San Dieguito Union High School District

San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) is a public school district in northern San Diego County, California.[2] Established in 1936, the district serves over 13,000 students in five middle schools, five comprehensive high schools, and one alternative high school.[3][4] In 2023 SDUHSD was ranked the second-best school district in California and the eighteenth-best in the country .[5]

San Dieguito Union High School District
Address
710 Encinitas Boulevard
Encinitas
, California, 92024
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoEngaged, Inspired, Prepared
Grades7–12
Established1936 (1936)
SuperintendentAnne Staffieri
School boardRimga Viskanta
Katrina Young
Jane Lea Smith
Michael Allman
Phan Anderson
Schools10
NCES District ID0634380[1]
District ID3768346
Students and staff
Students13,001 (2020–2021)
Teachers515.28 (FTE)
Staff938.8 (FTE)
Student–teacher ratio25.23:1
Other information
Websitewww.sduhsd.net

History

Prior to 1936, students who lived in coastal North County attended high school in Oceanside. In January 1936, the communities of Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Green Valley, and Olivenhain voted in favor to form a new high school district.[6] San Dieguito Union High School, now San Dieguito High School Academy was the flagship school of the district, in which the first classes were held in September 1936. Architect Lillian J. Rice was hired by the district board to design the school.[7][8]

The district now serves students from five elementary school districts in North County: the Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Cardiff, Solana Beach, and Del Mar School Districts. Students from those school districts matriculate through the middle schools and high schools.[9]

Subjects of Study

Students in the SDUHSD district have to take 3 years of math, 2 years of sciences, 3 years of humanities and histories, 4 years of English, and 3 years of a foreign language.

Board of trustees

The district is governed by a five-member school board, called the Board of Trustees.[10] Since 2017, trustees are elected directly by voters from five separate areas within the district's boundaries.[11]

The current board trustees include Rimga Viskanta, Katrina Young, Jane Lea Smith, Michael Allman, and Phan Anderson.[12] Viskanta and Smith have served as board president and board vice president since 2023. Allman and Young were elected to the board in 2020.[13] Anderson, Smith, and Viskanta were elected to the board in November 2022.[14]

Viskanta is a policy analyst, and former board trustee for the Encinitas Union School District.[15] Smith is a businesswoman, and former school teacher and administrator.[16] Young is a community volunteer who previously served as chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.[17] Allman was former chairman, president, and CEO of Southern California Gas Company at Sempra Energy.[18] Anderson is a software engineer.[19]

Current members
Area Trustee Term expires
1 Rimga Viskanta (President) 2026
2 Katrina Young (Clerk) 2024
3 Jane Lea Smith (Vice President) 2026
4 Michael Allman 2024
5 Phan Anderson 2026

Leadership and staff

The president of the board of trustees is Rimga Viskanta. She has served as president since December 2022. Viskanta previously was a member of the Encinitas Union School District board of trustees from 2016 to 2020, where she also served as board president.[20] Dr. Anne Staffieri, former superintendent of the Escondido Union High School District, has served as superintendent since July 2023.[21]

The executive cabinet includes the heads of each district department:

  • Dr. Anne Staffieri, Superintendent of Schools
  • Tina Douglas, Associate Superintendent of Business Services
  • Bryan Marcus, Associate Superintendent of Educational Services
  • Mary Anne Nuskin, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources

On May 10, 2023, the district announced in a press release that Dr. Anne Staffieri would serve as superintendent pending board approval of her contract beginning July 2023. Dr. Staffieri was superintendent of Escondido Union High School District since 2019.[22] Staffieri succeeds Tina Douglas, associate superintendent of business services, who had served as interim superintendent since April 2022.

Cheryl James-Ward, professor at San Diego State University and former CEO of E3 Civic High School, was hired in November 2021.[23] James-Ward was placed on administrative leave in April 2022 after controversial comments she made about Asian Americans during a board workshop.[24] Board trustees Muir, Allman, and Bronstein voted in the affirmative, while Young voted against it. The board subsequently voted unanimously to terminate her contract on June 26, 2022, effective August 15, 2022, without cause.[25][26]

The board appointed Lucile Lynch as interim superintendent in May 2021.[27] She served in the role until the board hired James-Ward in November 2021. Lynch was preceded by Robert Haley, who served in the role beginning on November 1, 2018.[28] He resigned in April 2021.[29]

School sites and properties

High schools

There are five high schools in the district, including four comprehensive schools and one alternative school. Although officially named academies, there is no official academic or educational difference between San Dieguito and Canyon Crest Academies and Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon. SDUHSD uses a school choice method, that allows any student within the elementary and middle school boundaries to attend any of the four comprehensive high schools.

San Dieguito High School Academy

San Dieguito High School Academy (SDA), formerly San Dieguito Union High School, San Dieguito High School, and San Dieguito Academy, is the district's flagship school.[30] Opening in 1936, the school is located in Encinitas around one mile from the coast. Similar to Canyon Crest Academy, SDHSA uses a semester class schedule, which allows students to take year-long courses in one semester. During the 2020-2021 school year, 2,059 students were enrolled.[31]

Torrey Pines High School

Torrey Pines High School (TPHS) was established in 1974, located in the Del Mar Highlands area of San Diego.[32] Torrey Pines enrolled 2,547 students during the 2020-2021 school year, making it the largest school in the district.[33] It is a traditional high school, using a rotating block schedule with year-long courses. The school's rival is La Costa Canyon High School.[34]

La Costa Canyon High School

La Costa Canyon High School (LCC), located in south Carlsbad, opened in 1996 and is the smallest high school in the district. The district's only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, La Costa Canyon enrolled 1,834 students during the 2020-2021 school year.[35] It is one of the district's two traditional high schools, using a rotating block schedule. La Costa Canyon is best known for its athletic programs, producing numerous professional sports players.[36] The school's rival is Torrey Pines High School.

Canyon Crest Academy

Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) opened in 2004 in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego.[37] The school uses the semester class schedule similar to San Dieguito Academy. During the 2020-2021 school year, CCA enrolled 2,503 students making it the second largest school in the district.[38] Canyon Crest has been ranked the #1 high school in the state since 2018.[39]

Sunset High School

Sunset High School is the district's alternative high school located in Encinitas.

Middle schools

The San Dieguito Union High School District currently operates five middle schools. Earl Warren Middle School is the district's first middle school located in Solana Beach.[40] Oak Crest Middle School in Encinitas opened in 1957.[41] Diegueño Middle School in Encinitas was established in 1985, located four miles away from La Costa Canyon High School.[42] Carmel Valley Middle School opened in 1999 in the Carmel Valley community of San Diego.[43] Pacific Trails Middle School was built in 2015, a half-mile away from Canyon Crest Academy.[44]

Recent events

March–June 2021

  • On March 19, 2021, Area 5 trustee Kristin Gibson resigned from board, citing personal reasons. The board of trustees would have 60 days to either hold a special election or execute a provisional appointment.[45] On March 29, 2021, the board of trustees voted 3-1 to execute a provisional appointment.[46] Michael Allman, Mo Muir, and Melisse Mossy voted in favor of the process; Katrina Young voted against it.
  • On April 22, 2021, Ty Humes was unanimously appointed to the board of trustees.[47]
  • At the April 27, 2021 special board meeting, president Mo Muir stated that the board accepted superintendent Robert A. Haley's voluntary resignation agreement effective April 30, 2021.[48] The agreement stated he would receive one year's salary and the district would "maintain his health and welfare benefits until April 30, 2022."[49]
  • On April 30, 2021, Lucile Lynch was appointed as interim superintendent in a 4-1 vote.[50] Allman, Humes, Muir, and Mossy voted in favor of the appointment; Young voted against it.
  • On June 9, 2021, the district announced that a petition to hold a special election for the Area 5 board seat "was deemed legally sufficient."[51] Humes was then vacated from the board.[52]

October–November 2021

  • On October 10, 2021, Cheryl James-Ward was announced as the lone finalist for superintendent.[53] Subsequently, on October 14, 2021, the board voted 3-1 on her contract effective November 1, 2021. Allman, Muir, and Mossy voted in favor; Young voted against it.[54]
  • On November 3, 2021, Julie Bronstein won the Area 5 special election against Humes and a community member.

February 2022

  • On February 10, 2022, the board selected three final trustee area maps in the 2020 census redistricting process, mandated by the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Maps 1C, 7, and 8 were chosen. Bronstein and Young voted against Maps 7 and 8, citing gerrymandering. Young motioned to include Map 1C in the final options, which passed unanimously 5-0.[55] The deadline for final map adoption was March 1, 2022.
  • On February 14, 2022, the board of trustees adopted Map 8 in a 3-2 vote. Allman, Muir, and Mossy voted in favor of the map; Bronstein and Young voted against it. Before the maps were adopted, superintendent Cheryl James-Ward indicated she received a letter from San Diego County superintendent of schools Paul Gothold. The letter stated the county board of education could take over the redistricting process if any delay were to occur due to litigation over the maps.[56] Gothold also stated the county was informed that at least one of the maps considered could violate the CVRA. Days later, on February 22, 2022, a lawsuit was filed in the San Diego County Superior Court by two community members against the district. It claimed that the maps "disenfranchised" people of color and was gerrymandered.[57]

April 2022

  • On April 4, 2022, the San Diego County Board of Education voted unanimously to take over the trustee area map decision process for SDUHSD.[58]
  • On April 12, 2022, Melisse Mossy resigned from the board of trustees.[59]
  • On April 20, 2022, superintendent Cheryl James-Ward was placed on administrative leave for comments she made about Asian Americans at a diversity, equity and inclusion board workshop on April 11, 2022. The board of trustees voted 3-1. Allman, Bronstein, and Muir voted for placing her on leave; Young voted against it. The next day, the board unanimously appointed Tina Douglas, associate superintendent of business services, as interim superintendent at a special board meeting.[60]

May–June 2022

  • On May 22, 2022, an article was published by The San Diego Union-Tribune about text messages between board vice president Michael Allman and superintendent Cheryl James-Ward. The messages were read by community activist Mali Woods-Drake during public comments at the May 17, 2022 board meeting. James-Ward confirmed she sent the texts to Woods-Drake. The exchange was regarding a La Costa Canyon High School teacher's mask enforcement. Allman texted obscene language and profanity to James-Ward, and urged her to fire the teacher and the principal, Reno Medina: "I will out this SOB. End of story. Does he not know, or does he know and ignore? If he does not know, fire Medina. If he know and ignores, fire the teacher.”[61][62]
  • On June 26, 2022, superintendent Cheryl James-Ward was fired. The board of trustees voted unanimously 4-0 to terminate her contract, without cause, effective August 15, 2022.[63]

August 2022

  • On August 25, 2022, the board of trustees unanimously adopted a resolution regarding gun violence prevention written by La Costa Canyon High School student body presidents Andrew and Shane Baum. The resolution advocated for safe gun storage and common sense gun laws. It was the first resolution written by the community in district history.[64][65]

November–December 2022

  • On November 8, 2022, Rimga Viskanta, Jane Lea Smith, and Phan Anderson won election to the board of trustees. Anderson defeated incumbent Julie Bronstein in the Area 5 race.
  • On December 13, 2022, Rimga Viskanta was elected as board president. The board of trustees voted 5-0.

See also

References
  1. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for SDUHSD". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  2. "Our District". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  3. "Our Schools". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "San Dieguito Union High School District - California". Niche. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  6. "History". sdafoundation.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  7. "Pioneering Women of American Architecture". Pioneering Women of American Architecture. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  8. "Lilian Jenette Rice". San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
  9. "Our District". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  10. "SDUSHD Governance Handbook 2020" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "SDUHSD 2017 Redistricting Cranberry 1 Map" (PDF).
  12. "Board of Trustees". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  13. "San Dieguito Union High School District, California". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  14. "Election Night Results". www.livevoterturnout.com. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  15. "Rimga Viskanta". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  16. "Jane Lea Smith". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  17. "Katrina Young". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  18. "Michael Allman". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  19. "Phan Anderson". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  20. "Rimga Viskanta". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
  21. Billing, Karen (2023-05-10). "Escondido schools chief tapped to lead San Dieguito district". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  22. "Announcements". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  23. Billing, Karen (2021-10-18). "'Together we move forward': San Dieguito appoints new superintendent". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  24. "San Dieguito superintendent on administrative leave for racially biased comment". KPBS Public Media. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  25. Taketa, Kristin; Email (2022-06-27). "San Dieguito school board fires superintendent". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
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  27. Billing, Karen (2021-04-30). "Lucile Lynch named San Dieguito's interim superintendent". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  28. "Robert Haley". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  29. Billing, Karen (April 28, 2021). "Superintendent Robert Haley resigns from San Dieguito school district". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  30. "San Dieguito Academy - About". sd.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  31. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for San Dieguito HS Academy". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  32. "Torrey Pines High School - Home". tp.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  33. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Torrey Pines High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  34. Billing, Karen (2021-11-02). "Torrey Pines takes the surfboard with win over rival LCC". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  35. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for La Costa Canyon High". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  36. "La Costa Canyon - Athletics". lc.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  37. "Canyon Crest Academy - Home". cc.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  38. "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Canyon Crest Academy". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  39. "2023 Best Public High Schools in California". Niche. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  40. "Earl Warren Middle School". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  41. "Oak Crest Middle School". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  42. "Diegueño Middle School". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  43. "Carmel Valley Middle School". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  44. "Pacific Trails Middle School". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  45. Slane, Bill (2021-03-23). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  46. Email (2021-03-30). "San Dieguito school board will appoint new trustee". Encinitas Advocate. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  47. Billing, Karen (2021-04-24). "San Dieguito appoints Ty Humes to vacant board seat". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  48. Billing, Karen (2021-04-28). "Superintendent Robert Haley resigns from San Dieguito school district". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  49. Page, Eric S.; Devine • •, Rory. "San Dieguito Union HS District Superintendent Resigns". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  50. Slane, Bill (2021-05-01). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  51. "Announcements". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  52. Stone, Ken (2021-06-11). "Ty Humes, Removed from San Dieguito School Board, Vows Run as Parent Rep". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  53. "Announcements". www.sduhsd.net. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  54. Slane, Bill (2021-10-19). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  55. Billing, Karen (2022-02-15). "San Dieguito board selects three final maps in redistricting process". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  56. Slane, Bill (2022-02-19). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  57. Slane, Bill (2022-02-22). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  58. "County Office of Education takes over San Dieguito's election map process". Encinitas Advocate. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  59. Billing, Karen (2022-04-13). "Melisse Mossy resigns from San Dieguito board". Del Mar Times. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  60. Taketa, Kristin (2022-04-21). "San Dieguito superintendent placed on administrative leave". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  61. Taketa, Kristin (2022-05-20). "Profanity-laced text messages from San Dieguito school board trustee read during board meeting". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  62. Taketa, Kristin (2022-05-22). "Obscenity-laced text messages from San Dieguito school board trustee read during board meeting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  63. Schmiedeberg, Renee. "San Dieguito Union High School District Board Terminates Ward From Superintendent Position". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
  64. Place, Laura (2022-08-31). "San Dieguito board passes student-written gun violence resolution". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  65. Billing, Karen (2022-08-30). "San Dieguito board passes student-driven resolution on gun violence". Encinitas Advocate. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
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