Dear SCUSD Students and Families:

It is with tremendous joy and pride that I welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year. As Superintendent, the health and safety of students and staff is my top priority. Unfortunately, Covid-19 remains a significant health risk and barrier to the education system. Sacramento County is beginning the school year with a “medium” level of Covid spread, as assessed by the CDC. At that level, masking for students and staff will be strongly recommended indoors based on SCUSD Board of Education policy. A return to the “high” level would trigger a return to mandatory indoor masking.

Despite the continued challenges and effects of Covid-19, this school year opens an exciting window of opportunity for Sac City Unified. With the help of a voter-approved bond and increased restricted state funding, the district is positioned to invest in our students in ways that weren’t possible in the past. Even better, we will do this with a laser-like focus on equity and fiscal responsibility.

Over the summer, the district’s facilities team was hard at work on a series of school construction and improvement projects, including:

• New hard court surfaces, including rubber playground surface, and outdoor gathering spaces at Caleb Greenwood Elementary.
• Completing the stadium work with a grandstand, pressbox, stadium lighting, and concession buildings at Hiram Johnson High.
• Security fencing at seven sites.
• A new gym floor at Albert Einstein Middle.
• Shade structure for outdoor dining and learning with new hardcourt striping at 15 Elementary Schools.
• Demo and construction for a new pool at Luther Burbank High.

And the work to improve the condition of our aging schools is just beginning. Thanks to Sacramento voters, money from the 2020 Measure H bond is being put into action. Using our award-winning equity based Facilities Master Plan, the district identified and prioritized complete rebuilds of four campuses: Edward Kemble Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary, Oak Ridge Elementary, and Nicholas Elementary. The district will actively engage with those school communities beginning in September and throughout the design process. Rest assured, the district is committed to transparency and thoughtful use of bond dollars.       

This year, the district has expanded our Transitional Kindergarten program to provide needed childcare help to working families, while giving more young learners the opportunity to be better prepared for school.

We’re also innovating and investing in student nutrition. In addition to offering free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of income, the district is joining with Food Literacy Center to open Floyd Farms, a first of its kind cooking school and community garden at Leataata Floyd Elementary that will educate students and families about healthy eating.    

These are just a few examples of the many wonderful things happening at Sac City Unified, as we strive to make this a district you are proud to partner with. We have work to do to make sure that every student not only recovers from learning loss but gets the inspiring, culturally relevant education that they deserve. I look forward to watching our incredible staff and students work together to make this a memorable year and a turning point in our bright future.

Sincerely,

Jorge A. Aguilar
Superintendent