Supervisor Rich Desmond has announced a community meeting abourt the proposed Creekside Middle School. He says:

"Dear Friends,

Join me at my upcoming Community Meeting to discuss upcoming projects by the San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD). As we approach summer and the end of the school year you may start to see construction work taking place at various local campuses. Although, the County has a very limited role in projects proposed by local school districts, I have invited representatives from SJUSD to give us an update regarding their plans to improve local school facilities. 

DATE: Thursday, June 2, 2022

TIME: 6:00 - 7:00 PM

LOCATION: Conzelmann Community Center in Howe Park,
2201 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825

If you have questions about the event you can email me at richdesmond@saccounty.gov or call my Office at (916) 874-5471.

RICH DESMOND
Supervisor, Third District

700 H Street, Suite 2450
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 874-5471 
richdesmond@saccounty.gov"

Our elves - jaded cynics that they are - tell us that the "representatives from SJUSD" will be school district staff whose jobs are related to the project at Creekside coming to quick  fruition with only marginal changes. Now, to be very clear, "the project" is NOT about students of the Katherine Johnson Middle School at Encina continuing to be blended with high school students on the campus of Encina High School. We honestly don't know anyone who thinks that was a good idea or that it should continue in perpetuity. Everyone wants our middle schoolers to have a good education at a campus that's conducive to learning. We all want what's best for the kids, including improved school facilities.

But is that what the Creekside issue is about? No. You see, "the project" is construction of a new $50,000,000, 650+ student middle school at the old Creekside Elementary School site, as was decreed by the school board without due diligence and in a manner that was kept off-radar from the public. Keep in mind that Creekside will be the designated middle school for students who live in the area bounded by Ethan, Cottage, Eastern and Marconi. It appears the school board's 3-middle schools strategy, the Creekside Middle School construction project, and the related Arcade Middle School construction project are not included in the school district's strategic plan, master plan or facilities plan. Or, if they are included, the school district's website doesn't disclose that information. It's not really clear whether the school district asked the public "what's best for the kids?" in their rush to separate Encina's middle school students from Encina's high school students.

Still, Supervisor Desmond seems sincerely interested in hearing what the public thinks about the proposal to build a new $50,000,000, 650+ middle school at the Creekside Surplus School site. So people should try to attend if they have concerns about that specific proposal. Remember, obviously everyone wants good schools for our kids. But why were no other sites considered? What about the impacts on the community? Impacts like traffic, flood control, full-time access to the Creekside Nature Area, public access to open space when school is not in session, etc. Would you like to know how the school district will pay for the project? Or whether there is even a need for 3 middle schools in Arden Arcade? Supervisor Desmond's meeting might be a chance to air your concerns and, hopefully, get some answers.