Grossmont Union High School District

EL CAJON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATES METAL WORKS FACILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SUITES


Modernized Career Technical Education building provides state-of-the-art workspaces to students

January 26, 2012 (El Cajon)--Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and El Cajon Valley High School officials dedicated a newly renovated metal works facility and special education suites with an honorary chain-cutting ceremony yesterday.


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BROWN BAG “LUNCH AND LEARN” ON GUHSD BOUNDARY CHANGES JAN. 25


By   Charlotte Reed
 
January 21, 2012 (El Cajon) -- After several Boundary Committee meetings and public forums, the Grossmont Unified High School District board of trustees voted in September to approve recommendations for school boundary changes. Of course, not all were in a position to attend the public forums and many questions still remain unanswered. 
 
One question we in the Real Estate business are asked most frequently is, “How does this affect our home values?”

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SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATES NEW CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION BUILDING, LIBRARY AND CLASSROOM BUILDING

New facilities will equip students with skills needed for the 21st century
 
November 19, 2011 (Santee)--Officials from Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and Santana High School joined students for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 16 to celebrate the completion of three modernized buildings on the high school campus.
 

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DRIVER KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WAS FATHER OF ALPINE TEEN KILLED SAME DAY

By Miriam Raftery


“How many more children are going to have to die before we get a high school in Alpine?” – Rose Urdahl, Alpine resident

 

Update November 11, 2011:  Mother discharged from hospital


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GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT HOLDS FORUMS ON BOUNDARY CHANGES

October 14, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont Union High School District has announced three public information forums on proposed changes to boundaries for schools in the district.  Meetings are set for October 18, October 25, and November 1.

 


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READER'S EDITORIAL: GUHSD BOARD 'S VOTE TO DELAY ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL IS FISCALLY SHORT-SIGHTED

 

Why are three swimming pools approved for construction, but not the new school approved by voters? Citizens Oversight Committee should demand accountability

 

By Bill Weaver

 

July 17, 2011 (Alpine)--The majority of Grossmont Union High School District‘s education facilities and campuses were in horrendous shape prior to the Prop H improvement bond. Decades of needed maintenance had been neglected.  Now we have funds from Prop U as well.  We should all be very proud of our support leading to our successfully passed 2004 Prop H and 2008 Prop U Bonds.

 

That said, some members of the GUHSD Governing Board now boast of fiscally conservative policies, and how they are now protecting the districts’ financial future and its fiscal health. I am a fiscal conservative also, and I take issue.


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CUMMING NAMES DEBBIE MURRAY AS DIRECTOR OF THE FIRM'S SAN DIEGO EDUCATION SECTOR

 

June 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Cumming Corporation announced the hiring of Debbie Murray, a 20-year construction industry veteran, as Director of the company’s growing education sector practice in San Diego. The move is an indication of Cumming’s local strength and ongoing dedication to project and cost management for educational construction projects in the region.

 
Prior to joining Cumming, Murray served as Program Planning Coordinator for San Diego’s Grossmont Union High School District. The district serves more than 25,000 students and is comprised of nine high schools, two charter schools, one continuation high school, two alternative education sites, four special education facilities, a middle college high school program, a Regional Occupational Program (ROP), and an adult education program.

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NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES PROPOSED FOR GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT: MEETING JUNE 2 FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

May 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Two proposed options for new boundary lines in the Grossmont Union High School District will be presented by the District’s Boundary Committee at a public meeting on Thursday, June 2 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Instructional Resource Classroom, 301 North Mollison Avenue in El Cajon.

 

One plan, Model 12, includes redrawn boundaries to include a 12th new high school planned in Alpine. An alternative plan, Model 9, provides a contingency in case the Alpine High School is not built and redraws boundaries for the District’s nine existing non-chartered high schools.

“This is a watershed meeting,” said Doug Deane, chairman of the committee. “If there are different viewpoints, people need to speak June 2 at our meeting….Every high school will be affected, whether or not there is a twelfth high school built.”


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GROSSMONT DISTRICT ANNOUNCES 2011-12 TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES


Sandra Galea-Martinez and Paula Delgado Selected to Represent GUHSD in Prestigious San Diego County Teacher of the Year Competition

 

April 27, 2011 (El Cajon)—At its Governing Board Meeting on Thursday, April 14, the Grossmont Union High School District honored Teacher of the Year nominees from its school sites. These nominees are selected by their peers.


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NEED SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT? CHEER COMPETITION MARCH 23


 

March 17, 2011 (San Diego's East County) --The 2011 Grossmont High School District Cheer Competition will be held on Wednesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. in the El Cajon Valley High School Football Stadium.

 

The competition will feature teams competing at the Junior Varsity, Varsity, Varsity Advanced and Varsity Co-ed levels. There will also be a Best Jumper and Best Tumbler award.


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SUPERINTENDENT’S MOTION TO DELAY ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL SPARKS MASSIVE COMMUNITY OUTCRY

 

GUHSD BOARD VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DESIGN PLANS AND AVOID DELAY….FOR NOW

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “Please keep your promise and build the new High School for us,” 12-year-old Alpine student Dominique Markowitz implored the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) board during last night’s meeting, echoing the sentiments of nearly everyone in an overflow crowd that filled three rooms.

Trustee Priscilla Schreiber successfully fought to prevent the Board from approving a proposal by the Superintendent to delay construction bids indefinitely. She also pushed fellow Board members to unanimously authorize submitting site design plans to the state’s Division of State Architects review board. The Board voted 5-0 to approve several other components of the Superintendent’s proposal to keep the project moving forward, but language to delay construction bidding indefinitely was removed from the resolution adopted.


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GUHSD SPECIAL MEETING FEB. 10

February 5, 2011 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School Board of Trustees will hold a special session from 5-5:45 p.m., immediately following it’s regularly scheduled 3:30 p.m. meeting on February 10th. The special session will include interviews, selection and appointment of three members to fill vacancies on the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for Proposition H/U.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: TELL THE GUHSD--DON'T DELAY ALPINE'S NEW HIGH SCHOOL...AGAIN

 

We understand that there may be (again) a declared "delay" of the 12th GUHSD HS startup. This will effectively kill this project forever. -- Bill Weaver

 

By Bill Weaver

 


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GUHSD TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING ON BUDGET FEB. 3

 

January 31, 2011 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School District has announced that it will hold a special budget study session on Thursday, February 3 at 2:30 p.m.

 

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at the Instructional Resources Meeting room at 301 North Mollison in El Cajon.

 


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WATCHDOG GROUP CALAWARE SENDS WARNING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; THREATENS LAWSUITS TO ASSURE BROWN ACT `STRICT ENFORCEMENT’’

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Californians Aware (CalAware), the nonprofit center for public forum rights, has advised state associations representing most local government agencies that their members may be subject to short notice lawsuits for common violations of California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act.

 


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GUHSD SCHOOL BOARD TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING ON BUDGET NOV. 9

November 6, 2010 (El Cajon ) – Grossmont Union High School District’s board has announced a special budget workshop on Tuesday, November 9th upstairs in the Cuyamaca College Student Center, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway. The public session will begin at 5 p.m., with discussion of the new Alpine High School at 7:30 p.m.

 


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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOSTS SERIES OF FORUMS ON CANDIDATES AND BALLOT MEASURES

 

September 29, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--The League of Women Voters of East San Diego County is hosting a series of forums about ballot measures, as well as candidates for the La Mesa and El Cajon City Councils, and the Grossmont High School District Board.

 

The series of events are as follows:


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REPORT ON THE GUHSD 12TH HIGH SCHOOL

By Bill Weaver

 

July 29, 2010 (Alpine) -- This summer season is full of behind the scenes activity surrounding our 12th Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) high school. It will be located on the land adjacent to Viejas Creek, south of Viejas Mountain, immediately south of the I-8 freeway, and ½ mile east of the Albertsons store.

 


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SHOCKER: HIGH SCHOOL COACH ENDANGERS TEAM WITH PRACTICE DURING THUNDERSTORM

 

"The policy of the GUHSD in thunder/lightning storm conditions would be to immediately seek safe shelter at the first sound of thunder." -- Larry Pear, Grossmont Union High School District

 

ECM Special Report

Story by Miriam Raftery, photos by Dennis Richardson

July 16, 2010 (Lakeside)—While lightning strikes caused multiple fires in East County including Lakeside, El Capitan’s football team continued practicing on an open field during a thunderstorm in direct violation of district rules.

 

“There was thunder and lightning in the immediate area striking the ground...during the time the kids were practicing,” ECM photographer Dennis Richardson reports. “As I was shooting pictures of the players [from a hill nearby], a man who was watching the lightning storm from the safety of his home near me told me he had just seen a bolt of lightning hit a power pole near Wildcat Canyon and Willow Road.” That’s about half a mile from the football practice, he estimated.

 

Playing sports during a thunderstorm can be deadly. In 2008, all eleven players on a football team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were killed when lightning struck the field


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GUHSD BOARD SELECTS RALF SWENSON AS NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO LEAD DISTRICT

 

 

July 1, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Ralf Swenson has been tentatively selected as the next superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District contingent on successful contract negotiation, a positive community visit by the Governing Board to his current school district and further routine background checks.

 


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DISTRICT DISBANDS NAMING COMMITTEE FOR NEW ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL

 

Committee's objectivity called into question amid Reagan name proposal

 

June 13, 2010 (Alpine) – A naming committee for the Grossmont Union High School District’s 12th high school in Alpine has been disbanded by the GUHSD governing board.  

 

“Among other items, our Board clearly heard the request for a community survey, and was reminded that the Bond language included the new high school in Alpine serving both the Alpine and Blossom Valley areas,” Gary Schwartzwald, director of adult education and special projects, wrote in an e-mail to parents in Alpine.


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20 VALEDICTORIANS ATTAIN TOP HONORS IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

June 12, 2010 (El Cajon) – Our hats are off to the class of 2010!

 

On Tuesday, June 22, and Wednesday, June 23, 2010 5,258 senior students from nine comprehensive high schools, two charter high schools and three alternative high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District will don caps and gowns for commencement services. The District will also honor 20 valedictorians as well as 13 salutatorians for high academic achievements.

 

Scroll down for graduation dates and locations for each school, as well as graduating class sizes and names of valedictorians and salutatorians attaining top honors.


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BOB COLLINS DAY DECLARED: RETIRING GUHSD SUPERINTENDENT HONORED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS

By Miriam Raftery

June 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – After 43 years in public service, Grossmont Union High School Superintendent Robert “Bob” Collins is leaving the public sector to accept a position with a private company. Yesterday, community leaders in business, education and government held a surprise send-off event at Monte Vista Village in Lemon Grove to honor Collins.
 

The City and County both declared Friday, June 4th as “Robert Collins Day.” Charlene Zettel presented a proclamation from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Supervisor Dianne Jacob praised Collins as “best in class” and joked, “Our strategy is to weight you down with so many awards and proclamations that you will decide not to leave.”


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MEETING ON ALPINE HIGH SCHOOL SET FOR JUNE 8

May 29, 2010 (Alpine) – Grossmont Union High School District will host a forum on Alpine’s planned new high school on Tuesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine. Residents from throughout the Grossmont Union High School are welcome to attend. While boundaries for the new school’s attendance are still being finalized, parents from Alpine and Blossom Valley are particularly encouraged to participate in the forum.

 

Speakers will include GUHSD superintendent Bob Collins, assistant superintendent mike Lewis, facility planner and project lead Dena Johnson, director of instruction Cindy Douglas, as well as the architectural team from IBI Group/Sprotte-Watson and the GUHSD design team.


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TRIBAL LEADER TO ALPINE SCHOOL NAMING COMMITTEE: REAGAN SHOWED “OUTRIGHT CONTEMPT FOR NATIVE AMERICANS”



By Miriam Raftery

May 19, 2010 (Alpine) – Short of smoke signals, Viejas Vice Chairman Robert “Cita” Welch couldn’t have delivered a stronger message to members of a committee appointed by the Grossmont Union High School Board to recommend names for a planned new high school in Alpine. Despite a “long and proud tradition” of working with the District, Viejas has "increasing concerns" over a proposal to name the school after Ronald Reagan, Welch said.

"Your actions WILL have an impact on our future relationship with the district," he told committee members, then added that former President Reagan “is NOT well-regarded in Indian Country.  At best he didn’t really care too much about Native Americans. At worst—and in some well-documented cases—he showed outright contempt for Native Americans. This should matter to each of you."


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OVER 800 PROTEST PROPOSED CUTS IN TEACHER PAY, BENEFITS AT GUHSD BOARD MEETING

 

May 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – An estimated 800 to 900 teachers and supporters demonstrated in front of the Grossmont Union High School District board meeting on May 13th to protest proposed cuts in salary and health benefits.

 


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GUHSD CANCELS SPECIAL MEETINGS APRIL 8 & 9 ON HELIX CHARTER

 

April 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School District Board of Trustees has cancelled plans to convene a special public hearing on the Helix Charter High School charter issues. The meeting was slated for April 8 with the possibility of continuing onto the 9th.


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SUPERINTENDENT COLLINS TO LEAVE DISTRICT AT END OF SCHOOL YEAR

 

Accepts new position for CORE education products company
 


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HELIX, GUHSD TRADE ACCUSATIONS OVER CHARTER REVOCATION EFFORT

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2010 (La Mesa) – Last week, we reported that Helix Charter High School’s board has filed a lawsuit against the Grossmont Union High School District after the GUHSD announcing its intent to consider revocation of the Helix charter.

 

Now GUHSD Superintendent Robert Collins has issued a public letter strongly defending the District’s actions and accusing Helix Charter Board of being “non-responsive” and engaging in “delaying tactics” regarding an administrator accused of contributing to delinquency of a minor.  In response, Helix Charter Board president Cathy Singer has fired back a blistering letter of her own, calling Collins “dead wrong” and accusing the District of mounting an “unjustified and expensive smear campaign of Helix.”


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GUHSD CANCELS TONIGHT’S SPECIAL MEETING; LEARNS LESSON IN STATE SUNSHINE LAWS


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