Read the statement here.
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Don Austin is stepping down as superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District in what is described as a “mutual decision.”
The announcement comes a week after the district agreed to pay $3.25 million to Peter Colombo, who had been accused of unsubstantiated rape allegations.
The board decided to part ways with Austin in a closed-door session this morning.
Austin had been at the helm of the district for eight years, the longest for a Palo Alto superintendent since 1975, board president Shounak Dharap announced today (Feb. 20).
Dharap said in a letter to the community that Austin will continue with the district as superintendent emeritus through June 30.
The separation was a joint decision between Austin and the board, not a retirement or a firing, Dharap said in a letter to the community.
“Changing leadership is not easy, and I can promise you this decision was not made lightly,” Dharap said.
The board will meet on Monday to discuss appointing an acting superintendent and start the search for permanent new leadership, Dharap said.
“We will move with both urgency and care,” Dharap said in his letter. “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.”
Hopefully this is the beginning of a housecleaning. … Many more corrupt administrators need to go.
Did the teachers’ union favor this?
All I Can Say is: COLOMBO!!!!!!
The little guy for once wins out! Maybe their is hope in the world where truth and good prevail. I’m sure this deal with Colombo pushed Austin over the edge and the Board has to make a statement with this “parting of the ways”. Good for Colombo and I’m sure lots of PAUSD teachers are overjoyed at this news.
Yes, Colombo. He got paid for making us all look bad. That money should be in our classrooms. Instead, Todd C. decided it was better to align with him. Honestly, being a young teacher in this district sucks. We get bullied to do what the union leadership wants. The union may have Trustees Chiu and Segal in their pocket but I’m begging the other trustees to find a backbone and challenge them! Their political protection has made it so that Todd is now running around as a “power broker”!! He isn’t!! Do a PRA!!!!
How much is his exit package, including benefits?
What a pleasant surprise for the corrupt official himself, rather than the public and all those he harmed, to face consequences for his actions. May this be a trend for the year of the Fire Horse.
This is good, but what’s going to change after he departs? Sounds like trustees were mostly on board with his policies and he was on board with theirs. No advanced math electives, ethnic studies, close Churchill crossing, ICE protests, psychotherapy, teachers union uber alles.
Note that even before his resignation, he’d already launched a web site for his side hustle consultancy where he’s the only “team member” whose surname is mentioned — showing at least he’s consistent in his lack of respect for others.
Is this the type of “mentoring” he thinks future leaders need?
It’s interesting that this is the same treatment Mr. Colombo got in 2022: paid leave until the end of the school year. A “joint decision” sounds like an agreement that should be written down with a vote taken. Otherwise it’s all according to the existing employment contract. Will Austin be paid for not working in 2026-27 as well? And does he also get attorney fees like Valley Water is paying their CEO?
No one has seen the Colombo settlement agreement either, nor was that board vote reported. I’m guessing they’re paying him $10,000 per month for 20 years plus $850,000 in civil and criminal attorney fees. Discounting those payments at 4% or 5% per year yields a present value closer to $2.5 million, with only around $1 million in the first year.
So who’s the bigger winner, Austin or Colombo?
An 8 year tenure. Half of which was spent covering up the Colombo debacle and trying to get Pete to go away. Not a “Simple Win”, but a crushing defeat for ole’ Don.
Way to go little guy!
He lasted longer than most people in his position. It’s a tough gig.
As a teacher, I am tired of this! The biggest problem we have at the District is Tom Colbertson. He only speaks for the old teachers who are convinced the district is stuck in 1975. Rather than sending out weak statements about Austin’s departure he should try actually being good at his job instead of leaving parents so desperate for change that they send out petitions to get Colbertson out of the classroom.
As a former elective teacher employed by district for over 38 years at adult, middle and high schools I feel I was blessed in the fact that I was pretty much selected by the parents and students who were interested in what I taught.. That said, including myself, we never always had perfect teachers that met our needs and personalities. I can bet the family farm that no one “liked” 100% of their teachers. Even my children had teachers they did not really “like” in the district. I’m sure there are students and parents that did not “like” me. Board members children included. That said, as a former educator, you need to always remember that being
“liked” is not always needed. Being effective at your job is much more important. Think of those who your children and you “liked” or enjoyed and the positive outcomes. Like politicians and political sides, there is no such thing as a 100% buy in educator . In the end, if parents are doing their job, your children will succeed. You can complain it’s too cold or you can gather some wood, light a match and make a fire.
I feel for all the teachers that have put in over 30 years to community and will be cheated out of their final compensation . Mr A and Mr. B are here until end of year in a “consultant” position. You watch, union negotiations will end after the teachers retire and this year they will not receive back pay and their final retirement fund will be less. It’s what one at the Board level might see as a “SimpleWin”. It happened to me and it has happened to several others who gave to the community that carpet bagger Don was hired to run. Don’t think for one minute that Don or the Board care about single people. They are like predators and focus on the unprotected and weak . Watch when a community member or employee speaks at open forum. They are staring at their cell phones, computers, and just don’t care because one person is not important to them.
It’s possible that Simple Wins associates Emile and Daniel did not want their full names associated with [Portion removed — Terms of Use violation.] Austin.
Trent, on the other hand is already Don Austin’s PAUSD “Chief of Staff”. Together their salaries total near $1 million a year. Why they were allowed a side hustle whilst their leadership at 25 Churchill was unravelling is questionable at best.
My guess is that two of them will be seeking employment outside of Don’s web real soon, whilst Trent holds onto Mr. Austin’s coat tails for as long as he can.
I wish young Emile and Daniel all the best. They are just starting out professionally, it seems, and hopefully have learned a valuable lesson when it comes to vetting your boss.
Good point Cassandra. And being a bully doesn’t make it any easier as Mr. Austin has discovered.
Seriously, Do you buy into what the board president says?”helm of the district” Obviously not a sailor with experience. The helm is froze and the tiller, or staff, is truly guiding the direction. The helm is just a symbol. It’s just a place to keep out of the weather if its broken . Stop with the political slang. What does the board president really seek? Let’s see if he runs for another position soon.