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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Thursday, March 3, 2016
2:00 p.m.Background
In 1990, the Board of Trustees of the Sweetwater Union High School District (“Sweetwater School District”) and the Yucaipa Joint Unified School District (“Yucaipa School District”) took actions to form the Y/S School Facilities Financing Authority (“Authority”) as a joint exercise of powers agency, organized and operating under certain provisions of the California Government Code (the “Joint Powers Act”).
The Authority was formed for the purpose of facilitating of public capital improvements for both the Sweetwater School District, the Yucaipa School District and other local school districts in southern California.
The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors (“Authority Board”), which consists of the Superintendent of the Sweetwater School District and the Superintendent of the Yucaipa School District. Dr. Janney has delegated her authority to represent the District to Ms. Michel.
The Authority principally acts as a conduit issuer for local school district (including the Sweetwater School District) for purposes of issuing bonds and securities through the provisions of the Marks-Roos Local Bond Pooling Act of 1985, as amended (“Marks-Roos Act”). The Authority has acted as a conduit issuer for various local agencies (including the Sweetwater School District) and other school districts. As of this time most of the outstanding bonds of the Authority have previously been refunded or satisfied at maturity. Sweetwater’s 1997 Certificates of Participation which were authorized under the Authority, were refunded in 2013 when the District’s own authority replaced the Y/S Authority.
Current Matters
Currently, the Chula Vista Elementary School District (“Chula Vista School District”), which issued securities through the Authority (but who is not a party to the Authority) in 1997, is undertaking to refinance those securities such that they will no longer utilize the Authority as issuer. These are certificates of participation securities and will be called (prepaid) pursuant to their terms on September 1, 2016. The Authority has been requested by the Chula Vista School District finance team to adopt a resolution to consent to the Chula Vista School District refunding and to execute various escrow agreements as part of the Chula Vista School District’s refinancing effort. This will involve minimal effort on behalf of Sweetwater School District staff to facilitate the Authority’s pre-payment of its existing bonds (which will principally be carried out by the Chula Vista School District and the Chula Vista School District finance team, and will act to remove outstanding bonded indebtedness as an obligation of the Authority).
A copy of the proposed Authority Resolution and Escrow Agreements will be posted on the Sweetwater School District’s website as one of the participating member agencies of the Authority.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, relative to meetings of public agencies, both the Sweetwater School District and the Yucaipa School District will need to post notice of the meeting of the Authority Board on their respective websites.
The meeting of the Authority Board will not involve any meeting(s) or obligations of the Sweetwater School District’s Board of Trustees.
If there are any questions, they can be answered at the meeting.
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English Text
This notification is to inform you of a lawsuit that, absent your immediate action, will result in your student’s personal data being released by the California Department of Education as part of a court order. While this release will occur absent your action, the information will not be publicly released beyond the private litigants involved in the case.
In April 2012, two organizations, the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parent Association, filed a lawsuit against the CDE alleging widespread, systemic non-compliance by local education agencies with special education laws. The suit also alleges the CDE fails to monitor, investigate and correct such non-compliance in accordance with the law. The CDE denies these allegations and is actively defending the litigation. Our district was not involved in the lawsuit and is not the subject of any of the suit’s allegations. Nonetheless, as a part of this lawsuit, CDE has been ordered by the court to release all data it has collected on general and special education students since Jan. 1, 2008.
Only your immediate action will stop release of your student’s personal data. You must opt out prior to April 1, 2016. For more information regarding the release of this data, you may visit the CDE website directly at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/morganhillcase.
You may also contact the California Department of Education at (916) 319-0800. We have also posted the attached news story posted recently which summarizes the matter.
Please know that this release will be for all student information from 2008 to present absent action. We would ask you to share this information with your neighbors, alumnus and community.
Spanish Text
Por este medio les informamos sobre una demanda que sin acción inmediata de su parte, el Departamento de Educación de California (CDE por sus siglas en inglés) se vería obligado a liberar los datos personales de su hijo (a) obedeciendo una orden judicial. Si bien los datos serán liberados si no existe una acción de su parte, dicha información no se dará a conocer públicamente más allá de las partes involucradas en el caso.
En abril de 2012, dos organizaciones, la Asociación de Padres Preocupados de Morgan Hill y la Asociación de Padres Preocupados, interpusieron una demanda contra el CDE alegando incumplimiento generalizado y sistémico con las leyes de educación especial por parte de las agencias educativas locales. La demanda también alega que el CDE no vigila, investiga ni corrige dicha falta de cumplimiento de conformidad con la ley. El CDE niega dichas acusaciones y defiende activamente el litigio. El Distrito Escolar de Sweetwater no estuvo involucrado en la demanda y no es objeto de ninguna de las acusaciones de la demanda. No obstante, como parte de esta demanda, el juez ordenó al CDE liberar los datos que ha recopilado de alumnos inscritos en educación regular y alumnos inscritos en educación especial desde el 1º de enero del 2008.
Sólo su acción inmediata impedirá la publicación de los datos personales de su hijo (a). Agregamos esta importante información de la CDE en la página de Internet del Distrito junto con instrucciones sobre cómo prohibir legalmente la divulgación de dichos datos. https://www.sweetwaterschools.org/important-information-regarding-confidential-student-data. La fecha límite para realizar el trámite es el 1 de abril de 2016. Para más información sobre la liberación de datos, consultar directamente el sitio de Internet del CDE en: https://www.cde.ca.gov/morganhillcase. Asimismo puede comunicarse con el Departamento de Educación de California al 916-319-0800. También agregamos la noticia adjunta publicada recientemente que resume el asunto. (https://www.cbs8.com/story/31297636/california-schools-to-turn-over-data-on-10-million-students#.Vs0zg5gxkWI.mailto)
Les reiteramos que la liberación de los datos de información estudiantil afectará a todo alumno a partir de 2008 hasta el presente si no se cuenta con acción inmediata de su parte. Les pedimos que compartan esta información con sus vecinos, ex alumnos y miembros de comunidad.
Gracias por su atención a este importante asunto de privacidad estudiantil.
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Southwest High School senior Grecia Perez-Carrillo is known as a well-rounded student, but a few weeks ago she learned the score she earned in the AP Spanish exam she took in Spring 2015 made her part of an elite group.
Looking across approximately 4.5 million AP exams taken by 2.5 million U.S. public high schools in 2015, only 322 students earned every point possible on an AP Exam, a rare accomplishment. Grecia is one of 55 students in the world to earn every point possible on the AP Spanish language and culture exam, receiving the maximum score on each portion of the exam.
“Grecia embodies all the great attributes of a SOH student,” said Southwest High Principal Lee Romero. “Within one year Grecia exited our English Learner program and began taking A-G college prep courses in English. Her future is limitless.”
Romero informed Grecia’s classmates about her letter from the College Board- the organization that administers the Advanced Placement tests that allow high school students to earn college credit if they score high enough.
Romero commends all of her teachers and other staff that have encouraged Grecia through her years at Southwest High, especially her AP Spanish Language Teacher, Ms. Dianna Sevilla who has been teaching Spanish at Southwest for the past 17 years.
According to Romero, Grecia enrolled at Southwest High as a 9th grader taking ELD 3-4. By 2014, she was reclassified fluent English Proficient. Grecia is currently in several AP classes, including AP English Literature, AP Spanish Literature, AP Government and AP Environmental Science.
Grecia has been accepted to Humboldt State University.“When I was informed of this news I felt so proud of Grecia,” said Romero. “I understand that this is a rare feat. Only 55 students in the world scored perfect on this AP exam. Her accomplishment is remarkable.”
