Daily
No. 1 in Palo Alto and the Mid-Peninsula
THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026
OPEN SUNDAY 2PM - 4PM
ost P Schools stare down big cuts HEAD WEST Marketplace proudly supports local journalism.
600 Moore Road
WOODSIDE
The news you read every day in the Daily Post would not be possible without the support of our advertisers.
$14,900,000 600Moore.com
Erika DEmma
Please see their ad on Page 5 and tell them how you appreciate their support.
Locally owned, independent
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Layoffs are on the table as the Palo Alto Unified School District faces $33 million in budget cuts for the next school year. “We’re going to have to fire people,” board member Shounak Dharap said at Tuesday’s meeting. New Superintendent Jason Glass said the budget cuts are the board’s most important work over the next two
years. He expects finger-pointing, attacks and suggestions that the district is bloated or should cut down on lightbulbs, paper or copy machines. But the budget deficit is too large, and the board will have to consider cutting “terrific” programs, services and employees, Glass said. “These conversations are going to
make people scared and angry. We have to have them anyways,” Glass said. The district will try to avoid layoffs by not filling positions and reassigning employees, Glass said. The cuts have already reached the district office as Glass has decided not to fill some administrative positions. Board member Shana Segal said she
Supe can’t hire his wife
Dow +119.65 Nasdaq +41.38 Oil +0.19 53,463.05 26,331.09 84.58 NY COMEX futures Gold 7,707.98 +3.90 courtesy of Mish Int’l (650) 324-9110
DEBT HITS $40T: The national debt has surpassed a record $40 trillion, highlighting the impact of defense costs, social programs, and interest on the deficit. Experts say the growing debt is already affecting Americans by raising borrowing costs and lowering wages. Advocates for a balanced budget warn of tougher fiscal tradeoffs ahead.
HEADING HOME: Prince Harry and Meghan have decided to return to the United Kingdom for an extended stay starting this fall, but they won’t resume their roles as working members of the royal family. META DIDN’T ASK: A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors [See THE UPDATE, page 4] 1418 PITMAN AVE
PALO ALTO
CONTACT FOR INFORMATION
wants the board to discuss a second attempt at renewing the district’s parcel tax during a special election in the spring. The tax renewal came up short at the June 2 election. Much of the projected budget deficit can be attributed to new contracts the district has with its labor unions, giving employees a 10.4% raise and $10,000 in bonuses. Dharap said the board [See CUTS, page 18]
After teachers get 10% raise
THE UPDATE
FDA LEADER: President Trump has picked Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton is a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and a trusted figure in Trump’s administration. Overton has worked on several of Trump's health initiatives.
650.740.2970 erikadema.com
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
NO GROCERIES
Trader Joe’s at Town and Country Village in Palo Alto was closed yesterday after a fire broke out overnight in the frozen food section. In the aftermath, employees had to throw out food. No word if the store will be open today. Post photo.
Palo Alto’s new superintendent has backed off from hiring his wife as a teacher after learning the school district bans the superintendent from employing relatives. “When I found that out, she withdrew from the position … We understand the rules apply to us just like everyone else,” Superintendent Jason Glass said in an interview yesterday. The board on Tuesday was set to hire Glass’s wife, Sarah, as a GLASS reading specialist at Walter Hayes Elementary School. But Glass said he discovered the district policy on Friday afternoon, so his wife withdrew from [See HIRE, page 18]
Old case results in insurance woes BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
The Mountain View Whisman School District is worried about its ability to pay former students who said they were sexually abused by a teacher. The district doesn’t have insurance
for the lawsuit because the allegations are from the 1970s, when the district operated as two separate school districts: Mountain View and Whisman. The district “conducted a comprehensive forensic search” for an insurance provider from the time but
OPEN SAT & SUN 11AM - 1PM
3404 RIDGEMONT DR
MOUNTAIN VIEW
OPEN SAT & SUN 1-4PM
couldn’t find one, spokeswoman Shelly Hausman said yesterday. “This is not an uncommon challenge for school districts addressing matters from many decades ago, when insurance coverage, documentation and [See WOES, page 18]
Live Where Others Vacation
LO S A LT O S E X PE RT I SE . Nicole Ruccolo
40990 Highway 1, Big Sur 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Offered at $6,750,000
456 Gabilan St #3 LOS ALTOS
XIN JIANG
(650) 283-8379
JEN PAULSON
(650) 996-7147
HeinrichBrooksher.com www.LiveMarinaStation.com
Carmel Realty established Company 1913
JULIA LAQUER
(650) 434-2755
650.823.0002
nicole.ruccolo@compass.com