Press Releases
Nonprofit kicks off drive for arson-damaged playgrounds
Donations sought to offset costs of replacing playground structures at Caroline Wenzel and John Sloat schools
September 3, 2013 (Sacramento): Sacramento Unified Education Foundation – SCUSD’s official nonprofit organization – kicked off fundraising for two arson-damaged playgrounds today at Caroline Wenzel Elementary School.
Group to kick off drive for arson-damaged playgrounds
Donor of significant funding to be revealed at event on Tuesday – SCUSD’s first day of school
August 29, 2013 (Sacramento): Sacramento Unified Education Foundation – SCUSD’s official nonprofit organization – will kick off fundraising for two arson-damaged playgrounds with an event at Caroline Wenzel Elementary School on Tuesday, SCUSD’s first day of school.
At the event, the group will reveal a donor who has made a significant contribution toward the $50,000 needed to cover the district’s costs for replacing playground structures at Wenzel and John Sloat elementary schools.
Two SCUSD playgrounds damaged by arson fires
Caroline Wenzel and John Sloat schools unlikely to open in September with playground structures due to criminal activity
August 7, 2013 (Sacramento): Arson fires over the past week severely damaged expensive playground structures at two Sacramento City Unified School District campuses, school and fire officials confirmed today. Because of the extent of the damage and state’s school construction review process, it is unlikely that either school will open with playground structures in the fall, officials said.
SCUSD invites public to budget forum on Wednesday
District officials will answer questions, provide data
August 5, 2013 (Sacramento): Sacramento City Unified School District will hold a “town hall”-type forum on budget issues from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday (August 7).
Parents, staff and community members are invited to ask questions and get important information about the district’s finances during the two-hour meeting.
SCUSD announces 2013 Teachers of the Year
The pair – a math teacher and a social studies teacher -- will represent the district in Sacramento County’s competition
June 21, 2013 (Sacramento) – Stephanie Cook and Reza Mahvi have been named Sacramento City Unified School District 2013 Teachers of the Year.
Vandalism, metal theft cost SCUSD more than $100,000
Criminals are most active during school breaks; neighbors are asked to help watch over campuses this summer
June 17, 2013 (Sacramento): Vandals, arsonists and metal thieves cost the Sacramento City Unified School District more than $100,000 a year – money the cash-strapped district cannot afford.
That’s why SCUSD is asking the community for help in keeping schools safe and secure over the long summer break which stretches until the first Tuesday after Labor Day in September.
Shhh! Students to be surprised with college certificates TODAY
Morgan State University to give certificates of ‘guaranteed admission’ to eight Mark Hopkins Elementary School students
June 7, 2013 (Sacramento): Eight Mark Hopkins Elementary School students will be surprised today (Friday, June 7) with certificates from Morgan State University in Baltimore “guaranteeing” admission if they finish high school in good standing.
Leataata Floyd School to honor volunteer with Community Service Award
Nancy Tennyson of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to receive plaque from school’s namesake
May 31, 2013 (Sacramento): Leataata Floyd Elementary School will honor Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Outreach Director Nancy Tennyson with the first-ever Leataata Floyd Community School Service Award at a celebration on Tuesday (June 4).
Senator Leno to speak at LGBTQ conference
Leno authored FAIR education act; anti-bullying advocate Lisa Ford-Berry is a scheduled presenter
May 30, 2013 (Sacramento): State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) will speak about the landmark legislation he authored that ensures gays and lesbians are included in school history lessons at SCUSD’s second annual LGBTQ conference on Monday (June 3).
SCUSD high school to showcase award-winning civics program
George Washington Carver School of Arts & Science is one of only 22 high schools statewide to win Civic Learning Award
May 28, 2013 (Sacramento) – George Washington Carver School of Arts & Science will celebrate winning a statewide Civic Learning Award on Wednesday (May 29) with a showcase event featuring VIP speakers.
Students vie for $1 million at SCUSD Project Green event
Blue-ribbon panel of local experts will judge student proposals for making campuses more sustainable
May 21, 2013 (Sacramento): Thirteen student “green teams” from the Sacramento City Unified School District will showcase projects to make their campuses greener and more sustainable at SCUSD’s second annual Project Green Showcase on Thursday (May 23).
Viable projects are in line for $1 million in Measure Q bond money set aside for green school initiatives. Measure Q was approved by Sacramento voters in November.
McClatchy duo wins high school debate ‘Super Bowl’
Teens become first ever from a California public high school to win the national Tournament of Champions in Kentucky
May 6, 2013 (Sacramento) – A C.K. McClatchy High School debate team has won the national Tournament of Champions, becoming the first team ever from a California public high school to win the nation’s top high school debate competition.
Mural project celebrates spirit of closing school
Renowned artist Milton Bowens to help Washington Elementary students preserve memories of Midtown campus
April 18, 2013 (Sacramento) – The spirit of a Midtown elementary school slated for closure next fall will be expressed and preserved on Sunday (April 21) when students and staff come together to create a gigantic, multi-part mural under the direction of celebrated artist Milton Bowens.
SCUSD seeks applicants for school repurposing committee
‘7-11 Committee’ will consider re-use and disposition of sites not needed for schools in the fall
April 17, 2013 (Sacramento) – The Sacramento City Unified School District is forming a “7-11 Committee” (a committee with seven or 11 members) to advise the Board of Education on the reuse, repurposing and disposition of school buildings and vacant sites not needed for school purposes. The formation of the committee follows the Board’s decision last month to close seven chronically under-enrolled elementary schools next fall.
Oak Park sixth graders get in on farm-to-fork, food truck craze
Oak Ridge Elementary’s ‘Five Star Restaurant’ to include mobile dining, stellar sit-down menu under direction of Chef Mulvaney
April 4, 2013 (Sacramento) – A trendy mobile restaurant trailer will be pulling into Oak Park next week to serve up tasty gourmet tacos for a VIP crowd of local movers and shakers.
But you won’t find a hipster foodie working the window. This truck – and the fancy restaurant it will pull up next to – will be run entirely by elementary school students.
Inclusive basketball tourney fun for students of all abilities
Students in adaptive PE classes to play with Burbank High School peer tutors from varsity basketball team
March 19, 2013 (Sacramento): Young adults of all physical ability levels will come together on Wednesday (March 20) for SCUSD’s second annual Spring Inclusive Basketball Tournament organized by the district’s adaptive PE teachers.
“This is a great way to build caring relationships between students who might not otherwise get to know each other,” says Luther Burbank High School teacher Greg Polo, an event organizer. “It’s a lot of fun for the kids and good learning experience for all involved.”
Sutter Middle to pilot DUI Court in Schools Program on Friday
First middle school in region to bring a defendant on campus for sentencing by judge
February 28, 2013 (Sacramento): Eighth graders at Sutter Middle School will witness the harsh legal consequences of driving under the influence when the DUI Court in Schools Program comes to campus this Friday (March 1).
The school’s gym will be transformed into the courtroom of a local judge, and a driver arrested for DUI will be sentenced and given an opportunity to address an assembly of students and their parents. The teens will hear for themselves about the dangers of taking the wheel after drinking.
SCUSD celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday with fun reading events
Guests at Read Across America Day activities include Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye
February 27, 2013 (Sacramento): Kids across Sacramento City Unified School District will honor the legacy of Dr. Seuss on Friday (March 1) by eating green eggs and ham, making tall striped hats and listening to local dignitaries give inspired renditions of the author’s best-loved books.
Dates set for meetings at chronically under-enrolled schools
Eleven elementary schools filled to less than 50 percent of capacity are slated for closure next fall
January 24, 2013 (Sacramento): Sacramento City Unified School District has set dates for community meetings at 11 dramatically under-enrolled elementary schools slated for closure next fall.
The closures are aimed at ‘’right-sizing” SCUSD, which has experienced deep declines in student enrollment over the past decade – a loss of about 5,500 students since 2001-02, or about 160 classrooms. For 2012-13, SCUSD’s student population is down again by at least 800.
SCUSD Supt. Raymond applauds passage of Prop. 30, school bonds
Thanks volunteers who worked so hard for public education
November 7, 2012 (Sacramento): Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond issued the following statement today on the passage of Proposition 30 and local Measures Q and R:
“All of us at Sac City Unified and across the state are breathing a little easier today knowing that the citizens of California value public education and are willing to invest in our children’s futures through voter approval of Proposition 30.
“We are also heartened by our local community’s support for Measures Q and R.