NEWS
Staff cuts reversed after community backlash. Page 2
LIFESTYLE
Students stand up.
Page 5
SCI/TECH
Elon Musk announces SpaceX, AI merger.
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44
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The Campanile Vol. CVII, No. 6
Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BAHADURSINGH IN,
AUSTIN OUT !"#$%&'(()%*+,%&-'./01%2#)3,#&3%'44+#.3)%#.30,#"%5-#(0%)0',&-#./%%*+,%.05%)640,#.30.$0.3%%
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he Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education announced on Feb. 20 that former Don Austin would no longer be serving as superintendent, e#ective immediately. "ree days after the decision, the board met in closed session and voted 4-1 to appoint Assistant Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh to serve as the interim superintendent until the district finds a permanent replacement. Trustee Rowena Chiu cast the lone no vote. "e Board also announced Austin will serve as Superintendent Emeritus through June 30. In a letter to the community, PAUSD School Board President Shounak Dharap said the decision was made after “thoughtful conversation” and was neither a retirement nor a termination. Dharap’s message focused on Austin’s legacy as the longest tenured PAUSD superintendent since 1975, including his work in reopening schools during the COVID pandemic, prioritizing early literacy, establishing the PAUSD promise and supporting the opening of Middle College, among others. Bahadursingh previously worked with Austin in the Palos Verdes school district and is also part of the team at Austin’s Simple Wins, a firm that “o#ers everything you need to break through the glass ceiling and excel in educational leadership—all for just $0.66 a day,” according to its website. Dharap said Bahadursingh will provide stability during the period between Austin’s tenure and a new superintendent. “Mr. Bahadursingh will be running the district, keeping the lights on, giving us continuity and stability as the board dedicates its e#orts to a process that ... reflects the district's needs, the community's values and input and the collective desire for permanent leadership that aligns with the district's goals and visions,” Dharap said. Following the Board’s decision, the Palo Alto Educators Association issued a statement expressing gratitude for Austin’s work, while also acknowledging years of tension and distrust among the community. “In recent years, our educators have navigated an environment often defined by top-down mandates and a breakdown in the collaborative spirit that once made Palo Alto Unified a destination district for teachers,” the statement said. But PAEA President Tom Culbertson said little will change until a new superintendent is appointed.
“PAEA members have really been clamoring for a cultural reset and a change in the way PAUSD does its business, especially with regard to educators,” Culbertson said. “"e fact that Mr. Bahadursingh has been appointed is not a huge change for us. "is is a fine interim selection, because we just need to get through this school year. "e school board needs some breathing room to select and really search for the right superintendent. I think that's a huge priority.” Culbertson also said PAEA wants an open and transparent selection process. “"at's really valuable, because we want all the di#erent folks who are a#ected by this decision to have some input into how those decisions get made,” Culbertson said. Similarly, school board representative Dylan Chen, who got into a heated discussion with Austin at the previous board meeting, said students should be involved in the process. “I feel like with the collaboration of our community, we can move forward in the right direction and start a new, better chapter,” Chen said. “I will collaborate with board members and stakeholders to ensure that there is a platform for student input when we are looking at who we want as our next superintendent.” According to Dharap’s statement to the community announcing Austin’s departure, the board plans to hire a permanent superintendent through a search firm. It voted 4-1 — with Chiu casting the dissenting vote — to direct district sta# to solicit proposals for five to seven diverse search firms. Chiu said her concern is the board may be moving too quickly. “"ere are many conflicting views about the superintendent and what an appropriate superintendent or platform might look like,” Chiu said. As far as what PAEA wants, Culbertson said the union is looking for a superintendent with a di#erent managerial style that involves the community more. “We're looking for a collaborative style centering the students and the folks who work in the district and especially the community, so that they all are brought in on big decisions in ways that are really meaningful, so that everyone can solve problems collectively and feel like they've been heard,” Culbertson said. In his letter, Dharap stressed the importance of navigating di$cult moments and supporting students.
“Here is my commitment to you: we will move with both urgency and care,” Dharap wrote. “We will not rush this decision simply to fill a vacancy, but we will not drag our feet when you and our students need clarity.” Austin did not respond to requests for an interview. Bahadursingh initially agreed to an interview but did not respond to follow up requests to set up the interview.
Leilani Chen & Ethan Chan
Business Manager & Lifestyle, Sci/Tech Editor
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Interim Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh sits with the Palo Alto Unified School District board at a February 2025 board meeting. Bahadursingh previously worked with Austin at the Palo Verdes Peninsula Unified District in 2020 before becoming Deputy Superintendent in Palo Alto. “I feel like with the collaboration of our community, we can move forward in the right direction and start a new, better chapter,” Paly student school board representative Dylan Chen said.
LUCA VOSTREJS/THE CAMPANILE
East Palo Alto reports zero homicides in 2025, second time in three years During two of the past three years, East Palo Alto has recorded zero “It started 20, 25 years ago, and it finally reached the point where there homicides, continuing the trend of declining violence and crime, according were very few (homicides),” Abrica said. “And now, most recently, there to the East Palo Alto Police Department. have been no homicides.” In 1992, East Palo Alto was named the "murder capital" of the U.S. due Abrica said the city began with operations to take down large drugto having the highest per capita homicide rate in the nation. dealing gangs, specifically referencing a major crackdown in Driven by the crack epidemic, the city recorded 42 murders March 2009. Over 500 law enforcement personnel, including for a population of roughly 24,000–25,000 residents. "is local and federal o$cers, participated in a major anti-gang period was marked by extreme violence, overwhelming the operation in which they arrested 30 gang members, according small, understa#ed police department, according to a San to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mateo County report. “Most of the violence happened because there were some Professor Hadar Aviram, who specializes in criminal gangs operating in the city,” Abrica said. “It was a war for the 7-0%.6"80,%+*%-+"#&#$0)% justice, civil rights, law, politics and social movements at UC market.” Law San Francisco, said having over a year without homicides East Palo Alto resident and dog walker, Marla Kravatz, ,0&+,$0$%89%:')3%;'(+%!(3+%#.% can be a real marker of progress for a city’s safety. who moved to East Palo Alto around four years ago, said her <==>1%5-0.%#3%-'$%3-0%-#/-0)3% “It's very significant,” Aviram said. “But when we talk original perceptions of the city were negative. 40,%&'4#3'%-+"#&#$0%,'30%'.$%5')% about crime trends, we’re looking for trends for far more than “I thought it was going to be a somewhat challenging ,0*0,,0$%3+%')%3-0%?"6,$0,%&'4#3'(?% place to live,” Kravatz said. “I had lived in Palo Alto for 10 a year.” +*%3-0%@.#30$%A3'30) Since the mid 2000’s, the City of East Palo Alto has years before that, which I felt very safe and very comfortable worked to reduce crime rates, particularly homicides. "e rein, and I just figured I’d have to be very careful and vigilant.” cent declining trends, according to Berkeley Law, have proved Despite years of declining crime rates, Abrica said many these e#orts successful. people still assume that East Palo Alto remains unsafe due to its past repuEast Palo Alto Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica said the process of decreasing tation. crime rates has been slow, and the city has been implementing changes for “Some people, if they don’t know a lot or haven’t looked into it, might many years before the declining trend solidified. think that there were no homicides this year, but that probably the year
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before there were always a lot of killings, but it’s not true,” Abrica said. “It’s always important to understand the context.” Abrica also said that in order to maintain low homicide and crime rates, trust between the community and law enforcement is crucial. “I also think people know that because it took so long, they helped and they contributed,” Abrica said. “I also hope that people feel committed to continue not falling into violence.” Kravatz said she felt surprised when she heard about the milestone the city reached. “It’s a funny thing to be proud of, but it was a good thing — especially when the country seems to be getting very angry at each other,” Kravatz said. “It was nice to know that here in East Palo Alto, we were peaceful citizens.” Aviram said the e#orts to keep crime low are not complete, and to keep crime rates low, the city must continue to focus on enforcing its changes. “One way to do this is a project where you spend time investing money and e#ort in diverting people from (a criminal) path to law-abiding paths,” said Aviram. “"at is something that requires constant tending and constant attention. Whenever there is an initiative like that, what’s going to make or break it is how much patience the city has.”
Asaf Milman Staff Writer