Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Briefs: Top official leaving MP school district

Ahmad Sheikholeslami, in charge of renovating four Menlo Park City School District schools since 2006, is moving on to a position with the South San Francisco Unified School District, where he'll manage its $162 million Measure J bond program.

Starting on Feb. 22, he said, his time will be split 50-50 between South San Francisco and Menlo Park. He plans to leave the Menlo Park district for full-time work in South San Francisco at the end of June.

"I took the position because it was the right challenge for me. The timing and location were also an important decision factor," he said.

With the renovation of Hillview Middle School expected to be finished by September, the new opportunity comes at the right time, according to Mr. Sheikholeslami.

Mountain lion report near PV school

Someone reported seeing a mountain lion near the back fence of Corte Madera School in Portola Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office reported.

The cat was reportedly seen at about 11 a.m. in the area of Alpine Road and Corte Madera Road, said Lt. Larry Schumaker of the Sheriff's Office.

The middle school, which serves fourth- through eighth-grade students, was not evacuated, he said.

As a precaution, however, the Sheriff's Office sent two deputies to stand by while students were leaving for the day.

Residents are advised to never approach a mountain lion.

Anyone who encounters a mountain lion should face the animal, make noise, and try to appear larger by waving arms and throwing rocks, emergency officials said.

Visit KeepMeWild.org for more information.

Valentine's Day with the council

If you're a Menlo Park City Council member, how are you spending Valentine's Day night? Probably by sitting in council chambers debating labor negotiations, affordable housing, and of course, Facebook.

The agenda for the meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, includes another round of talks with the Service Employees International Union negotiators in closed session and discussion during open session of the proposed development agreement with Facebook for its planned campus expansion, with a focus on benefits and safeguards for the city.

The city will also acknowledge three of this year's nominees for the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula Youth of the Year Awards —Tajianna Robinson, a junior at Sacred Heart Preparatory High School; and Mark Johnson and Diante Davenport, both seniors at Menlo-Atherton High School.

The regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the Civic Center at 701 Laurel St.

Go to tinyurl.com/7yjcor2 to see the agenda and associated staff reports.

Facebook protests

Facebook got a lot of unexpected visitors at its offices around the world Feb. 6, including several dozen at Menlo Park headquarters. Unlike most visitors, these people were not impressed with the social networking giant. Why? They're nursing mothers angry at how Facebook chooses to block some photos of breastfeeding babies.

Emma Kwasnica, a mother in British Columbia, inspired the nurse-ins after protesting the way Facebook tagged some of her photos as inappropriate and temporarily froze her account, according to posts on Facebook.

While news accounts report Facebook as saying its policy is to delete photos displaying nudity — such as a shot of a bare breast with no baby attached — protesters commented that they think posting photos of breastfeeding on their pages helps convey that the activity is a normal, healthy part of life rather than something to be ashamed of.