MEDIA ADVISORY
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education to join San Diego Unified, City Heights Students and Community in Dedicating New George Walker Smith Education Campus
Monday, September 25, 2023
WHAT:
San Diego Unified representatives will join the U.S. Deputy Secretary of
Education, George Walker Smith family, and Central Elementary, Wilson Middle, and Hoover High School students to dedicate the complete rebuild of Central Elementary and Wilson Middle into the George Walker Smith Education campus in City Heights.
WHEN:
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
9- 10:45 a.m.
WHERE:
New Central Elementary School at the George Walker Smith Education Campus
3878 Orange Ave.
San Diego, CA 92105
*New campus with new address. Please do not go to the campus on Polk Avenue. See map below for location of event and media staging options.
VISUALS:
9:00 - 9:25 a.m. - Student Performances Part One: Hoover High Mariachi* Performs, Wilson Middle Robotics Students Demonstration, George Walker Smith Education Campus” Sign Photo Opp., Wilson Theater and Multipurpose Room Tour
9:25 - 9:30 a.m. - Dignitaries Walk from Wilson Middle to Central Elementary Campus for Ceremony
9:30 - 9:31 a.m. Welcome Remarks
9:31- 9:41 a.m. - Student Performances Part Two: Wilson Middle Cellist performs, National Anthem while Hoover High AJROTC Presents Display of Colors, Hoover Drum-Line and Cheer Team Performs
9:41 - 9:53 a.m.- Speakers Part One
9:53- 10:00 a.m. - Performances Part Three: Central Elementary English & Spanish UTK Kindergarteners Sing, Wilson Middle Student Paola Bello Sings “Cielo Rojo,” Wilson Middle Student Massah Seelay Sings
10:00 -10:08 a.m.- Speakers Part Two
10:08 - 10:13 a.m.- Countdown to ribbon-cutting, ribbon-cutting, photo opps*
10:13 - 10:45 a.m.- Central Elementary Campus Tour, Media 1-1s
*The Hoover High Mariachi includes former Wilson Middle students.
Drone and time-lapse video, project fact sheets, and ground photos can be found here.
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Lamont Jackson, Superintendent, San Diego Unified
Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education*
Richard Barrera, Board of Education Trustee, San Diego Unified
Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Board of Education Trustee, San Diego Unified
Angelica Hueso-Garcia, Principal, Central Elementary School
Liz Castillo-Duvall, Principal, Wilson Middle School
Taj N.Stewart, Granddaughter, George Walker Smith
Central Elementary School Student
Caleb Dabi, Cellist and Current Wilson Middle Student (Former Central Student)
*Cindy Marten is the former Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District and served as principal of Central Elementary School.
BACKGROUND:
Named after the first African American elected to office in San Diego County, the George Walker Smith Education Campus brings the Wilson Middle School and Central Elementary School campuses together for the first time.
The result of a major rebuild project in the heart of City Heights, the new campus provides seven new buildings, including a new Performing Arts Center and a parking structure with playcourts to the Wilson Middle site, and nine new buildings to the Central Elementary site.
On the Central side are 26 new general-purpose classrooms, 14 specialized classrooms including a music room and robotics lab, a Library Learning Center, a multipurpose room, a PrimeTime room, a community clinic, a health center, student services offices, and three new play areas. Each of the general classrooms has access to an approximately 280-square-foot collaborative space designed for individualized instruction. Specialized classrooms include five kindergarten classrooms, five special education classrooms, and four preschool classrooms.
A large, centrally located soccer playfield will also be constructed and will be included in a joint-use area comprising the field and hardcourts that are located on the top level of the parking structure at Wilson Middle. Along with a promenade connecting Orange Avenue to El Cajon Boulevard, this innovative play area will be shared by both schools and with the broader community as a park after school hours.
Opened in 1938 as a one-building school, the former Central campus was expanded throughout the years to keep up with growing student enrollment.
Similarly, Wilson was originally built in 1924 as a two-story schoolhouse, serving the thriving suburban community along El Cajon Boulevard.
PARKING MAP:
RELATED LINKS:
Agenda Item: Board of Education Recommendation to Name District Facilities in Honor of George Walker Smith
Board of Ed. Video: Recommendation to Name District Facilities in Honor of George Walker Smith
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Ries, Information Services Specialist, San Diego Unified, (619) 855-9283, jries@sandi.net.
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