PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com SERVING NORTH COUNTY SINCE 1987
VOL. 35, N0. 17
APRIL 23, 2021
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
.com
Carlsbad OKs campaign contribution limits. A3
North River Farms lawsuit nearing a conclusion. A5 Palomar College sees financial woes ahead. A7 Solana Beach schoolsTHE plan full-time return in fall. A9 VISTA
com NEWS
‘Going . to get pushed into chaos’ OUSD wrestles with RANCHO in-person schedule SFNEWS
.com
By Samantha Nelson
The Padres and Cubs, T-ball teams for 5- and 6-year-olds in the Carlsbad Youth Baseball league, faced off April 19 at Pine Avenue Community Park, as youth sports leagues across the area return to action. STORY ON PAGE A10 Photo by Steve Puterski
SMUSD hopes new superintendent is ‘calming force’ By Tigist Layne
SAN MARCOS —San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) has hired Andy Johnsen as the district’s new superintendent. Johnsen is currently the superintendent of Lakeside Union School District in East County. The district officially made the announcement at its regular school board meeting on Tuesday, following a months-long recruitment, interview and vetting process. “As a well-regarded Superintendent, the Board is confident that Dr. Johnsen will be a calming force for our staff, students, and
community,” school board President Stacy Carlson said in a statement Friday, April 16, before the hire was officially announced. Johnsen will officially begin his position on July 1, according to the statement. According to his LinkedIn profile, Johnsen has been the Lakeside Unified superintendent since 2017 and has previously served as a principal in the Poway Unified and Los Angeles Unified school districts. The district initiated the search for a new superintendent soon after the new governing board was seated Dec. 15.
In the meantime, SMUSD has been led by former superintendent Kevin Holt followed, since Jan. 19, by Interim Superintendent Tiffany Campbell. ANDY The position JOHNSEN became vacant after former superintendent Carmen García abruptly resigned in September 2020 following months of conflict with parents and district teachers. The hire comes after a controversial past few weeks for the
district. SMUSD is facing criticism from district families and community members after its refusal to fully reopen schools despite pressure from a lawsuit and a judge’s ruling. The district also placed one of its teachers on administrative leave last week after she was recorded yelling at her students during a Zoom class. “We are deeply concerned about the recent videos that have surfaced regarding one of our employees; this is a matter that we take very seriously and it is receiving our highest scrutiny,” SMUSD said in a statement.
OCEANSIDE — Elementary students in the city’s public school district will remain in their current hybrid in-person instruction model until the district can determine if moving to a five-day modified schedule is safe by county and state health standards. During the April 13 Oceanside Unified School District board meeting, staff recommended expanding elementary in-person instruction to five days a week on a modified schedule and keeping secondary students in the current schedule. Elementary students returned to campuses for hybrid in-person instruction on March 15, and secondary students returned on March 29, also in the same hybrid in-person model. Rather than approve staff’s recommendation, the board in a 3-2 vote decided to keep elementary students in the current schedule until the district conTURN TO OUSD ON A7
What can you learn about senior living at our upcoming event? A whole bunch. Ask questions. It’s casual, easy and you’re invited.
Lunch & Learn | THURSDAY, APRIL 29TH • 11:30AM You’re invited to learn more about La Vida Del Mar. Join us for an informative presentation on the vibrant senior living lifestyle and services & safeguards offered along with a tour of our beautiful community. Afterwards, enjoy a lunch especially prepared by our executive chef and culinary staff. Please call 858.314.8877 to RSVP. RCFE#374602832
850 Del Mar Downs Road • Solana Beach • LaVidaDelMar.com • 858.314.8877 C AR F -ACCR E D ITE D I N D E PE N D E NT & A S S I STE D LIVI N G R E S I D E N CE S