Since 1987, the Saugus Union School District has not only grown in the number of students and schools, but in just about every other area - staff members, academic achievement, recognition, programs and technology.
When Santa Clarita incorporated, the district had nine schools and 4,766 students. Today there are 15 schools housing 10,531 students, and before the decade closes, two more schools will be built - West Creek and the permanent campus for Bouquet Canyon.
"One major issue we've had to deal with is building schools to accommodate the number of students moving into our district," said Superintendent Judy Fish. "I think Saugus has done an excellent job of keeping up with the growth in Santa Clarita."
Over the course of the past twenty years, the Saugus community has passed two general obligation bonds. In 1993, Measure S provided $10.2 million for construction of new schools to avoid a multi-track year round calendar. In 2002, the Saugus community approved Measure E for $48 million.
Since 1987, Saugus schools have received 26 California Distinguished School Awards, with some sites receiving this honor more than once. Five schools have received National Blue Ribbon Recognition, and in 2006, the district received a national award from the Environmental Protection Agency for Sustained Excellence for its Tools for Schools program.
Recently, three Saugus teachers were recognized internationally for Innovative Teacher Awards from Microsoft. Since 1987, two teachers, Ingrid Boydston and Dawna Countryman, have received recognition as one of five California Teachers of the Year. Academic Performance Index (API) scores have steadily increased and are now among the highest in the state.
"We try to be the best that we can be," Fish said. "We have a collaborative team going down the same path with the same vision, just doing what's right for the children."
A major program that was developed just as the city was being formed is the district's Childcare Enterprise Program, which provides before and after school care for students at a reasonable cost. That program has now grown to serve over 2000 students and has expanded to all 15 campuses.
Over the last twenty years, the Saugus district has seen many changes in its student population, and its programs have grown and diversified to meet the needs of each and every child, Fish said.
"Just as the city is becoming bigger and more diverse, the same thing is happening in our local schools," Fish said, adding that the district's Hispanic and Korean populations have shown the largest increase. "We do everything we can to provide support to the students so that they can learn English while still maintaining their own heritage and their own language."
One area in which the district has seen monumental growth is technology. In 1987, there were no computers in Saugus schools, and today the district has in excess of 2,500. Over the past 20 years, the Saugus district's innovative technology program has grown to become one of the most respected in the nation.
"Students and staff now have access to more technology resources than any other school system in the Santa Clarita Valley," Fish said.
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