Press Releases

Press release

SCUSD to Launch Bold New ‘Green’ Initiative at Multi-School Earth Day Fest
Kids themselves design eco-cool activities for celebration – including a ‘trashy’ version of TV’s ‘Minute to Win It’

More than 500 kids will be running, recycling and digging for worms at Sacramento City Unified School District’s kid-designed Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 13, at Theodore Judah Elementary school.

The event will kick off with a 10 a.m. press conference where SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond will announce a bold new initiative for “greening” Sac City schools. Theodore Judah is located at 3919 McKinley Blvd.

Press release

Bust a Move and a Movie: Rosemont Celebration Expected to Draw Huge Crowds on Friday
Festivities include carnival games, bounce houses and a movie on a multi-story outdoor screen

On Friday night, things will be hopping at Rosemont High School – literally.
That’s when the high school hosts the second annual “Essence of Rosemont,” a fun-packed evening of carnival games, bounce houses, live music and an outdoor movie on an enormous 60-foot-wide screen.
The best part? Admission is free.

Press release

Robots to Roll into Thursday’s Board of Education Meeting
Operated remotely by the teens who built them, the robots will “hand” certificate to the Board President

Robots will roll into Sacramento City Unified School District’s Board of Education meeting Thursday (April 7), but don’t worry, Will Robinson – there is no danger.

The robots are the handiwork of high school students who constructed them from scratch to battle it out with other ‘bots at last month’s prestigious FIRST Robotics Sacramento Regional Tournament at UC Davis.

Press release

SCUSD, City of Sacramento to Hold Ribbon-Cutting for Newly Upgraded Argonaut Park
Joint Venture at Evelyn Moore Center adjacent to New Tech High School

Officials with Sacramento City Unified School District and the City of Sacramento will officially open the newly outfitted Argonaut Park located at the Evelyn Moore Community Center adjacent to Sacramento New Technology High School. The park has been furnished with state of the art Energi Fitness Course Stations for use by New Tech students and the entire community. This project was a joint venture between the City, school district and community organization Freeport Renovation on the Move and was funded, in part, through grants from Kaiser Permanente and Gift-to-Share.

1402 Dickson Street
Sacramento, CA 95822
Press release

Sacramento Parents Send Clear Message: Let the People Vote!
SCUSD Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Special Election on Tax Extensions

Sacramento City Unified School District parents and staff have weighed in loud and clear on the prospect of drastic state cuts to schools next year:

Ninety-three percent favor a special election on tax extensions that would prevent overcrowded classrooms, massive teacher layoffs and the loss of bus service, sports, drama, cheerleading, yearbook and marching band.

Press release

CA School Superintendents Press for Ballot Measure on Tax Extensions at Event Monday
Press conference on Capitol steps to highlight urgent need for state action

A coalition of California superintendents — including superintendents whose schools are within the legislative district of Republican Legislators negotiating with Governor Brown — will gather at the steps of the Capitol on Monday to discuss the drastic cuts public schools will face without the extension of current temporary taxes.

Press release

Rosa Parks Middle School Targeted For Turnaround as Seventh ‘Priority School’

Rosa Parks Middle School has been named Sacramento’s seventh Superintendent’s Priority School, expanding SCUSD’s bold school improvement effort that is already seeing positive results on six other campuses, Superintendent Jonathan Raymond announced Thursday.

As a Priority School, Rosa Parks will get extra resources and innovations to boost learning though improved teaching, engaging curriculum and strong family and community connections.

Press release

Anti Youth-Violence Rally Expected to Draw Hundreds of Students Downtown
‘Peace Rally’ Culminates a Week of Teen Tolerance-Building Activities

What: Hundreds of teens from several regional high schools are staging a “Peace Rally” to bring attention to rising gang violence and an increase in teen crime victims. Hosted by the Sacramento Youth Commission, the rally culminates a week of peace-related activities on various campuses throughout Sacramento.

Who: Mayor Kevin Johnson
County Supervisor Phil Serna
Supervising Deputy District Attorney Karen Maxwell
Students from Hiram Johnson, C.K. McClatchy, Grant, Luther Burbank and St. Francis

When: Friday, March 18, 2011
Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Press release

Today’s Argonaut Park Opening Cancelled
Wet, Muddy Conditions Force Rescheduling of Event

Today’s event to officially open the newly upgraded Argonaut Park is cancelled due to muddy conditions triggered by rain. A date for a rescheduled event will be announced once it is determined.

Sacramento City Unified School District, the City of Sacramento, Freeport Renovation on the Move and Kaiser Permanente partnered to furnish the park — located at the Evelyn Moore Community Center adjacent to Sacramento New Technology High School — with state-of-the-art Energi Fitness Course Stations for use by New Tech students and the entire community.

Press release

Students Initiate Regional ‘Peace Week’ to Speak Out Against Youth Violence

Rising gang activity and an increase in juvenile crime victims has prompted a coalition of concerned high school students to organize a “Week of Peace” that will culminate with a rally across from City Hall.

The week, March 12-18, will include activities such as the signing of a Peace Pledge, creation of peace collages, distribution of green ribbons and “Challenge Days” for students at C.K. McClatchy and Hiram Johnson high schools. Luther Burbank High School will also host two kick-off assemblies on Monday, March 14 beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Press release

SCUSD Considers Eliminating Support for Athletics, Laying Off Teachers, at Tonight’s Meeting

At tonight’s Board of Education meeting, trustees will consider drastic measures to balance a projected “worst case” deficit of $22.35 million – including cutting financial support for sports, drama, yearbook, newspaper, marching band, cheerleading and speech and debate.

The proposal is to eliminate “extra pay for extra duty stipends,” uniform replacements funds, athletic trainer funds and co-curricular transportation funds for a savings of $1.261 million.

Press release

Sutterville Elementary Celebrates History Day with Hands-On Student Displays

Sutterville Elementary School will hold its Seventh Annual History Day Gallery Walk – part of the highly regarded National History Day academic competition — on Wednesday, February 23, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The school is located at 4967 Monterey Way, Sacramento.

Gallery Walk is an opportunity for the more than 100 participating students to showcase projects on the theme of “Debate & Diplomacy: Successes, Failures, Consequences” as practice for the Sacramento County History Day Competition at Rosemont High School on Saturday, March 12.

Press release

SCUSD Orders Closure of Fruit Ridge Elementary School as a Precaution

SCUSD has ordered the closure of Fruit Ridge Elementary School while safety crews conduct a specialized cleaning of the main building in preparation for a complete removal of attic insulation containing asbestos fibers.

Superintendent Jonathan Raymond ordered the closure and the asbestos abatement after workers installing wireless technology came in contact with the insulation, potentially disrupting the asbestos.

”We are being extremely cautious in this situation,” Raymond said. “The safety of students and our staff is our top concern.”

Press release

SCUSD Orders Emergency Closure of Fruit Ridge Elementary Due to Asbestos

Fruit Ridge Elementary School will be closed on Friday, February 18, to allow asbestos specialists to test insulation in the attic crawl space above main hall classrooms.

Buildings throughout the country constructed prior to 1977 often contained asbestos. Superintendent Jonathan Raymond ordered Fruit Ridge Elementary shut down for one day after work crews installing wireless technology came in contact with the insulation, potentially disrupting the asbestos.

Press release

SCUSD Board to Consider Innovative Fund-Raising Initiatives

At Thursday’s meeting, SCUSD’s Board of Education will consider reconstituting its nonprofit, 501(c)(3) foundation to make it more effective at raising funds for schools.

In addition, trustees will discuss a pilot program for donations that would be used to reduce classroom sizes, retain current teachers and recruit new teachers.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Serna Center, 5735 47th Ave.

Press release

SCUSD Wins Bid for Green Schools Fellow
The district is one of the first in the country selected for award

Sacramento City Unified School District has been chosen by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for participation in its Center for Green Schools Fellowship program – one of only two K-12 districts in the nation selected for the honor so far.

An official announcement of the district’s selection will be made on Tuesday afternoon at Mayor Kevin Johnson’s Greenwise meeting at the Guild Theater in Oak Park (1:30 p.m.).

Press release

SCUSD Solicits Community Input on Budget with Public Forums, Survey

Sacramento City Unified School District will launch a major effort this month to increase community awareness of 2011-12 budget issues and engage the public in this difficult process.

Starting Tuesday, February 15, SCUSD will hold a series of public forums on the district’s projected financial picture for the next school year. Additionally, the district has launched an online survey to gain greater feedback and input from the community.

Press release

Sac City Board to Vote on Resolution in Favor of Placing Proposed Tax Extensions on Ballot

The Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) Board of Education will vote at its February 3 meeting on a resolution in support of Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to hold a special election on the extension of statewide taxes. The Governor has proposed the measure, in part, to mitigate cuts to statewide education spending.

In order for the tax extension to be voted on, the state legislature must first decide to hold a special election, likely in June.