I left this school after my son attended K-3. They definitely have a principal that is rude to parents, as stated below. They also have an unfriendly vibe overall and, as stated, the principal comes off as uncaring in many areas yet overzealous with unfounded reprimands. I have never experienced a school with so many issues with infighting amongst the students - including bullying. We gave it our best "go" and they do have engaged, dedicated teachers and staff, but the problems are at the top. The last straw was spring 2019 when a 1st grade parent (and the husband of a Portola teacher) approached my child and his friend over his own child's lost football. He interrogated them, preventing them from getting on their after-care bus; boarded the bus to further interrogate the boys and, after being removed from the bus, followed the bus in his own car to the childcare facility (while filming it out the window with his cell phone) where he entered the childcare facility (totally against their protocol) and was finally prevented from his maniacal stalking escapade when the childcare director intervened. The experience was reported to the principal by the childcare director and myself and was handled ineptly and sans empathy. No one at the school or district level could tell me the student safety policy - I had to dig for it online. I took it next level (Superintendent) but was not heard. In the end, no one was able to tell me why my child was able to be verbally accosted for over 15 minutes - why the poor childcare bus driver had to act alone without school support staff - with a bus-load of children - and why this parent -- who is constantly on school property due to his own job and spouse-affiliation was never asked to sit with the boys and apologize or tell them they are safe and that THEY did the right thing (told the truth- that they did not have his son's football/which was later found) even though HE did not do right by them, or the other children or the young driver who was visibly shaken by the incident. The only person that DID react with professionalism, accurate sensitivity and safety protocol was the childcare director. I wonder if that 1st grade parent knows this director had to call an immediate safety meeting amongst her staff and afterward, a "stranger-danger" meeting with every child under her care that day? Shame on him, shame on the Portola principal and shame on the VUSD staff and management that wouldn't return my calls and couldn't answer basic safety questions about their school. It took them TWO months to call a meeting with me. Happily, we found a new school that has a warm, safe environment and professional, capable- seeming principal and staff-- so far so good! read more
