FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
Mike Murad, mmurad@sandi.net, 619-925-4790
James Canning, jcanning@sandi.net, 313-580-2845
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SUPERINTENDENT & TRUSTEES FIGHTING TO SAFEGUARD FEDERAL FUNDING BY MEETING WITH LEADERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Advocacy Trip Underscores Critical Need to Protect Minimum Investments for All Children
SAN DIEGO (MARCH 21, 2025) – San Diego Unified Superintendent (Interim) Dr. Fabi Bagula and two Board of Education Trustees will be traveling to Washington, D.C. this week to relay the critical need to protect vital federal funding and services for the state’s second-largest school district in order to ensure the continued progress and success of its students.
Dr. Bagula and the Trustees are planning to meet with San Diego’s Congressional representatives in the U.S. House and Senate.
Proposed cuts to Medicaid, school nutrition programs, and key education funding streams threaten to undermine the groundwork already laid for the upcoming school year and future years, and would place additional burdens on the students and families the District serves.
“Federal funding is not a luxury for any school district, and the risk of losing the minimum level received in the past would unfairly and negatively affect our highest-need students through no fault of their own,” said Dr. Bagula. “Investing in students is investing in all of us, as the children of today will become the workforce and taxpayers of tomorrow. It benefits everyone to provide a student a high-quality, rigorous, well-rounded and joyful education to best prepare them for the college or career of their choosing.”
San Diego Unified’s ability to meet its commitment to students is currently at risk, and federal revenue accounts for approximately 6% of the District’s budget. The District recently made difficult decisions in closing a $176 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year, driven by the expiration of one-time funds, rising operational costs, declining enrollment, and increasing student needs. While the District has taken significant steps to mitigate this challenge—reducing vacant positions, improving identification of unduplicated students, and implementing an incentivized early retirement plan adopted by nearly 1,000 employees—difficult choices remain.
“The Board of Education has dealt with several dire financial situations over the nine years I’ve served at San Diego Unified, but never with this degree of uncertainty,” said Board Trustee Dr. Sharon Whitehurst-Payne. “We are asking the federal government to provide fiscal stability so we can plan, implement and carry out our commitments to students now, next year and in the future.”
In addition to Trustee Whitehurst-Payne, Trustee Sabrina Bazzo will be accompanying Dr. Bagula on the March 22-25 advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., led by San Diego Unified Director of Government Relations, Dr. Sierra Cook.
San Diego Unified’s Board of Education and leadership team urge Congress to prioritize an investment in all children by:
- Rejecting cuts to Medicaid and school nutrition programs.
- Protecting funding for Title I, II, and III to support low-income students, educators, and English learners.
- Increasing IDEA funding to better serve students with disabilities.
- Fully funding Impact Aid to support military-connected students.
In conjunction with the Council of Great City Schools, San Diego Unified’s contingent will also be attending three days of legislative/policy conferences to include other large, urban school districts. Topics to be addressed include federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, policy proposals and action from the Trump Administration, and education priorities in the 119th Congress.
“With almost 100,000 students, San Diego Unified serves an incredibly rich and diverse population. Any drop in federal funding will impact students and their families across the board,” said Trustee Sabrina Bazzo. “Our schools are more than just buildings to teach the ABC’s. They are foundational centers offering a wide range of educational, social and community services to entire neighborhoods.”
To learn more about how San Diego Unified has already been affected by recent federal funding decisions, please visit our Federal Budget Watch page by clicking here.
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Thanks,
Mike
Mike Murad
Public Information Coordinator
San Diego Unified School District
mmurad@sandi.net | www.sandiegounified.org
Mobile Phone: 619-925-4790
4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
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