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VOLUME 28 NUMBER 21
May 24, 2012
High school district music changes strike a sour note
■ Upcoming Fiesta Del Sol steps up parking, food offerings. Page B3
■ New book offers practical advice on coping with life’s obstacles. Page 5
BY MARSHA SUTTON Sudden changes to the San Dieguito Union High School District music program have caused confusion and consternation among many students, parents and music supporters, some of whom are alarmed that the new regulations will harm the award-winning program. To meet the district’s requirement for two years of physical educa-
tion in both middle school and high school, many music students opted to take Independent Study Physical Education after school, which allowed them to take foreign language and music as their two electives. Music students can still sign up for ISPE as an “extra” class, but the way ISPE will be administered is changing. In the past, music
teachers received a log from students periodically, which showed that kids exercised a certain number of hours each week, said Rick Schmitt, SDUHSD’s associate superintendent of educational services. Parents signed off on their children’s physical activity program, which often consisted of walking, jogging, surfing or other unsupervised activity. Music teachers ac-
cepted the parental verifications. Schmitt said this is not legitimate, noting that a parent can’t supervise an internship or sign off on English or math for example. He said the same rules apply to PE, and the ISPE statute is clear. “Music teachers can’t be giving credit for PE,” he said. “You must have it supervised by a professional, and they
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we’re moving it to a supervised program,” he said. So, beginning this fall, incoming seventhgrade students at the district’s four middle schools and all Canyon Crest Academy and San Dieguito Academy high school students can no longer have parents and music teachers sign off on ISPE. Music students can still sign SEE MUSIC, PAGE 6
DM School District to initially consider internal candidates to fill superintendent’s position After a closed meeting held May 16, the Del Mar Union School District board released the following statement regarding its search for a new superintendent to replace retiring superintendent James Peabody: “During the last two years the Del Mar Union School District has been working through a strategic management process that has clearly defined its vision, mission and long-term goals, along with the actions to achieve them. By providing a nurturing, inspiring, and rigorous educational experience for each of our students, the district has
Canyon Crest Academy’s LitMag Club, publisher of the school’s literary magazine, held its inaugural Canyon Crest Academy/Torrey Pines Writers Conference on May 19. Local published authors and writing professionals provided workshops to help students bring their writing to the next level. (Above) Maya Lin-Bronner, Natalie Fry, Carla Nava, Nicola Maytom; (Right) Kathy Krevat with keynote speaker author Martha Lawrence. Photos/Jon Clark
moved forward with a renewed purpose and energy. “The Board believes that to sustain the momentum that has been created the district needs to have continuity in leadership with someone who understands the culture of the district and the intricacies of the strategic management plan. In addition, they are looking for a professional leader who can communicate the district’s vision to all stakeholders. “The Board realizes that this is the most important decision they will make and
SEE CANDIDATES, PAGE 17
Patrick Kennedy visits Del Mar to advocate mental health care reform BY CLAIRE HARLIN EDITOR@DELMARTIMES.NET
■ Time to start planning for vacation fun. Pages B16-B19.
must have a million-dollar liability.” Schmitt said other school districts have been sued after students were injured during ISPE under the supervision of non-professionals. The district is legally vulnerable, he said, because schools give credit for ISPE. “We’re not going to allow any more unsupervised kids doing this because we’re liable, so
When former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy was charged with driving while intoxicated on Capitol Hill in 2006, he said he was told not to talk about it. “But I talked about it wherever I went, and my constituents told me they were finally glad to talk about these issues,” said Kennedy, who was first elected to Congress at 21, the youngest House Representative in history. “I still
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy spoke at an International Bipolar Foundation event at the Del Mar Hilton on May 22. Photo/Claire Harlin
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ran for Congress and got reelected by the largest plurality in any election I’ve run in so far — 70 percent.” Kennedy, a nephew to the late President John F. Kennedy, ended his 15-year Congressional career in 2011 to dedicate his life to spreading awareness about mental health in order to end the stigma and advocate for mental health insurance payouts. He made a visit to the Del Mar Hilton on May 22 to speak at an International Bipolar Foundation event and present a group of
local Girl Scouts with their Mental Health Awareness Patches, which they earned by doing an extensive amount of outreach and research on mental health stigma. “The way we stop stigma is to start with the young, impressionable minds before they get fixated that people should feel ashamed of their illness,” Kennedy said. “They are the
SEE KENNEDY, PAGE 6
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