Dear Saratoga Community,

Last week we shared with you the Superintendent's email regarding the Personnel Update. Superintendent Sanderson had requested the President of SMB, Dave Holt*, distribute his message through the organization’s mailer.

We were surprised that Sanderson did not send the message himself school-wide but instead chose to do so through an intermediary. We can only speculate the reasons why Sanderson chose this route. We will, however, highlight that his first email sent December 7th, 2022 titled ‘Rumors & Personnel Issues’, where he suggested our community was spreading rumors about tendered resignations, was indeed a misleading one sent to the whole school. We believe that any communication to the public from the superintendent’s office should be addressed school-wide and not through an intermediary to a small segment. Needless to say, retaining the best educators affects the whole school and the district’s final position concerns everyone. That is why we took it upon ourselves to publish the email in this petition ‘as is’ since many of you are not just music families, but have the best overall interest of the school in mind and have every right to know about all communications.

It is still unclear in the email whether the investigation was independent, unbiased, and fair to the music directors. There was no acknowledgement from the district, understanding that the music directors were dealing with a hostile working environment. We still don’t know if the apparent resolution to the problem is fair and agreed upon, or if it’s an imposition from the district to the music program and whether the concerns that were initially raised are fully addressed.

Since these questions are left unanswered and the communication does not make clear if and how the problem has been resolved, we would like to make certain and reiterate the firm support of Saratoga High School parents and community for the music directors and the prestigious music program they established. We will be watching district leadership and monitoring the well being of the music directors closely. We know we are all ready to take any of the actions listed in our first outreach if our music department is affected negatively.

We do, however, recognize that everyone, including the district, wants to put this dark moment behind us and we acknowledge some positive outcomes listed in the email itself. We also hope district leadership has also learnt to be forthright and not mislead its community any longer as it states in the email ‘There is room to grow and improve at all levels of our organization….’. If the community is to trust its leadership we must have an overwhelming sensation that they are being honest, so that trust is able to cement the pillars of a successful relationship moving forward.

We feel the new Board was receptive to our concerns. We also believe Superintendent Sanderson heard us, and hope he has seeked the best path he was able to find to come to a solution where the music directors remain integral parts of the music program.

We hope moving forward district leadership will work proactively with all educators to address their needs and requests, as an ideal workplace thrives with responsive leadership.

With this update** we will bid you farewell and we leave you with the complete understanding that all members of the district know exactly where SHS music families stand with respect to our beloved music directors and the great music program offered in Saratoga High School.

Stay safe dear Community and thank you for not hesitating one moment to support this noble cause.

Respectfully, 

Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Members

Holt* has nothing to do with this petition whatsoever.

update** This petition will remain active to accumulate support as the word spreads and allow an immediate point of contact if we need to mobilize.