Ava Knapp
Superintendent Don Austin observes conversations during a January Palo Alto Unified District School Board meeting. The Board this morning announced its intention to separate themselves from the superintendent 'effective immediately' but will wait to replace until June.
In a special school board meeting this morning, the Palo Alto Unified School District has reached an agreement to ‘separate’ from Superintendent Don Austin ‘effective immediately,’ but agreed to keep him on ’emeritus’ status until June.
According to an email from school board president Shounak Dharap, this was a mutual decision between the board and Austin.
“This is not a retirement or a termination,” the email said. “Rather, it is a decision made jointly, one that allows the District to enter its next chapter under new leadership while honoring eight years of meaningful work. Dr. Austin will continue to serve as Superintendent Emeritus through June 30th, advising the District throughout this transition.”
Palo Alto Educators Association president Tom Culbertson provided The Paly Voice with the PAEA’s official statement about the decision.
“While leadership transitions are never easy, this change is a necessary step toward healing a culture that has grown increasingly strained,” the message stated. “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 damage to morale and the erosion of professional trust cannot be ignored. However, as we look toward the future, we choose to do so with a spirit of professional grace. We acknowledge Dr. Austin’s years of service and his commitment to the operational complexities of a large district during unprecedented times. We wish him and his family the best in their next chapter. PAEA is now focused on the opportunity for a “cultural reset.” Our schools thrive when there is a true partnership between the district office, the Board of Education, and the educators in the classroom.
“We call on the Board to conduct a transparent search for new leadership—someone who prioritizes student well-being, respects the expertise of our staff, and understands that the strength of PAUSD lies in its people, not its policies. We stand ready to work with the Board and the community to restore the collaborative excellence our students and families deserve.”
The board had recently extended Austin’s contract to 2029, but an especially tense last few weeks of staffing changes and budget negotiations brought extra scrutiny toward Austin. Following a verbal confrontation between Austin and Palo Alto High School board representative Dylan Chen at a Feb. 10 board meeting, Austin left the meeting indefinitely.
The school board will meet again on Monday to discuss the appointment of an acting superintendent, according to the email.