SAN DIEGO — Petitions containing more than 133,000 signatures were turned-in to the San Diego City Clerk for verification Friday during a news conference in support of the San Diego Unified School District Accountability and Student Performance Initiative.
The measure requires at least 93,085 valid signatures to qualify for the next citywide election. The City Clerk contracts with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters to conduct the validation. The Clerk and the Registrar have 60 working days to complete the process and report the results to the San Diego City Council.
The initiative was drafted by San Diegans 4 Great Schools, which is a broad-based coalition of parents, taxpayers and community leaders working to reform governance of the SDUSD and close the student achievement gap.
“Unfortunately, children today – particularly low-income and children of color – are trapped in failing, dysfunctional schools systems,” said former state Senator Gloria Romero, chair of Democrats for Education Reform. “We need to make bold changes to our education system.”
The initiative aims to make the school board more accountable for improving student performance, and shifts the board’s focus from adult political agendas to the needs of students. It increases public accountability for student performance by establishing district elections and term limits for school board members, and by requiring annual progress reports for each school site, which must be presented to the Mayor, City Council and the public.
“Providing a quality public education to our children is a key to our city’s future economic health and quality of life. This initiative gives our kids a chance to stay and work in San Diego, raise their families, and be prepared for the competitive workplaces of the 21st Century,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders.
The Accountability and Student Performance Initiative reduces the impact of special-interest groups that fund school board campaigns, and it increases the stability and student-focus of the board by adding four members appointed by experts – the heads of our four major universities, the chairs of the four official parent groups in the district, and one representative of major San Diego employers.
“This initiative gives parents a voice in our district and a seat at the table to make the best decisions for our kids,” said SDUSD parent David Page.
Other speakers in favor of the measure included Scott Himelstein of San Diegans 4 Great Schools and former SDUSD teacher and Principal Linda Sturak. Learn more at www.sd4greatschools.org.
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