It has been a busy school year with a priority on advocacy for the South Bay Union School District governance team.
Over the summer, Board Trustees Elvia Aguilar, Chris Brown, Barbara Elliott-Sanders, Melanie Ellsworth, and Cheryl Quiñones and Superintendent Katie McNamara met with Representative Juan Vargas; Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher; Assemblymember Todd Gloria; and Jacob O’Neill, Senior District Representative from the Office of State Senator Ben Hueso. Discussions focused on the need for additional education funding and concerns related to the increasing costs of pension fund contributions, utility fees, and Worker’s Compensation rates.
In late October 2017, Dr. McNamara was asked by San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Paul Gothold to accompany him and Chula Vista Superintendent Francisco Escobedo and Fallbrook Superintendent Candace Singh on a legislative advocacy trip to Washington DC in late October. During two days in the Capitol, the team met with Kara McKee, Assistant to the President of the United States for Domestic Policy; Representative Juan Vargas; Representative Susan Davis; Representative Darrell Issa; and Brett Rosenberg, Legislative Assistant to Senator Kamala Harris. Conversations included education funding, the challenges facing our families as a result of proposed changes in federal immigration policy, and the important focus on subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
On November 27, 2017, Assemblymember Todd Gloria visited Oneonta School to observe professional development and meet students participating in the Leader in Me program. He joined students and staff in grades 4-6 at an observation of a Writing Lab Site Workshop, led by Assistant Superintendent Cindy Wagner. This professional development, which is supported by currently threatened federal funding, is a result of South Bay’s phenomenal partnership with Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.
In early February, the Board and Superintendent attended the 2018 Advocacy Institute hosted by the National School Boards Association in Washington, DC. The Institute included workshops on effective advocacy and attendees spent an entire day on Capitol Hill meeting with elected officials.
Superintendent Katie McNamara is proud of the governance team’s commitment to advocacy. “District leaders are important spokespersons for public education. They are uniquely positioned to speak on behalf of their local communities and to share the voices of their constituents. We are all honored to represent the priorities and needs of South Bay and the students and families we serve.”
To learn more, please visit http://www.sbusd.org/pages/SouthBayUnion
About the South Bay Union School District
The South Bay Union School District proudly serves over 7,500 students in Imperial Beach, San Ysidro, and south San Diego. The District is comprised of twelve campuses, including nine K-6 schools, two K-8 charter schools, and one Preschool. South Bay offers several specialized programs including Dual Language, Instrumental Music, Visual and Performing Arts, and a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy.
Media Contact
Company Name: South Bay Union School District
Contact Person: Amy Cooper
Email: acooper@sbusd.org
Phone: (619) 628-1605
Address:601 Elm Avenue
City: Imperial Beach
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: http://www.sbusd.org/pages/SouthBayUnion