News & Events
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Dear Sweetwater Community,
We stand in solidarity with our neighbors, public agencies, elected officials, and community organizations in response to the unacceptable treatment of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla by federal agents in Los Angeles. This incident does not reflect the values we hold as Americans, and we unequivocally denounce it.
We recognize the growing concern about immigration enforcement in our South Bay community. The Sweetwater Union High School District remains committed to supporting and respecting our Latino and immigrant communities. With a student population that is 70% Latino and 10% Filipino, we take pride in our binational identity and the richness it brings to our schools.
Sweetwater does not collect or maintain immigration status information. Our board policies and administrative regulations ensure staff are equipped to handle these matters with care. Our top priority is to maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for every student.
Living along the border gives us a unique understanding: we can uphold law and order while also demanding empathy in enforcement. Every person deserves dignity, and we call on all who enforce the law to do so with compassion.
To those who choose to protest, we urge peaceful assembly, inspired by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez, who showed that nonviolence leads to lasting change.
Let us continue to build a community rooted in unity, diversity, and our shared commitment to justice. Together, we can rise to the challenge and uphold the democratic values that define us.
In solidarity,
Moises G. Aguirre, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Sweetwater Union High School District
Estimada Comunidad de Sweetwater,
Nos solidarizamos con nuestros vecinos, agencias públicas, funcionarios electos y organizaciones comunitarias en respuesta al trato inaceptable recibido por el Senador de los Estados Unidos, Alex Padilla, por parte de agentes federales en Los Ángeles. Este incidente no refleja los valores que sostenemos como estadounidenses, y lo condenamos de manera inequívoca.
Reconocemos la creciente preocupación sobre la aplicación de leyes migratorias en nuestra comunidad del South Bay. El Distrito Escolar Sweetwater Union High reafirma su compromiso de apoyar y respetar a nuestras comunidades latinas e inmigrantes. Con una población estudiantil compuesta en un 70% por estudiantes latinos y un 10% por estudiantes filipinos, nos enorgullece nuestra identidad binacional y la riqueza que aporta a nuestras escuelas.
Sweetwater no recopila ni mantiene información sobre el estatus migratorio. Nuestras políticas de la mesa directiva y reglamentos administrativos aseguran que el personal esté preparado para manejar estos asuntos con sensibilidad. Nuestra máxima prioridad es mantener un entorno seguro, acogedor e inclusivo para cada estudiante.
Vivir en la frontera nos brinda una comprensión única: podemos mantener el orden y la ley mientras exigimos empatía en su aplicación. Toda persona merece dignidad, y hacemos un llamado a todos quienes hacen cumplir la ley a que lo hagan con compasión.
A quienes eligen manifestarse, les pedimos que lo hagan de manera pacífica, inspirados en líderes como Martin Luther King Jr. y César Chávez, quienes demostraron que la no violencia conduce a un cambio duradero.
Sigamos construyendo una comunidad basada en la unidad, la diversidad y nuestro compromiso compartido con la justicia. Juntos, podemos enfrentar este desafío y defender los valores democráticos que nos definen.
Con solidaridad,
Moises G. Aguirre, Ed.D.
Superintendente
Distrito Escolar Sweetwater Union High -
Dear Sweetwater Community,
As a district that proudly serves a diverse student population, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for every student—regardless of immigration status.
In light of recent national developments, we want to reassure our community that our district policies strictly prohibit immigration enforcement on school campuses without a valid judicial warrant. We are also committed to protecting the confidentiality of student and family information in accordance with the law.
All school staff have been reminded of the proper procedures to follow should immigration or law enforcement officials come to a school site. Additionally, schools have access to resources such as “Know Your Rights” materials and legal support contacts to help guide and protect families. Each school will also receive “Red Cards” in English and Spanish, provided by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, which outline Constitutional rights in an easy-to-understand format. These cards are also available in multiple languages online. For immigration resources click here.
Thank you for your trust and partnership as we continue to uphold our values of equity, safety, and respect for all. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school principal or district office.
Best regards,
The Sweetwater Union High School District
Estimada Comunidad de Sweetwater:
En nuestro distrito, estamos orgullosos de servir a una población estudiantil muy diversa. Por eso, seguimos comprometidos en crear ambientes seguros, acogedores e inclusivos para todos nuestros estudiantes, sin importar su estatus migratorio.
Ante los eventos recientes a nivel nacional, queremos asegurarles que nuestras reglas no permiten que oficiales de inmigración entren a las escuelas sin una orden judicial válida. También cuidamos mucho la privacidad de la información de nuestros estudiantes y sus familias, como lo exige la ley.
El personal escolar ya recibió recordatorios sobre los pasos correctos a seguir si un oficial de inmigración o la policía llega a una escuela. Además, las escuelas tienen acceso a recursos como materiales de “Conozca sus Derechos” y contactos legales para ayudar a las familias. También entregaremos a cada escuela “Tarjetas Rojas” en inglés y español, proporcionadas por el Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Estas tarjetas explican los derechos constitucionales de forma sencilla, y también están disponibles en línea en varios idiomas. Para ver estos recursos, haga clic aquí: click here.
Gracias por su confianza y apoyo continuo. Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes, por favor comuníquese con la directora o el director de su escuela, o con la oficina del distrito.
Atentamente,
El Distrito Escolar Sweetwater Union High School
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Public Notice
Written notice is hereby given that the district will conduct a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. 4687, assuring that every student in the Sweetwater Union High School District has sufficient textbooks and/or instructional materials to use in the classroom and to take home in each of the four content areas: Reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and history-social science, plus foreign language and health, and that these textbooks and/or instructional materials are aligned to the State Content Standards.
Date: Monday, September 28, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Sweetwater Union High School District
Board Room, via MS Teams
1130 Fifth Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Board Room, 1130 Fifth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA **This meeting is being held pursuant to Executive Orders N-25-20 and N-29-20, issued by CA Governor Gavin Newsom, and any or all board members may attend the meeting via telephone or video conference. All members of the public may view the meeting online at https://www.youtube.com/user/suhsdk12, and may submit comments to the board for the public hearing prior to the meeting. Comments may be emailed to deanne.vicedo@sweetwaterschools.org.
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The Board of Trustees takes the findings raised by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) investigation very seriously. As such, in closed session, the Board of Trustees took action to place Dr. Karen Janney on paid administrative leave effective immediately. The Board’s action is not a disciplinary action, but is to support and ensure an efficient investigation of the concerns raised in the FCMAT report.
We will continue to cooperate with the San Diego County Office of Education, FCMAT, and any other state and federal agencies involved in the matter. Additionally, the Board took action to appoint Dr. Moises Aguirre to serve as Acting Superintendent to ensure continuity of education and operations.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Aguirre, we thank you for your continued efforts in support of the Sweetwater Union High School District.
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On Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Sweetwater District hosted a virtual Town Hall Meeting outlining opening plans for the 2020/21 school year. A huge thank you to all for tuning in to the live broadcast. We had more than one thousand viewers tune in via the districts YouTube channel as plans to open the school year were addressed.
The meeting provided detailed plans of a variety of educational and operational options for students, staff and parents. At this time, the new school year will begin August 3 with distance (virtual) learning as the current option for instruction. Planning for on campus instruction is still being outlined to ensure a safe and secure return for the entire Sweetwater community.
“Part of today’s purpose is to receive input and feedback from parents, families and community members to meet students academic needs,” said Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney.
The district outlined four guiding principles that steered the town hall conversation in the areas of: health and safety guidelines, flexibility, LCAP Goals and Reinvention. The draft outline reflects the districts plan to address the ever- changing reality to keep students and staff safe while striving for equitable continuity of learning.
For the past several months, the district has worked with LCAP inspired working groups that focused on the current state of family and community engagement, health and safety, systems and equity, and teaching and learning. Through that, the district has and plans to continue to conduct surveys, forums, provide opportunities for committee involvement, circles of collaboration and communication plans to complete that work.
Health and safety essential components were also discussed during the town hall, specifically on district facilities, schools, classrooms, and staff and students. The discussion further detailed plans for implementing social distancing on campus, to potentially detecting/reporting COVID-19 cases.
Distance learning will be supported in several ways, one being the distribution of laptops, iPads and other devices for students in need, as well as mobile hotspots for connectivity. Athletics and use of athletic facilities/equipment will still be restricted until further notice.
Lastly, students will be given the option to enroll fully in the districts online campus, Launch Academy. The virtual instruction option will provide one-to-one online learning as well as college and career support.
We understand not everyone was able to join us for the live Town Hall Meeting. For those unable to attend, the full video can be found via the Sweetwater Districts YouTube channel @ www.youtube.com/suhsdk12
In addition, the district is requesting input from the Sweetwater Community. Input, comments and questions can be provided here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpRX1blaOEfLDrupn6_WUpIEvfjJo_sSt6zj3TQwyesaDv0g/viewform