Monday, December 27, 2021

Post Notices and Agenda

PLEASE NOTE:

 

·         Schedule of Public Meetings: Board of Education – July-December 2022
Open and Closed Session Information: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/meeting_information

 

·         Notice of Committee Meeting Schedule: Audit and Finance Committee – January-June 2022
Committee Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/audit_and_finance_committee/overview

 

·         Notice of 2022 Committee Meeting Schedule: Props S & Z and Measure YY Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (ICOC) – January-December 2022  
Committee Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/bond_programs/independent_citizens_oversight_committee/icoc_meeting

 

·         Notice of 2022 Committee Meeting Schedule: Prop Z and Measure YY Charter School Facilities Committee (CSFC)
Committee Meeting Information: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CSFC/meeting_schedule                       

 

·         Committee Meeting Agenda: Executive Board of the District Advisory Council (DAC) for Compensatory Education – Wednesday, January 5, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Zoom or EOC Situation Room
Committee Meeting Information: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information
BoardDocs Agenda Link: http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sandi/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CA4NTS6185C5

o   Zoom Meeting Link: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/88134661142?pwd=ZnNQZy9QTUk0SWtrb3BsaGdIZlVEQT09  
Meeting ID: 881 3466 1142
Password: 727612
By phone: 669-900-6833                               

Please forward to staff and as appropriate, print agenda and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.

 

Additionally, please refer to the below links for upcoming meetings, agendas, and minutes of the board advisory committees:

·         Audit and Finance: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/audit_and_finance_committee/overview 

·         CTEAC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CTEAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         CAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board—https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DELAC: General Membership and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DELAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         RJEICOC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/racial_justice_icoc/2021_meeting_schedule

·         CSFC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CSFC/meeting_schedule

·         ICOC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/bond_programs/independent_citizens_oversight_committee/icoc_meeting

·         Community Schools Advisory Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/community_schools_advisory_committee/meeting_schedule

·         Redistricting Engagement Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/redistricting_engagement_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

·         Superintendent Search Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/superintendent_search_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

 Thank you.

 

Melissa Hamilton (formerly Hudson)

Confidential Administrative Assistant II

Board of Education

mhamilton@sandi.net

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." - Robert M. Hutchins

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

 

 

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NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Partners with Local Community Groups for COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach

[cid:31af87ff-9c52-4682-b1e6-d7bd1dffcd0a]

*Link with B-roll and photos of canvassing is available below

NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Unified Partners with Local Community Groups for COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach

San Diego Latino Health Coalition, Alliance San Diego go Door-to-Door to Share Information on Student Vaccines


December 27, 2021

SAN DIEGO – To share resources and information regarding COVID-19 vaccines with families across the city, San Diego Unified School District has partnered with the San Diego Latino Health Coalition and Alliance San Diego for door-to-door outreach.

During winter break and continuing on through January, members from these community groups are knocking on doors in target neighborhoods where vaccination rates are low.

"San Diego Unified's goal is to have as many students as possible vaccinated against COVID-19," Board President Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne said. "Vaccines have proven to be the most effective tool in protecting students, staff and communities from contracting and spreading this virus."

The district has been reaching out to families through various methods with information regarding vaccines and opportunities for families to get vaccinated at school locations. These partnerships for direct community outreach are just another strategy to reach families who may have missed the message.

"We do not want lack of access or lack of information to be a barrier to students getting vaccinated," Whitehurst-Payne said. "We are very thankful for our partnerships with the San Diego Latino Health Coalition and Alliance San Diego to help fill any gaps in family and community outreach regarding COVID-19."

The San Diego Latino Health Coalition is made up of established organizations with close ties to the Latino community, whose goal is to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection, increase access to essential information, and increase participation in COVID-19 testing, contact tracking and vaccines.

"Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of the San Diego Latino Health Coalition has been to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that communities have all the resources and information to remain safe and healthy," said Lupe Flores, director of engagement and impact for the Chicano Federation. "We are ready to begin working with the San Diego Unified School District to ensure that students and their families are protected against COVID-19. Through our various nonprofit partners and our exceptional promotoras, we will work together to increase vaccinations in the communities that need them the most."

Alliance San Diego is a community organization whose mission is to build collective power to create an inclusive democracy by developing leaders, engaging communities, advocating for policies, protecting civil and human rights, and communicating strategically.

"Alliance San Diego joined this effort to help educate and inform members of our community on the protections offered by the COVID-19 vaccines," said Christopher Rice-Wilson, associate director of Alliance San Diego. "We are talking with some of the most vulnerable and at-risk residents in the San Diego region to help them understand how and where to get the vaccination if they want it. We strongly believe all residents should have access to the information necessary to make an informed decision on vaccinations for their family, including the Black, Latinx, and other underserved families with children who attend San Diego Unified schools. This focused outreach is intended to keep all of our families, teachers and school staff as safe as possible."

San Diego Unified has partnerships with UC San Diego Health and Sharp Health to offer vaccine clinics at schools through the month of January. The district also offers school-based health centers in seven parts of the city to provide vaccination opportunities to students and families. Families are encouraged to visit the district's COVID-19 Vaccine webpage<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/nursingwellness/covid-19-vaccine> for more details on these convenient opportunities to get vaccinated.

B-roll and photos of the Chicano Federation team canvassing door-to-door are available here<https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JUCMdG7qI6gAyiOrQmoN2mG-q2Helnp1?usp=sharing>


Zoom interviews available with the San Diego Latino Health Coalition and Alliance San Diego, please coordinate with the media contacts listed below.


MEDIA CONTACTS:

San Diego Latino Health Coalition, Susy Villegas, svprcommunications@gmail.com<mailto:svprcommunications@gmail.com>, 619-947-5742

Alliance San Diego, Communications Director Kendall Martin, kendall@alliancesd.org<mailto:kendall@alliancesd.org>, 619-629-0337

San Diego Unified School District, Communications Director Maureen Magee, mmagee@sandi.net<mailto:mmagee@sandi.net>, 619-381-7930

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Monday, December 20, 2021

Post Notice and Agenda

PLEASE NOTE:

 

·         Notice of Special Closed Session: Board of Education – Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 3:30 p.m., Zoom Teleconference
Open and Closed Session Meeting Information: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/meeting_information

 

·         Special Closed Session Agenda: Board of Education— Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 3:30 p.m., Zoom Teleconference
Open and Closed Session Meeting Information: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/meeting_information

o   Closed Session Public Testimony: https://bit.ly/3srB3Cr

 

Please forward to staff and as appropriate, print agenda and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.

 

Additionally, please refer to the below links for upcoming meetings, agendas, and minutes of the board advisory committees:

·         Audit and Finance: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/audit_and_finance_committee/overview 

·         CTEAC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CTEAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         CAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board—https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DELAC: General Membership and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DELAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         RJEICOC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/racial_justice_icoc/2021_meeting_schedule

·         CSFC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CSFC/meeting_schedule

·         ICOC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/bond_programs/independent_citizens_oversight_committee/icoc_meeting

·         Community Schools Advisory Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/community_schools_advisory_committee/meeting_schedule

·         Redistricting Engagement Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/redistricting_engagement_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

·         Superintendent Search Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/superintendent_search_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

 Thank you.

 

Melissa Hamilton (formerly Hudson)

Confidential Administrative Assistant II

Board of Education

mhamilton@sandi.net

"The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives." - Robert M. Hutchins

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

 

 

at

Friday, December 17, 2021

RE: MEDIA ADVISORY: Rolando Park Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Highly Anticipated Joint-Use Fields

Dear media colleagues,

 

Thank you to those who attended our ribbon-cutting today for the Rolando Park Elementary School Joint-Use Field. For those who could not attend, we wanted to share with you photos and video of the event, in the case you would like to use it for weekend coverage.

 

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tu3bTCl0F5PIf4Wt3tNQWM-VNrR3fgjK?usp=sharing

Video: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xKE5qadReaXELv0YBy4mH1fyrsxIORIM?usp=sharing

 

Sincerely,

Jamie Ries

 

From: Media [mailto:media-bounces@mailman.sandi.net] On Behalf Of SDUSD Facilities Info
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 5:32 PM
To: SDUSD Facilities Info <sdusdfacilitiesinfo@sandi.net>
Cc: SDUSD Information Office <sdcs-info@sandi.net>
Subject: RE: MEDIA ADVISORY: Rolando Park Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Highly Anticipated Joint-Use Fields

 

Hello,

 

Please see updated fact sheet for the Rolando Park Elementary joint-use field – this time including total number of acres and walking/running track miles. Please send any questions to Jamie Ries, Facilities Communications Liaison, at jries@sandi.net.

 

We hope to see you there. Please wear a mask if you plan to attend.

 

From: SDUSD Facilities Info
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2021 10:02 AM
To: SDUSD Information Office <sdcs-info@sandi.net>
Subject: MEDIA ADVISORY: Rolando Park Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Highly Anticipated Joint-Use Fields

 

 

Dec. 16, 2021

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Rolando Park Elementary Students, Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Highly Anticipated Joint-Use Fields

 

WHAT:                 San Diego Unified School District Board of Education President Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne and  Interim Superintendent Dr. Lamont Jackson will join

former San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald, students, staff and the community in celebrating the opening of two joint-use fields that will bring much needed park space to the growing neighborhood of Rolando Park. 

 

WHEN:                 Friday, Dec. 17, 2021

                                10:00 - 10:40 a.m. 

 

WHERE:                Rolando Park Elementary School* 

                               6620 Marlowe Dr.

                                San Diego, CA 92115      

*See map at the end of this advisory for parking and event location. 

 

VISUALS:             10:00 - 10:01 a.m.  - Fifth grade student leads Pledge of Allegiance 

10:01 - 10:17 a.m.  - Speakers, ribbon-cutting ceremony

10:17- 10:40 a.m.  -  Media one-on-ones (Spanish interviews will be available). 

Pre-recorded sound with Rolando Park Elementary P.E. teacher, Bryan Basteyns, can be found here. 

Before and after drone video and stills of the fields can be found here. 

 

GUEST SPEAKERS/INTERVIEWS: 

Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Board of Education President, San Diego Unified 

Dr. Lamont Jackson, Interim Superintendent, San Diego Unified

Martha “Marti” Emerald, Former City Councilmember, City of San Diego

Andy Field, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of San Diego

Anthony DeLuca, Principal, Rolando Park Elementary 

                                Lynn Edwards, Co-President, Rolando Park Community Council

Betty White, Former President, Rolando Park Community Council 

Javier Carter, Fifth Grade Student, Rolando Park Elementary

 

BACKGROUND:

San Diego Unified, the Rolando Park Community Council (RPCC), and the City of San Diego began discussions for a possible park on the upper field at Rolando Park Elementary (RPE) in 2011. During that time, members of RPCC met with the RPE principal, city councilmember, and board of education trustee.  

 

In 2012, local taxpayers and voters passed Proposition Z to repair, renovate, and revitalize district schools. The $2.8 billion proposition, coupled with 2008’s Proposition S, provided the district with the opportunity to bring desired renovations to fruition. 

Seizing the opportunity, former Superintendent Cindy Marten helped launch the Play All Day partnership with the City of San Diego in 2016 to create more parks in park-deficient communities throughout San Diego. 

 

Under the Play All Day initiative, the district and the city share resources to expand access to park space. The city and district developed a joint-use agreement for Rolando Park Elementary and developed a plan to complete both the upper and lower fields at the same time. 

A community input process to develop the General Development Plan (GDP) for the park began in 2017. The GDP went to the Board of Education and the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Board, where it received final approval in 2018. 

                                Construction began in Fall 2020 and completed in Fall 2021.

 

Now complete, the joint-use field project at Rolando Park Elementary includes  two natural grass fields: a 1.8-acre upper field with  0.22 miles of walking/running track, and a 0.9-acre lower field with 0.17 miles of walking/running track.

 

Along with the walking/running tracks, both fields include secure perimeter fencing, irrigation systems, newly planted trees, trash receptacles, and improved landscaping. New benches, picnic tables, shade trees surround the existing play equipment and a new parking lot with permeable paving stalls and security lighting were constructed as well.

 

As part of the Play All Day partnership, the joint-use field is accessible to the community as a local park after school hours and during school breaks.

 

Located in Mid-City’s Eastern community planning area, Rolando Park Elementary focuses on the CA Common Core Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. Its Smarter Balanced State testing scores for both ELA and Math have soared since 2015 and, in 2019, the school won the prestigious “America’s Best Urban School” award from the National Center for Urban School Transformation, located at San Diego State University. The California Department of Education also named RPE a 2020 California Distinguished School.

 

EVENT/PARKING MAP: 

 

RELATED LINKS: 

A virtual groundbreaking video can be found here. 

Rolando Park History 

Information for the Play All Day Parks program can be found here. 

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jamie Ries, Facilities Communication Liaison, San Diego Unified, 619-855-9283, jries@sandi.net.

at

Thursday, December 16, 2021

NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified School District and Western Governors University Announce TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Pathway Scholarship

[cid:image001.png@01D7F1C1.B26F26D0]<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/teachsandiego>[A picture containing text, clipart Description automatically generated]<https://www.wgu.edu/>

NEWS RELEASE

Western Governors University and San Diego Unified School District Announce TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Pathway Scholarship

(December 16, 2021) — Nonprofit, online university Western Governors University<http://www.wgu.edu/> (WGU) and San Diego Unified School District<https://sandiegounified.org/> (SDUSD) announce the TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Pathway Scholarship, designed to eliminate the barriers that hold future educators back from pursuing their goals. The scholarship is open to new and returning WGU students enrolled with the Teacher's College and are currently employed as a paraeducator with SDUSD.

Paraeducators, also known as teaching assistants, work under the supervision of credentialed teachers. However, as practitioners juggle larger classrooms, the responsibility of instruction has increasingly fallen on paraeducators. This scholarship will help improve their skill set in the classroom while obtaining the required credentials to become certified teachers.

"Paraeducators are excellent candidates for future teachers as they have already demonstrated the desire and skills to help children learn and grow," said San Diego Unified School District's Chief Human Resource Officer, Acacia Thede.

Recipients of this scholarship will be a part of the "grow your own" educator pipeline program, TEACH-LEAD San Diego, which supports individuals in becoming teachers in their local communities. The goal of this program is to onboard certified practitioners to improve diversity among the teaching staff. As California's second-largest district, SDUSD serves more than 100,000 students and represents 15 ethnic groups.

According to Ed-Data, in 2020-2021, 77.5% of SDUSD students are ethnically diverse, with only 36% of teachers falling into that same category. Programs like TEACH-LEAD San Diego help fill that gap by increasing representation among teachers and leaders. Studies have shown that all students benefit from access to teachers and leaders who look like them and may have similar life experiences.

"This partnership supports a mutual belief in growing and preparing the next generation of teachers and leaders. We are committed to supporting new staffing patterns that will build a well-rounded teaching community for our students," said Patrizia Zary, WGU's Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager.

Additionally, it will increase equity and inclusion by eliminating barriers, such as financial constraints, time commitments, and the flexibility of class schedules by creating a clear pathway to becoming a teacher. Students enrolled in this program will no longer have to choose between employment or education, opening the door to building inclusive and stable workforces by addressing equity gaps and barriers to degree attainment. WGU's online competency-based model<https://www.wgu.edu/student-experience/learning/how.html> provides the flexibility to enable the students to complete their degree and related certificates in only 18 to 24 months.

WGU's Director of Regional Operations - West Region, Bob Benson, said, "WGU is an affordable and flexible option for learners that are interested in accelerating at their own pace while graduating with little or no debt. The many benefits include robust scholarship opportunities, a program mentor for each student, and a competency-based format, which allows students to complete a course as soon as they have shown mastery of the material, allowing them to move forward as desired."

If you are currently a SDUSD employee interested in applying for the TEACH-LEAD San Diego Teacher Pathway Scholarship through November 15, 2022, please contact Patrizia Zary at patrizia.zary@wgu.edu<mailto:patrizia.zary@wgu.edu>.

Candidates can learn more about SDUSD's TEACH- LEAD San Diego Pipeline to diversify the teacher and leader workforce at www.sandi.net/TeachLeadSD<http://www.sandi.net/TeachLeadSD>.


Media Availability: Thursday, December 16, 2021 (Please confirm coverage to reserve an interview time slot).

Speakers: Kimberly Moore, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, San Diego Unified School District


Contact for media inquiries: Contact San Diego Unified School District
Andrea Gardner Isabella McNeil
Regional Manager, Communications & Outreach Info. Services Specialist, Human Resources
(916) 397-8109 (619) 341-2343
Andrea.Gardner@wgu.edu<mailto:Andrea.Gardner@wgu.edu> imcneil@sandi.net<mailto:imcneil@sandi.net>

Contact for WGU Enrollment Information
Patrizia Zary
Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
(760) 390-3000
patrizia.zary@wgu.edu<mailto:patrizia.zary@wgu.edu>


About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 130,000 students nationwide and has more than 254,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families and preparing the workforce needed in today's rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu<https://www.wgu.edu/> and wgu.edu/impact<http://wgu.edu/impact>.
About San Diego Unified School District
As the second-largest school district in California, the San Diego Unified School District serves more than 100,000 students, including infant, pre-school, transitional kindergarten through grade 12, and adult programs. The students and families of the San Diego community represent more than 163 countries and bring the richness of more than 60 languages and dialects; approximately 20% of its students are multilingual. The diversity of the student population includes 47% Latinx, 23% White, 10% Black, 8% Asian, and 5% Filipino. The San Diego Unified School District is proud to call itself one of the top large urban school districts in the United States due to its commitments to racial and social justice, technology, curriculum, neighborhood and specialty schools, career-technical education, and food services. Learn more at www.sandi.net<http://www.sandi.net> and www.sandi.net/jobs<http://www.sandi.net/jobs>
###


Best Wishes,
Isa
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[signature_1861199825]<https://sandiegounified.org/departments/human_resources>

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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified School District to Provide At-Home Covid-19 Tests to All Students

[cid:image001.png@01D7F185.4F1A7F80]

*Media opportunities will be available today at Gage Elementary School.


NEWS RELEASE


San Diego Unified to Provide At-Home COVID-19 Tests for All Students

Students are encouraged to take two at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests before returning to school after the winter break


December 15, 2021

SAN DIEGO – San Diego Unified School District is providing a kit of two COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests for all students to self-test at home prior to returning to campus after winter break in January.

The iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests were provided by the California Department of Public Health and will be distributed to the more than 98,000 students in San Diego Unified this week.

"Many students will be traveling or gathering with friends and family over the winter break, and with a recent up-tick in case rates and the new omicron variant, students may be exposed to COVID-19," said Board of Education President Richard Barrera. "These at-home rapid tests will help all of our students and their families have greater peace of mind about returning to school safely in January."

Students should take the first self-administered test on December 31 -- three days before their return to school. The second at-home test should be taken the morning of January 3, 2022 before coming to school.

Students who receive a positive result from either test should stay home and contact their doctor and school right away, and should follow any further instructions before returning to campus.

Combating this virus takes a multi-tiered approach, of which vaccination and regular testing are key elements. San Diego Unified is asking all students, regardless of vaccination status, to take this extra step and test themselves twice before returning to school as an extra layer of protection.

In addition to these at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 test kits the district is encouraging families to take advantage of the holiday break to get vaccinated if they have yet to do so. It is also a good time to go back to the basics in health and safety precautions. That means washing hands frequently, avoiding large crowds and wearing masks.

"We want our students and their families to take common-sense precautions to protect themselves so we can all return to a safe learning environment after the winter break," said Susan Barndollar, executive director of nursing and wellness for San Diego Unified. "That includes not only using these at-home test kits, but also practicing good hygiene habits."

Students who miss the distribution of the COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits should plan to make appointments for testing through their health care provider or by visiting the County website<https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/testing.html> to find free testing locations.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

WHERE: Gage Elementary School, 6811 Bisby Lake Ave, San Diego, CA 92119

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec 15, 11:30 a.m.

WHO: Susan Barndollar RN, MN, FNP, Executive Director, Nursing & Wellness; Richard Barrera, Board of Education President


VISUALS: At-home rapid antigen COVID-19 testing kits


MEDIA CONTACT: Communications Director Maureen Magee, (619) 381-7930, mmagee@sandi.net<mailto:mmagee@sandi.net>


###
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021

NEWS RELEASE: San Diego Unified Superintendent Finalists Announced

[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hicJc8Yy2O6s6yzIbqkW04ULdroP3XKO1l_6dsQ7Z3cYwbM2bAiCQCurQ9atytHd4QUB-6ZKRoF6cudXl86-XnKlbCBqmtJTjyl_il_IJyqHJyx5K_RpI7eW4QhCg5dilpGbelq]

NEWS RELEASE


Board of Education Announces Two Superintendent Finalists

Public Forums to Provide Opportunities to Engage with Superintendent Candidates

December 14, 2021

SAN DIEGO – The Board of Education today named two finalists for the position of superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, following an extensive community engagement process led by a diverse 48-member advisory committee.

The candidates will participate in community forums that will offer the public opportunities to engage with the finalists before the Board selects the next permanent superintendent in January. The superintendent finalists are: Dr. Susan Enfield and Dr. Lamont A. Jackson.

Dr. Susan Enfield has served as superintendent for Highline Public Schools since 2012. A high school English, journalism and ELL teacher, Dr. Enfield served as Chief Academic Officer and then as Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools before coming to Highline. She previously held leadership positions in Evergreen Public Schools (Vancouver, WA), Portland Public Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Enfield is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and earned master's degrees from Stanford University and Harvard University. She also holds a doctoral degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard's Urban Superintendents Program. Dr. Enfield was named Superintendent of the Year by the National School Foundation Association in 2018, and was recently named the Washington State Superintendent of the Year for 2022.


Dr. Lamont A. Jackson is the Interim Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. Dr. Jackson grew up in San Diego. Not only did he graduate from San Diego Unified, he has been an employee of the district for more than 30 years. Dr. Jackson has held the position of teaching assistant, teacher and coach, principal at Montgomery, Challenger and Wangenheim Middle Schools, and Chief Human Resources Officer for the district. Most recently, Dr. Jackson served as Area 2 Superintendent. He has worked to mentor African American students throughout his career. Dr. Jackson graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in sociology and social sciences. He also holds a master's degree and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of San Diego.

Please visit the superintendent search webpage<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/sdusd-superintendent-search/home> for more information about the finalists.

"As our advisory committee led a robust community engagement process, we learned a lot about what the public expects from the superintendent and what it envisions for the San Diego Unified School District." said Board of Education President Richard Barrera. "These incredibly qualified candidates are the result of that community process, and each of them meets the qualifications and characteristics the public told us they are looking for."

Community forums for the public to engage with the superintendent finalists will be held on January 10, including events at Logan Memorial Educational Campus and Patrick Henry High School. Details about the forums will be posted on the superintendent search webpage<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/sdusd-superintendent-search/home>.



The Board is scheduled to appoint a permanent superintendent in January, with a formal introduction of the superintendent set for January 18 at the State of the District Address.



"I would like to thank all the parents, students, employees and community members who have participated in this superintendent search process," said Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne, Vice President of the Board of Education. "I also invite everyone to stay involved during this final portion of the search process because your voices are critical."



The Superintendent Recruitment and Selection Process was adopted by the Board in February. The process included a plan for stakeholder engagement, allowing for multiple town halls, community meetings<https://sandiegounified.org/about/superintendent/superintendent_search_community_input> and other opportunities for the public to actively participate in the selection process. The National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) was contracted to do this work.


San Diego Unified offered 34 community input opportunities<https://sandiegounified.org/about/superintendent/superintendent_recruitment_and_search_process/superintendent_search_community_input> to the public between July and September. A 48-member Superintendent Search Advisory Committee<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/sdusd-superintendent-search/meet-the-committee?authuser=0> appointed by the Board guided the process. The committee reflects the diversity of San Diego Unified students and the San Diego Community, and includes members from nonprofit and civic organizations; elected officials, student, staff and parent organizations; and educational institutions.


The Advisory Committee reviewed all applications from candidates who met the minimum qualifications and recommended up to ten candidates to be interviewed by the Board.



The Board appointed Dr. Jackson, as Interim Superintendent after former Superintendent Cindy Marten was named Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

MEDIA CONTACT: Communications Director Maureen Magee, mmagee@sandi.net, (619) 381-7930

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Monday, December 13, 2021

San Diego Gulls book distribution at Porter Elementary

 

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

San Diego Gulls Spreading Holiday Joy with Book Giveaway at Porter Elementary School

December 13, 2021

SAN DIEGO -- As part of the Gulls Season of Giving and their Reading is the Goal program, the San Diego Gulls will be brightening the holidays for hundreds of Porter Elementary School students by handing out newly purchased books for free. Many of the books are written in Spanish for one of the most ethnically diverse student populations within San Diego Unified.   

WHAT: Book distribution to students at Porter Elementary

WHERE: Porter Elementary (north campus): 445 S. 47th Street, San Diego, CA., 92113

WHEN: Wednesday, December 15, 2021

TIME: 10 a.m.

WHO: Representatives from the San Diego Gulls, including Mascot Gulliver and the Gulls Girls, will help hand out books to students at Porter Elementary.

BACKGROUND: With the purchase of more than 1,300 books, the San Diego Gulls, a member of the American Hockey League, will be handing out two books and a gift to every student at Porter Elementary ahead of the upcoming winter break. To acknowledge Porter’s diverse student population, many of the books being provided are in Spanish and cover a wide variety of genres, from culturally responsive stories to graphic novels and chapter books.

VISUALS: Books and gifts being distributed to students. Mascot Gulliver and the Gulls Girls interacting with students.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: Representatives available from San Diego Gulls and Porter Elementary.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Murad, San Diego Unified Public Information Coordinator: mmurad@sandi.net, 619-925-4790

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Friday, December 10, 2021

Post Notices and Agendas

PLEASE NOTE:

 

 

 

 

Please forward to staff and as appropriate, print agenda and post in a prominent, publicly accessible location at your site.

 

Additionally, please refer to the below links for upcoming meetings, agendas, and minutes of the board advisory committees:

·         Audit and Finance: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/audit_and_finance_committee/overview 

·         CTEAC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CTEAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         CAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/SpedCAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DAC: General Membership— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_general_meeting_schedule_and_information; and Executive Board—https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DAC/2021-22_executive_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         DELAC: General Membership and Executive Board— https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/DELAC/2021-22_meeting_schedule_and_information

·         RJEICOC: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/racial_justice_icoc/2021_meeting_schedule

·         CSFC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/CSFC/meeting_schedule

·         ICOC: https://www.sandiegounified.org/about/bond_programs/independent_citizens_oversight_committee/icoc_meeting

·         Community Schools Advisory Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/community_schools_advisory_committee/meeting_schedule

·         Redistricting Engagement Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/redistricting_engagement_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

·         Superintendent Search Committee: https://sandiegounified.org/about/board_of_education/committees/superintendent_search_committee/2021_meeting_schedule

 Thank you.

 

Martha Corrales
Confidential Admin Assistant II
Board Services Office, San Diego Unified School District
mcorrales@sandi.net

 

Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.  -Maya Angelou

 

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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

NEWS RELEASE: Federal Court Backs San Diego Unified Vaccine Mandate

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NEWS RELEASE

Federal Court Backs San Diego Unified Vaccine Mandate, Rules School District Acting in the Interest of Public Health
9th Circuit Finds 2-1 Against Chicago-based Organization and its Scripps Ranch Client

December 4, 2021

For the second time in as many days, a Court has sided with the San Diego Unified School District in its efforts to protect staff and students by putting in place a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals followed the San Diego Superior Court in denying an "emergency" attempt to halt the mandate. The 9th Circuit decision comes on the same day that San Diego County recorded its highest COVID-19 case count since September and the new Omicron variant has been detected in Los Angeles.

The 9th Circuit agreed San Diego Unified is acting in the best interest of students, as opposed to discriminating on the basis of religion, as the plaintiffs had claimed. The 9th Circuit wrote, "Appellants have not shown a likelihood of establishing that the mandate was implemented with the aim of suppressing religious belief, rather than protecting the health and safety of students, staff, and the community."

"We take seriously our responsibility to create a safe environment for our students and staff, and to protect students put at medical risk by being vaccinated," said Board President Richard Barrera. "This latest decision recognizes that we have both the responsibility to protect students and the authority to do so by implementing a vaccine mandate, which is really our best hope as a country to get this deadly disease under control."

The 9th Circuit ruling came on the heels of a decision yesterday by San Diego Superior Court Judge John Meyer to deny an emergency application to suspend enforcement of the San Diego Unified vaccine mandate by a North County Organization called, "Let Them Choose."

The 9th Circuit majority decision was sweeping, stating the request for an injunction "fails to raise a serious question as to whether the vaccination mandate is not neutral and generally applicable," the two criteria that are reviewed and applied under well-established precedent. The Court concluded the plaintiffs "have not carried their burden to establish a likelihood of success on the merits, or that they will suffer irreparable harm if this Court does not issue an injunction, or that the public interest weighs in their favor."

Under the mandate approved by the Board of Education to help prevent the spread of the virus in schools and the community, San Diego Unified will require students who are 16 and older (as of Nov. 1, 2021) to be fully vaccinated, excluding those with an approved medical exemption, in order to continue learning in-person.

"The Court majority correctly recognized that the district's legitimate interests include protecting the health and safety of students whose health would be placed at risk by being vaccinated, by providing a narrow medical exemption," said
San Diego Unified counsel Mark Bresee.

At least 72 percent of San Diego Unified students 16 or older have been fully vaccinated as of Nov. 8, according to district data. San Diego Unified continues to provide students, staff and community members opportunities to receive free vaccines, including pediatric doses for students as young as 5, and boosters at convenient locations throughout the district. To date, the district has received three medical exemption requests.

Students and their families are encouraged to visit the district's COVID-19 Vaccine website<https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/nursingwellness/covid-19-vaccine> for answers to frequently asked questions regarding the student vaccine mandate and details on opportunities to get vaccinated for free at school sites. In addition to district resources, families can also visit MyTurn.ca.gov<http://myturn.ca.gov/> for information about getting a vaccine through walk-in and scheduled appointments.

The vaccine mandate is just one part of San Diego Unified's comprehensive approach to keep students protected from COVID-19 while at school. Other measures include requiring masks on all district properties, social distancing and tracking of student cohorts, investing in major upgrades to air filtration and other safety infrastructure, and providing regular testing.
MEDIA CONTACT: Communications Director Maureen Magee, mmagee@sandi.net , (619) 381-7930
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