Residential Customer Del Mar CA, 92014 ECRWSS
Volume XV, Issue 36
■ Former TPHS student named American Film Institute Conservatory Fellow. Page 8.
■ Sisters go to new heights to help others. Page B1.
■ High school football is back! Page 17.
www.delmartimes.net
Solana Beach opposes Del Mar Fairgrounds deal BY CLAIRE HARLN STAFF WRITER Following possible rumors that a group of horse owners pulled out of a deal to invest $30 million into the City of Del Mar’s purchase of the Del Mar Fairgrounds from the state, the Solana Beach City Council released a letter last week clarifying its position — one of opposition — on the potential transaction. “We have tried to make it clear that we don’t support a single city owning it, and they said they want to work together, but they haven’t gotten back to us,” said Solana Beach Mayor Lesa Heebner, who sent the letter, dated Aug. 3, to Del Mar officials but said the council got no response. Signed by Heebner and Solana Beach Councilman Dave Roberts and addressed to Del Mar Mayor Don Mosier and Del Mar Councilman Mark Filanc, the letter was in part a response to a staff report issued by Mosier and Filanc on July 25 to update the community on the fairgrounds purchase proposal. The report stated that the City of Del Mar “continues to move forward on the proposed purchase, reach out to regional stakeholders and have discussion with the City of Solana Beach and organized labor.” Talk of the investors — three horse owners led by Mike Pegram — backing out of the deal began with a Thoroughbred SEE DEAL, PAGE 6
Sept. 1, 2011 Published Weekly
Back to School in Del Mar
After enjoying the summer, Del Mar students were ready to hit the books Aug. 29. Students heading back to class on the first day of school included: (Above left) Del Mar Hills Academy kindergartner Taj Mitchell, who received a good luck squeeze from his mom Suzanne; and (right) siblings Shankar, India and Rio. Photos/Karen Billing
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 1980
DM school board addresses concerns over fiscal decision BY KAREN BILLING STAFF WRITER In response to some emails from parents voicing concern, Del Mar Union School District Board President Comischell Rodriguez requested that the board discuss the allocation of Federal Education Job Funds, approved in December, at its Aug. 24 meeting. The board voted to use its Federal Education Jobs Funds, which is federal money intended to save or create jobs, to give $1,000 in cash incentives to all employees, amounting to a total of about $500,000. At the meeting, parent David Wojtkowski said he SEE DECISION, PAGE 6
API scores rise at high school district; Canyon Crest tops 900 BY MARSHA SUTTON SENIOR EDUCATION WRITER Academic Performance Index numbers were released this week by the California Department of Education, and the San Dieguito Union High School District reported significant increases over last year at nearly every school. Canyon Crest Academy, in Pacific Highlands Ranch, gained 18 points, to pass the 900 mark. CCA’s 910 API makes it the highest-scoring comprehensive public high school in the county and one of the highest in the state. CCA’s enrollment is about 1,875 students in grades 9-12. Carmel Valley’s Torrey Pines High School, with about 2,700 students in grades 9-12, also made gains
this year, scoring 880, nine points higher than last year. Carmel Valley Middle School scored 971, up four points from last year, while Earl Warren Middle School in Solana Beach, the only school in the district to see a lower API this year, dropped four points, to 925. Both are grades 7-8 schools. The district’s two middle schools in the north – Diegueno and Oak Crest – increased their API scores, Diegueno up 19 points to 908 and Oak Crest up 13 points to 902. Scores also climbed for San Dieguito’s high schools in the north. San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas scored 854, up nine points over last year, and the API for La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad came in three points higher than last year,
scoring 818. Of the district’s eight comprehensive middle and high schools, five scored APIs over 900 – all four middle schools, plus Canyon Crest Academy. Traditional comprehensive high schools exclude specialty schools that have eligibility criteria for admissions, which may include some charter schools, magnet schools and very small special applications schools. “Canyon Crest is the first comprehensive high school in San Diego County to top 900,” said Rick Schmitt, SDUHSD’s associate superintendent of educational services. Last year, he said, only six traditional high schools in California topped 900. The district has not yet examined the 2011 scores for statewide
comparisons. Schmitt credited CCA principal Brian Kohn and founding principal David Jaffe – and the CCA staff – for the school’s success. “Brian and David built that place, its energy and culture, and they get a ton of credit,” Schmitt said. “I think one can argue that this is an historic accomplishment,” Kohn said in an email. He said, though, that he’s most proud that students are excited to come to school. “It’s all about school culture,” Kohn said. “Jaffe set it up beautifully, the staff made it real, and the students achieve because they treat each other well. They like being here, and they are
SEE API, PAGE 6