A group of science supporters called on San Diego Unified school trustees yesterday to make science education a priority by protecting science initiatives from budget cuts.
San Diego school students earned high marks on state science tests earlier this year. But a group of science supporters say district budget cuts and leadership changes are causing school officials to end programs and services that contributed to student success.
Trustee Katherine Nakamura believes problems began soon after the resignation of former School Superintendent Terry Grier earlier this year.
“(Grier) is a man who had heart and passion for science education and put a lot of emphasis into this,” Nakamura said. “He was heartbroken as the budget and the priorities of this board of education forced him to withdraw from things I think he deeply believed in himself.”
The community group urged San Diego school trustees to protect those initiatives and develop a vision for science education in the process. They handed the board a list of recommendations which included aggressively pursuing high-tech businesses for extra sources of funding.
A team of district officials are now expected to analyze those ideas.
