Volume 3, Issue 42
Community
www.encinitasadvocate.com
June 16, 2017
‘Stop underestimating our students’ San Dieguito parent petition calls for a special education overhaul BY KAREN BILLING Parents of special education students made their voices heard on June 8, protesting before the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) meeting and continuing on to the SDUHSD board room where they handed over a petition alleging unequal treatment and
Kindergarten teachers share ‘Four Steps to Friendship’ through their first book. A4
facilities for special education students. “Stop segregating our students, stop ignoring our students, stop underestimating our students, stop treating our children as unequal and undeserving,” La Costa Canyon parent Janet Schenker said, wearing a red shirt with a stop sign
emblazoned on the front. The parents’ 41-page petition outlined the many ways they hope the district can reform special education programs in the district, as well as the adult transition program school (ATP), calling out an “inadequate” curriculum, too low expectations and a lack of equal
treatment in facilities planning. If the district does not respond to the petition’s requests, the parents may consider filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. Parents of students with disabilities have spoken out on their concerns about the special education SEE STUDENTS, A21
San Dieguito board member’s bid to end CIF sports defeated
Lifestyle
BRITTANY WOOLSEY
Morris Pike performs as Captain Book for second graders at Hope Elementary School in Carlsbad on June 9.
■ See inside for a variety of photos of community events.
Captain Book to sail no longer Pike will retire the character at the end of the month
ENCINITAS ADVOCATE An Edition of
380 Stevens Suite 316 Solana Beach, CA 92075 858-756-1451 encinitasadvocate.com Delivery issues: subscription@ encinitasadvocate.com
BY BRITTANY WOOLSEY After stealing away the attention of youngsters across San Diego for nearly two decades, Captain Book will conclude his performances for good later this month. The pirate character, played by Morris Pike of Encinitas, has been a fixture in San Diego pre-school and elementary classrooms since 2001. Pike developed the character — dressed completely as a pirate with an eye patch, parrot and spy glass and accompanied by crewmates — as a way to give back and inspire children. "I think kids are fascinated by pirates, no matter what," he said, ahead of a performance at Hope
Elementary School in Carlsbad on June 9. "I thought that's an icon they can identify with and enjoy. At the time we started, Johnny Depp was at the height of his popularity with Pirates of the Caribbean." The Captain Book show includes magic, sing-alongs and references to popular media and historical figures such as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, Spongebob Squarepants and Helen Keller. Captain Book also inspires children to read with his catchphrase: "We read, we read, we read-duh!" Over the years, Pike, as Captain Book and in partnership with the Encinitas Kiwanis, has donated more than 120,000 books, which were purchased through programs such as Scholastic and First Book. The books are delivered on his "pirate ship," the Good Ship Literacy. The truck is a former rescue vehicle that SEE CAPTAIN, A22
B
SINGLE STORY COVENANT GEM 5546 San Elijo Rd., Rancho Santa Fe 4BD l 4.5BA l 5,500 sq ft. l Pool spa l 2.95 acres • $3,999,000
COLLABORATION WITH LISTING AGENT CATHY GILCHRIST-COLMAR CalBRE#00517562
760.487.8654 I sandiegooceanliving.com
San Dieguito Union School District (SDUHSD) board trustee John Salazar voted against the district high schools competing in CIF sports in the 2017-18 school year until the district fixes what he believes is “broken.” At the June 8 SDUHSD board meeting, Salazar said that the CIF has 16 operating principles of “Pursuing Victory with Honor” and he does not believe the district is following those principles — those that include promoting sportsmanship, good character and maintaining responsibility for the quality and integrity of CIF programs. “I think there is a problem with our sports, probably at all of the high schools,” Salazar said, referencing his concerns with pay for play, coach nepotism and coach affiliations with club teams. “A tremendous amount of time should be taken to clean it up.” When board members asked what it would mean if they did not approve the membership in the CIF San Diego Section, SDUHSD Superintendent Eric Dill replied simply that: “It would be the end of interscholastic sports.” Salazar responded: “Good” and many parents in the room applauded. “I appreciate the energy in the room but I can’t, as a board member, do that, knowing the effect it would have on our student athletes,” SDUHSD President Amy Herman said, before the board approved the agreement in a 4-1 vote. CIF requires that participating schools SEE CIF, A23
Brian Bria
STRANGE STRANG Your Eyes & Ears on the Coast
BROKER ASSOCIATE
CalBRE# 0186 01866160 018661