During the March 14th Citrus Heights meeting, March was declared Women’s History Month. The Citrus Heights Women’s Club, pictured here, celebrated the proclamation. Photo courtesy of Citrus Heights City Council

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - In March 2023, the Citrus Heights City Council approved a limited-term Education Committee to examine the feasibility of splitting from the San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD) to form a local school district in Citrus Heights. The council appointed seven public members to serve on the committee and hired facilitator Cyrus Abhar to guide the committee’s review. At the March 17 meeting, the committee presented their recommendations to the council.

Abhar introduced the committee members— John Kane, Jessica Fork, Karen Mix, Jeannie Bruins, James Remick, Robin Stout and Laura Wilbur—and thanked them for their efforts. Abhar said that they are “a group of incredibly dedicated individuals and community members who care deeply about the education in our community for our children.”

The committee’s objectives were to review and analyze data about school enrollment and attendance, test scores, and participation in extracurricular activities, as well as to research the processes required to form a new district and the city’s financial capacity to do so.

The committee’s review of enrollment found that 13,029 school-age students are in kindergarten through 12th grade in Citrus Heights. Only 44% (5,211) attend schools within Citrus Heights city limits; 19% (2,475) attend other San Juan Unified School District schools and 37% (4,820) are enrolled out of the district.

Looking at test scores, the committee compared averages for Citrus Heights schools with San Juan Unified School District and California averages. They found that the percentage of students in California and San Juan Unified School District meeting or exceeding state standards for their grade level is between 40 to 50% in English language arts and 30 to 40% for math.

But for the majority of Citrus Heights elementary schools, the average is between 30 to 40% for English and 20 to 30% for math. For middle schools, Citrus Heights schools were even lower, averaging 20 to 30% for English and some as low as 10% for math. For high schools, Mesa Verde is in line with the state average for English but around 20% in math, and San Juan is at 30% for English and around the 10% mark for math in recent years.

Some Citrus Heights schools broke that pattern, with Skycrest Elementary testing in line with state and district scores and Cambridge Heights Elementary hitting around 70% averages. While many Citrus Heights schools showed lower test scores, some had year-over-year improvement.

The committee found that Citrus Heights schools also have a higher rate of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged households than the district’s average. In these households, the parents might not speak English or be able to spend much time involved in their child’s school, which could impact student achievement.

Forming a new school district would require a petition to be approved by both the Sacramento County Board of Education and the California Board of Education, each with its own timelines for public hearings, actions and voting. To be considered for approval, the petition would have to show that the new district’s formation would meet minimum thresholds, including at least 1,500 pupils, a distinct community identity, a plan for division of property and facilities, and a financial management plan.

The committee found that they did not have the knowledge or expertise to adequately review the complex financial implications of a district reorganization.

Due to measurable improvements at some Citrus Heights schools and new leadership at San Juan Unified School District in recent years, five of the seven committee members recommended the city pursue enhanced collaboration with San Juan Unified School District and improve parent involvement on the school sites to improve students’ academic performance. Two of the seven committee members recommended that evaluation of a new school district continue, including a comprehensive financial analysis. Six of the seven members suggested the city explore public charter school options to provide additional choices for Citrus Heights families. 

“If we were to undertake a very long process that’s very expensive, and we do not have parent involvement, will it fall in the same general area of achievement that we have right now?” asked Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff.

She suggested that instead, as a community, Citrus Heights makes an effort “to engage our parents and schools in a different and exciting and meaningful way.”

Councilmember Porsche Middleton agreed: “We know that the best way for us to uplift our community and to increase education is going to be parental involvement.”

During Public Comment, various members of the public said they opposed the idea of splitting from San Juan Unified School District.

Citrus Heights resident Albert Fox said, “We now have what we sought for 20 years” at San Juan Unified School District. “We have a board that is representative of our community” with a dedicated seat for Citrus Heights. He asked the council to “consider a stronger staff collaboration with the district.”

Alan Dory said his children attended San Juan Unified School District schools and he “knows the district works hard to support its students.” He predicted that a new school district wouldn’t be able to attract good teachers, nor would it have enough money or resources to operate efficiently.

Issues facing Citrus Heights families, such as poverty and language barriers, will still exist in a new district, according to Dory.

“So our job is not to break away from a school district that’s already used to handling and dealing with these problems and we’re just going to somehow magically fix it, wave a magic wand? … The way to fix it is to get more involved,” Dory said.

Resident Bill Van Duker said, “I don’t support spending any more money on exploring or establishing our own school district. I think we have to get involved at the site level and with innovative teachers and programs and see what we can do as we move forward.”

Resident Sheryl Dolts said there are many benefits to remaining with a larger district, which can provide more resources and support for students with disabilities. She asked the council to “redouble efforts” to collaborate with San Juan Unified School District.

In a written comment, T.K. Milton said that San Juan Unified School District is well established and forming a new district would be a financial burden to the city.

San Juan Unified School District staff and board trustees spoke to encourage Citrus Heights to preserve the existing partnership.

Woodside K-8 School Principal Beth Wall said that innovative ideas are making an immediate difference at the school and those can be implemented at other schools. She said the most significant difference is the community engagement on their campus, which shows the students “how much people support them and care about their success.”

San Juan High School Principal David Levis said that “building community is so important” and separating from the school district would “encourage isolation.”

Lichen K-8 Interim Principal Roxanne Stellmacher said that San Juan Unified School District is “deeply committed to a holistic approach to student success” by fostering creativity and supporting students’ social-emotional development. Remaining with the district, she said, will provide Citrus Heights students with a foundation to improve academically and to “grow and thrive as individuals.”

San Juan Unified School District Trustee Ben Avey said he ran for his board position because he was disappointed in the performance of the schools.

“I ran, I won, and the district is listening,” Avey said.

While the schools are not all meeting academic standards, Avey said, he is seeing progress and that family and community engagement at the schools makes a critical difference.

San Juan Unified School District Trustee Saul Hernandez said there is “strength in numbers.”

San Juan Unified School District is the 10th largest district in California, which has allowed it to keep both high schools, Mesa Verde and San Juan, open despite low enrollment.

If Citrus Heights started their own district, Hernandez said, one high school would close. And they must consider not just operating costs but all the start-up costs associated with forming a new district, such as food services, bus services and staff training, according to Hernandez. He suggested that the better course of action is to continue investing in the partnership with San Juan Unified School District.

San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Melissa Bassanelli said she took on this role a year ago and has already seen improvements. She said Citrus Heights and the school district share the same goals of increasing safety and parent involvement and improving student enrollment, attendance and achievement.

“We are stronger when we work together,” Bassanelli said.

But Councilmember Tim Schaefer said he felt the long and difficult process of forming a new school district would be worth the effort. He said Citrus Heights needs to attract more young families since they are the city’s “economic engine” to bring in more sales tax revenue. He said that families won’t move here if they see poor-performing schools. He asked, “Are we willing to leave the [city’s] future vibrancy to San Juan Unified School District that has been failing us and our children for decades?”

Mayor Bret Daniels thanked the Education Committee for their hard work: “I don’t agree with the recommendation but I appreciate the work.” Daniels said that it comes down to “local control.” A smaller local district would be more responsive to the needs of Citrus Heights schools, according to Daniels: “That is much stronger accountability.” Looking at the numbers of students who leave Citrus Heights schools “is mind boggling to me,” said Daniels, and a local district could bring students back “because it is something new.” The bottom line, Daniels said, is the low test scores and San Juan Unified School District “is just too big.” 

Daniels made a motion that the city move forward with pursuing their own school district; it was seconded by Schaefer but the motion failed 2-3, with Councilmembers Lopez-Taff and Middleton and Vice Mayor Karpinski-Costa dissenting.

Councilmember Lopez-Taff motioned that the council follow the Education Committee’s recommendation to pursue collaboration with San Juan Unified School District and find ways to foster more community and parent engagement to support the students and the schools.

Schaefer asked, “What’s measurable about that? … How do we show that we’re making progress?” He said that the goal to pursue collaboration is “very vague.”

Lopez-Taff said they have the current school performance numbers provided by the committee and those numbers should be reviewed again next year to see if there have been improvements.

Councilmember Middleton seconded the motion, and it passed with unanimous support.

The next meeting of the Citrus Heights City Council is scheduled at 6 p.m. March 28.

 The Soroptimist International celebrates the Women’s History Month proclamation at the March 14th Citrus Heights City Council meeting. Photo courtesy of Citrus Heights City Council