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Roundtable: Back To School 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
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This week's episode focuses on education as San Diego Unified School District begins a new academic year, the Sweetwater Union High School District grapples with a major budget shortfall, and local students sound off on whether they feel safe on campus.
Aired: August 30, 2019 | Transcript
+ Subscribe to this podcastRoundtable Guests:
John Carroll, reporter, KPBS News
Adriana Heldiz, multimedia producer, Voice of San Diego
Will Huntsberry, reporter, Voice of San Diego
Kristen Taketa, reporter, San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Unified begins a new school year
More than 100,000 students returned to class in the San Diego Unified School District this week. The district is calling attention to its focus on student health by highlighting improvements to food menus and the phase-in of later start times. By next year, all schools will start no earlier than 8:30 am. The district is also focusing on improved access to advanced math courses for underrepresented groups.
RELATED: California Poised To Overhaul Charter Schools
Budget cuts for Sweetwater schools
Parents raised their voices this week at the Sweetwater Union High School District’s board meeting. They are concerned about a budget shortfall that is jeopardizing bus service. In some cases, students must walk several miles to reach campus. The district includes schools in San Ysidro, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Bonita and National City.
RELATED: Sweetwater Budget Woes To Cut Into Already Ailing Adult Education Programs
San Diego students weigh in on campus safety
The state of California has released its latest annual survey on student safety. Voice of San Diego analyzed the results to find where students feel the most and least safe. At dozens of local schools, including a few elementary schools, the number of students who report feeling safe is below 50%. Physical violence and bullying are among the factors.
RELATED: What Three New San Diego Schools Tell Us About Safety And Design
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