Piedmont Pulse

January 12, 2026

Dear PUSD Families & Staff:

Happy New Year! It feels great to be back, as my normal state of being is here with our students and staff. I want to start by honoring our Board of Education this month, as January is School Board Recognition month. At a time when other school districts are giving raises in salary and benefits to their Board of Education members, it is important to acknowledge the great work our Board does as uncompensated volunteers for our district. Thank you Ruchi Medhekar, Michael Malione, Max Roman, Susy Struble, and Lindsay Thomasson.

Enjoy these crisp winter days, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our many events throughout the second semester.

In Community,

Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear PUSD Staff & Families:

We would like to wish staff and families a happy new year and express our enthusiasm for the return to school. As we enter the spring season, the Piedmont Unified School District is preparing for upcoming negotiations with our employee associations. We are writing to share the Board’s priorities and reaffirm our appreciation for our educators and staff who serve our students each day.

Perhaps most important, we want to be clear that we view our staff as the heart of our schools. Their expertise, care, and dedication create the learning environments that allow our students to thrive academically and socially. The Board is committed to supporting their professional success and well-being.

As we approach negotiations, the Board has identified several key priorities that reflect our shared values and our long-term responsibility to students, staff, and our community.

Ensuring Competitive and Sustainable Compensation

Attracting and retaining outstanding educators and staff require a salary structure that is competitive within our region. We continue to review comparable school districts and believe that improving the salaries of our newest teachers must be a priority for our district in order to attract and retain beginning teachers. We are pleased with our progress in raising veteran teacher pay, but our work is not finished. We are now focused on increasing starting salaries to ensure we attract the best new educators. Investing in our beginning teachers is an investment in a stable, high-quality workforce for the future.

Providing Affordable and High-Quality Healthcare

The Board recognizes that access to affordable healthcare is a critical component of employee wellbeing. Two years ago, rising healthcare costs posed significant challenges for the District. Through thoughtful research, improved $0 cost and multiple low-cost options were identified this year, offering better access to healthcare for employees and their families. Maintaining fiscally responsible, high-quality healthcare options for our staff remains a priority for our District.

Protecting the District’s Long-Term Fiscal Health

The Board prioritizes long-term fiscal stability to protect our staff and students from economic uncertainty. By maintaining a healthy reserve, the District can manage rising costs and enrollment shifts without compromising class sizes or staffing levels. This responsible management ensures we can provide competitive compensation while maintaining a stable environment for the entire school community.

Maintaining Low Class Sizes

Small class sizes, particularly in our elementary schools, are foundational to high quality teaching and learning. Low class size allows educators to know students well, personalize instruction, and provide the academic and social emotional support young learners need. We are also analyzing middle and high school class sizes to ensure they remain balanced and low. Earlier this fall, the District held a Board workshop and provided direction for staff to continue to prioritize small class sizes in our core classes in the master schedule in an effort to balance classes. Preserving low class sizes remains a central priority for the Board alongside maintaining flexibility to ensure financial viability for all the priorities articulated above.

Sincerely,

Ruchi Medhekar, Board President

Michael Malione, Vice President

Max Roman, Member

Susy Struble, Member

Lindsay Thomasson, Member

Jennifer Hawn, Ed.D., Superintendent

We are thrilled to announce new student enrollment for the 2026-27 school year opens January 14th, 2026. Residents with children not currently enrolled in Piedmont schools - new kindergarteners or a student switching to Piedmont schools - are invited to start the enrollment process then.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Program

If your child is four years old by September 1st, 2026, they are eligible for our District’s outstanding Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. This specially designed program ensures a solid foundation for your child's educational journey. For families with children already enrolled at Wildwood, TK students will attend Beach for TK and move back to Wildwood for Kindergarten. A TK Information Night will be held 1/22 at 6pm at Beach Elementary School. More information about TK can be found HERE (click on TK)

Kindergarten Program

Kindergarten students must be five years old by September 1. Not five by September 1st? Check out our Transitional Kindergarten program! More information about Kindergarten can be found HERE (click on Kindergarten).

Non-Resident Transfer Permits

For families considering a transfer from outside our district, mark your calendars for March 1st, 2026, as the date Alameda County school districts may accept non-resident applications. All non-resident families will need to follow the inter-district transfer process. Please note that we are currently at capacity and do not anticipate open seats for non-residents for the 2026-27 school year.

Next Steps

We genuinely look forward to welcoming your children into our school family next year. The journey of education is a collaborative effort, and we are excited to partner with you in nurturing the potential within each child.

In preparation for enrollment opening, check out the resources on our website https://www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/about/enrolling/enrolling-info, and gather the required documents. Families will be notified of their successfully processed application on a rolling basis. Piedmont residents can enroll at any time after January 14th, but please note that priority for neighborhood schools is determined by the date of the complete application. We encourage you to complete the application promptly to secure your preferred school placement.

Looking forward to a fantastic 2026-27 school year together!

Thanks to our Wellness Center team and the PHS/MHS counseling department along with community members who are professionals in teen mental health, PHS/MHS will host a parent workshop on January 26th at 6pm in the PHS Library to discuss how to support your teen in middle and high school. This workshop is the second of two workshops that came out of discussions at Fall Board meetings where additional honors and AP courses were Board approved, resulting in some questions about how to support students with academic stress.

We encourage parents of middle and high school students to rsvp to attend this important workshop.

January Community Meetings

1/15 - Curriculum Com. - 4:00PM (Havens Library) - Field Trips

1/14 - FSC Meeting - 8:30AM (District Office) - Summer Projects

1/21 - Board Meeting - 7PM (District Office) - State of the District

1/23 - Budget Study Session - 1PM (District Office)

1/26 - Parent Workshop - 6PM (PHS Library) - Student Academic Stress

1/29 - BAC - 4PM (District Office) - Governor's Budget Proposal for 2026-27

Save the Dates: Adventures Programs 2026 with PUSD

We’re excited to announce the 2026 Adventures Programs for TK–5th grade students. These school-break programs feature hands-on projects, games, creative activities, and outdoor play in a fun, supportive community setting.

February Adventures: February 17–20, 2026
April Adventures: April 6–10, 2026

Summer Adventures (One-Week Sessions):
June 8–12 • June 15–18 • June 22–26 • June 29–July 2, 2026

Program Hours: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Extended Care: 8:00–9:00 AM and 3:00–5:00 PM

Registration opens January 26, 2026. Please save the dates and look for program details and registration information in the new year

Beach Elementary School #15 - US News & World Report Ranking - Congratulations to Beach Elementary School for their #15 in California ranking as a top elementary school. Although all of our schools are highly ranked, Beach is at the top of the rankings for PUSD schools.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/PADC Celebration - January 19, 2026: Schools are closed for the holiday, and we encourage you to attend PADC's presentation celebrating Dr. King on January 20th at 11AM at the Alan Harvey Theater. More information is linked HERE.

Green Space Volunteer/Sponsorship Opportunities - For groups who wish to sponsor or volunteer to cultivate green spaces, please review our this green space report, and contact Pete Palmer at ppalmer@piedmont.k12.ca.us.

The Wellness Center: A special thanks to the Wellness Center team, including our amazing staff along with our supportive parents and community members. Mental health funding continues to be reduced at the State and federal levels, which means school districts must fundraise to offer the services our students need. This year, the Wellness Center must raise at least $50,000 for the 2025–2026 school year. Donate HERE. Questions? Contact Piedmont Wellness Support Committee at piedmontwellnessctr@gmail.com. Learn More about the Wellness Center at PiedmontWellness.org

Independent Study at PHS/MHS: Is your child a professional athlete? In the entertainment industry? Or, in need of an online independent study program? More information is linked HERE. For additional questions, please contact Principal Irma Muñoz Daniels at imunozdaniels@piedmont.k12.ca.us. Please note that MHS is also open for in-person enrollment.

Piedmont Portal - For all of the latest school and community events, please visit the Piedmont Portal linked HERE

Back to School 2025 Photo Collage: At the first Board meeting of the school year, I shared a photo collage of welcome back photos. Take a look HERE. Thanks to Jay Russell and our administrators for their help in taking these amazing photos of our students, staff, and families.

Piedmont Alumni Network:

The second issue of the Piedmont Alumni Newsletter, linked HERE. The Alumni Newsletter highlights the many events and ways our alumni can stay connected to the Piedmont community. If you are a graduate of PHS or MHS, please connect with us HERE.

Follow PUSD - Please read our school newsletters sent out weekly for update to date information. The District Facebook (@piedmontunified) and Instagram (@piedmontusd)

Email: communication@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Website: www.piedmont.k12.ca.us
Location: 760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-594-2600