The San Diego Unified School District kicked off major campus work Tuesday at 62-year-old Holmes Elementary School, part of a district-wide push for site modernizations.

Students at the two-time California Distinguished School joined Board of Education President Shana Hazan, Vice President Cody Petterson, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and others Tuesday to mark the groundbreaking on the construction, funded by local school bonds.

“Holmes Elementary staff have been devoted to students and the neighboring community for more than six decades, contributing to high test scores and academic success,” Hazan said. “With local voters approving our bond measures, we can match that success with high-quality, modern facilities, like the ones we will see here.”

Once completed, the project is slated to add an upper-grade classroom facility, a student services facility, a Universal Transitional Kindergarten classroom building, two kindergarten classrooms, a joint-use grass play field and other improvements, according to the district.

Existing upper-grade and kindergarten classrooms will be modernized to include new paint, flooring, finishes and white boards.

“With new housing underway down the street, now is the time to re-invigorate our campus so that it is ready to serve all neighborhood students,” Holmes Principal Jonathan Saipe said.

According to the district, additional improvements include the modernization of three classroom buildings, expansion of the food services kitchen, conversion of the student services facility into educational spaces, creation of a new parking lot with a student drop-off and pick-up area and enhancements to safety, security and exterior hard court areas.

The joint-use grass play field will feature a walking and running track, a drinking fountain, new trees, fencing and gates to separate the field from the main campus. As part of a partnership with the city, the field will be accessible to the community as a neighborhood park after school hours and during school breaks.

Construction on the project is estimated to be completed in late 2026.

City News Service contributed to this article.

The San Diego Unified School District on Thursday canceled the majority of teacher layoff notices that officials issued in March.

Based on the financial information available at the time and because of required deadlines, 234 preliminary layoff notices were issued to educators in March. The district, in partnership with the San Diego Education Association, rescinded 225 of those notices on Thursday.

SDUSD Board of Education President Shana Hazan said the district “developed a fiscally sound budget with limited impacts on our tremendous educators.”

“I am grateful for the diligent work of our fiscal and instructional teams, and the support of the San Diego Education Association, in developing a thoughtful plan to maintain stability at our schools by supporting our students and educators in the next school year,” Hazan said.

Following the March notices, educators around the district put up flyers opposing the layoffs, which they described as “shortsighted and unnecessary.”

The district avoided most of the layoffs by reviewing both finances and expected departures, identifying which teachers were retiring or resigning.

This likely means a hiring freeze or slowdown for the district, the second largest in the state, as it reels from COVID-19 funds running dry and attendance figures continuing to dip.

The district is working with principals to finalize staffing plans for the upcoming school year.

– City News Service

Responding to a recent shooting threat at Rancho Bernardo High School, city attorney candidate Heather Ferbert has proposed a three-point plan to protect school-age children.

Ferbert, who is currently chief deputy city attorney, was joined by San Diego Unified School Board President Shana Hazan at a press conference on Wednesday to outline the plan.

“Our Child Safety Action Plan is more than just a policy; it’s a commitment to our children’s future. By expanding proven programs like the gun violence restraining orders, we’re setting a standard for how communities can come together to protect their most vulnerable,” Ferbert said.

The announcement came on the heels of the recent shooting threat at Rancho Bernardo High. Neal James Anders, 45, was arrested on Jan. 30 after his 14-year-old son allegedly made threats to carry out a shooting. Authorities accused Anders of illegally possessing a large array of weapons.

Ferbert’s plan calls for expanding education about teen dating violence, strengthening abuse detection, and enhancing gun violence prevention measures. She shared the detailed plan online.

Hazan praised the plan, saying, “As president of our school board and the mom of two young daughters, I am committed to the safety and wellbeing of San Diego’s children …Together, with partners like Heather Ferbert — and effective tools like gun violence prevention restraining Orders — I know we will create safer communities where children and families can thrive.”

Ferbert faces termed-out Assemblyman Brian Mainenschein in the March 5 primary for city attorney.

The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education elected new board officers, with Shana Hazan selected as president and Dr. Cody Petterson chosen as vice president.    

The board voted unanimously to select Hazan and Petterson as new officers during its public meeting yesterday. 

“As a trustee and the mom of two students in our schools, I am committed to ensuring all our children can reach their full potential,” Hazan said. “I am grateful to be part of such a trusting and collaborative school board and will work in partnership with my fellow trustees to set policy and shape strategy centered around students and families. I look forward to listening and learning from students, families, staff, and community partners to build a school district that sets all students up for success.”

The board president presides at meetings, helps set board meeting agendas and serves as the spokesperson for the seven-member board, which sets policy for the school district. The new board officers serve one-year terms that conclude on December 10, 2024.

Hazan served as board vice president since she was elected to represent the northeastern swath of San Diego Unified in sub-district B last year. Dr. Petterson was also elected to the board in 2022, and represents the coastal region of sub-district C. 

Both Hazan and Petterson are graduates of San Diego Unified, and they both have children who currently attend district schools. 

Kearny High School basketball players joined Taft Middle School students Monday to open Serra Mesa’s newest joint-use park with city and school district officials.

Located on Gramercy Drive in Serra Mesa, the park includes a grass playfield, a walking/running track, hardcourts for pickleball, tennis and basketball, exercise equipment, new trees, benches, a drinking fountain, secure perimeter fencing, security lighting and a parking lot.

“It’s a complete transformation and our students and staff are thrilled to have a grass playfield to run, walk and play,” Taft Middle School Principal Hortencia Garcia-Rubio said.

San Diego Unified School District built the park with local bond funds from its capital improvement program, with contributions from the city. Once the park opens to the public, the city will maintain the field.

“This incredible new joint-use field is a win-win for our entire community, it benefits our students and residents alike,” Board of Education Vice President Shana Hazan said.

The new field at Taft joins 92 other joint-use fields throughout the district. San Diego Unified is building 10 additional joint-use fields and plans to build 27 more, according to a district statement.

“Providing new park space for the Serra Mesa community is critical to ensuring that all residents have equal access to a safe and healthy environment,” City Councilman Raul Campillo said. “Working in partnership with San Diego Unified is just good government. I look forward to taking advantage of all the new amenities along with the students of Taft Middle School and the residents of Serra Mesa.”

The park opens to the public after school hours on Monday and will be accessible to the community after school hours and during school breaks.

City News Service contributed to this article.

Political newcomer Shana Hazan‘s widespread support in her campaign for election to the San Diego Unified School District board in District B is reflected at the polls. SDUSD, California’s second largest, now elects trustees from specific geographic areas. 

Hazan has a commanding lead over Godwin Higa at 60.6% of the vote for the district encompassing northeastern San Diego, according to the county Registrar of Voters website. Hazan is a former teacher and nonprofit executive who serves on the California First 5 Commission.

Born and raised in San Diego, Hazan is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified student who graduated from Scripps Ranch High School. Hazan and her husband Marc live in Kensington where they’re raising two daughters, the older of whom attends their neighborhood school.

In District C, the race is a little closer. Cody Petterson, an educator from La Jolla and adviser to County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, leads with 54.5% of the vote over Becca Williams, a conservative charter-school founder, getting 45.4%.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Monday endorsed Shana Hazan, a nonprofit executive and former public school teacher, for the District B seat on the San Diego Unified School District board.

“Shana has a proven track record of delivering for San Diegans and improving the lives of families and children. Her leadership is exactly what our schools need now,” said Gloria.

“I have witnessed her leadership at Jewish Family Service, the city’s Human Relations Commission, and the state’s First 5 Commission,” he added. “I have every confidence that on the school board, Shana will continue to be a powerful advocate for our students, a voice for our parents, and will work tirelessly to deliver stronger schools.”

In addition to the mayor, five other members of the City Council have endorsed her election.

​“I’m honored to have earned the support of Mayor Gloria and I look forward to working with him and the City Council to deliver stronger schools across San Diego,” said Hazan.

Hazan won 52.5% of the vote in the June 7 primary, and faces Godwin Higa, a former teacher and principal who finished second with 25.0%, in the general election.

Political newcomer Shana Hazan received widespread support for her campaign and at the polls early Tuesday night for election to the San Diego Unified School District board in District B.

Hazan had a commanding lead over Godwin Higa with 52.3% of the vote to 24.8% for the district encompassing northeastern San Diego, according to the county Registrar of Voters website.

She is a former teacher and nonprofit executive who serves on the California First 5 Commission.

Born and raised in San Diego, Hazan is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified student, graduating from Scripps Ranch High School. Hazan and her husband Marc live in Kensington where they’re raising two daughters, the older of whom attends their neighborhood school.

The race was tighter in District C, where Cody Petterson was ahead of Becca Williams with 45.5% of the vote to 31.8%.

Petterson is from La Jolla and a policy adviser for county Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer.

The top two vote-getters for each district race advance to the November election. This is the first year that both the primary and general elections for San Diego Unified are district-only.

Updated at 11:21 p.m. June 7, 2022

Shana Hazan, a former public school teacher and elementary school parent, received endorsements from both Rep. Scott Peters and former Rep. Susan Davis in the race for the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education in District B. 

“Shana is the leader our kids need now,” said Peters, citing her work at social service agency Jewish Family Service of San Diego to help “the most vulnerable in our community.”

“On the school board, I trust her to build a stronger and healthier community and to be a powerful leader for our students, schools, and parents. I am pleased to endorse Shana for school board,” said Peters.

Davis, who served on the school board from 1983 to 1992 and retired from Congress in January, endorsed Hazan last week.

“As a former member of the San Diego Unified Board of Education, I know how critical this official position of elected service is to our children’s future,” said Davis. “That’s why I wholeheartedly endorse Shana Hazan. Shana has the skills and dedication to drive and deliver excellence in our schools.”

Born and raised in San Diego, Hazan is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified student, graduating from Scripps Ranch High School. Hazan and her husband Marc live in Kensington where they’re raising two daughters, the older of whom attends their neighborhood school.

If elected in 2022, Hazan will be the only board member with a child in San Diego public schools. 

She will face Godwin Higa, retired principal of Cherokee Point Elementary School, in the June 7, 2022, primary election.

Shana Hazan, a former public school teacher and elementary school parent, picked up the endorsement Tuesday of state Sen. President Toni Atkins for election to the San Diego Unified School District board in District B. 

Atkins said Hazan would provide “dynamic, forward-thinking, and student-centered leadership” on the board of San Diego County’s largest school system.

“Shana is an effective and collaborative leader who has proven she is up for this challenge. Her unwavering commitment to our youngest community members is why she was my choice to advocate for young children and families on California’s First 5 Commission,” said Atkins.

Atkins also cited Hazan’s community work at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, volunteer efforts at Franklin Elementary School, and service on the city’s Human Relations Commission.

“I’m honored to have earned Sen. Atkins’ trust and support for my campaign,” said Hazan. “I’ve long admired the tireless work she’s done to strengthen our community. She has been an inspiration in my own work to ensure children and families across San Diego lead thriving lives.”

Born and raised in San Diego, Hazan is a fourth-generation San Diego Unified graduate. She graduated from Scripps Ranch High. Hazan and her husband Marc live in Kensington where they’re raising their two daughters, the older of whom attends their neighborhood school.

If elected in 2022, Hazan will be the only board member with a child in San Diego public schools.