan. Special Pubs If they reduced the footprint of the new building, there would be no need for an underground garage or other adjustments. Large parking structures are not environmentally friendly. 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 the school fails to meet its trip cap numbers, it would also establish a "Kiss n' Ride" program that allows parents to drop off and pick up their children at an off-site location about 15 minutes before school starts. ""There is no reason for the underground garage," Reed said. "If Castilleja really wants 500 to 600 students, it's time to move or open another campus like so many others do.". She currently serves on the Boards of Trustees of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), Wagner College in New York City and the Peninsula Bridge organization in San Mateo. 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