Imagine UC 2020 is finally coming to fruition. The project was approved by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education two years ago. On Feb. 11, 2020, the joint-use agreement was unanimously approved by the city of San Diego’s City Council. The next step will be to put the project out to open construction bid. Groundbreaking may begin as early as June if all goes according to plan. School district and city staff have worked hard on an agreement that will serve as a template for joint-use pools in other neighborhoods of San Diego.

The fields next to Spreckels Elementary and Standley Middle School are on school district property and have been maintained by the city for decades. The city-owned land is around the recreation center, tennis courts and the current pool. The school district and the city have had many decades of successful joint use. This will be the first time that a swimming pool has been added to a joint-use project.

The project will include an aquatic center, jogging path, stage/pavilion and a grass field for Spreckels. It will be joint use between the city and the school district, because they will be used by students during school hours and open to the community the other hours. Within the scope of this project, the school district will also modernize Spreckels Elementary and improve the drop-off area and expand parking for the school and the park. This project will be followed by updating the Standley Middle School campus.

Taxpayer dollars will be more efficiently used by combining school district and city resources. Continuing the design of a long, uninterrupted public space from Standley Middle School to Spreckels Elementary is a unique gathering place in University City. Students will enjoy these facilities during school hours, and the community will be able to run or stroll along the jogging path, swim at the aquatic center, enjoy music and other performances at the stage/pavilion and play in the expanded grass fields. For more information, contact SDUSD Board President John Lee Evans at johnleeevans@sandi.net.

FRAUD PREVENTION

The San Diego District Attorney’s Office will be presenting an Elder Fraud Scam/Scheme Prevention and Education Workshop on Wednesday, March 18, from 6-7 p.m, at the University Community Branch Library, 4155 Governor Drive. Learn about the top 10 scams targeting members of our community, with a concentration on scams targeting those over 60 years of age. Many schemes are performed over the telephone, door-to-door or through advertisements. Older adults are prime targets for schemes attributed to credit cards, sweepstakes or contests, charities, health products, magazines, home improvements, equity skimming, investments, banking or wire transfers, and insurance.

MUSIC CLINIC

UCHS senior Julianne Hom is organizing aBand and Orchestra Music Clinic for fourth and fifth graders at University City High School on Mondays, March 16, and April 27, from 2:45 a 4:15 p.m. Hom will be recruiting her UC High classmates to volunteer. If you are interested in signing up your child, please email music.gsgold18@gmail.com.

TASTE OF THE TRIANGLE

On Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m, EdUCate! will host its 26th premier fundraiser, Taste of the Triangle, at the Room & Board Home Furnishings store in Westfield UTC. Each year, the event attracts hundreds of San Diego parents, educators, leaders and community members to a fun-filled evening. Restaurants from the Golden Triangle and nearby will present a sampling of their cuisine. The evening includes a VIP reception at 6 p.m. The EdUCate! Foundation makes a tremendous difference every day for the children and teachers in all five University City public schools. To date, EdUCate! has received to $2 million in essential support to the five schools. For more information, visit uc-educate.org.