Advocates for foster youth pressed San Diego County supervisors on Tuesday to slow down before deciding the future of San Pasqual Academy, arguing that a rushed vote could upend students’ lives and dismantle a hard-won support system.
The county-run, 238-acre campus has sheltered and educated foster youth since 2001, with an on-site high school and residential and therapeutic services woven into daily life. Supporters say pulling the plug too quickly would disrupt placements and unravel a model many alumni and providers consider essential for some of the region’s most vulnerable teens.
They packed hearing rooms and urged officials to extend the public-comment period before any board action, as reported by CBS8. Advocates argued that recent engagement windows and staff recommendations left too little time for the community to digest the options or float alternatives.
What's at stake
County staff are recommending that the Board of Supervisors direct the chief administrative officer to begin a planned, phased wind-down of San Pasqual Academy that would allow current seniors to finish the school year and juniors to graduate next year, according to KPBS. Staff cite shrinking enrollment and shifts in state and federal foster-care policy as the main drivers behind the proposal.
The San Diego County Board of Education has formally pushed back. In yesterday's resolution, the board opposed the proposed wind-down and urged a pause for cross-agency planning, per the San Diego County Office of Education. The resolution calls for exploring alternatives such as expanded eligibility, inter-county partnerships and program modernization rather than an abrupt closure.
Community outreach so far
The county’s outreach so far has included virtual meetings and an online survey. County materials and staff reports indicate that more than 270 people attended engagement sessions and 184 completed a survey, according to the County of San Diego. Staff recommend continuing community engagement for about 18 more months and returning to the board with transition updates within the year.
Advocates push alternatives
Friends of San Pasqual Academy and alumni groups are pressing supervisors to pause any closure and focus on fixes, from securing funding carve-outs to expanding campus uses for workforce and behavioral health services, according to Friends of San Pasqual Academy. The group’s site highlights the program’s outcomes, including a claimed “94% graduation rate,” and urges residents to submit letters and petitions to the board.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to take up the item at today’s meeting and could choose to start the phased wind-down, delay action, or ask staff for more analysis. Residents who want to review meeting materials or submit comments can find details on the county’s San Pasqual engagement page and the board’s agenda via the county portal.
