[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 82 (Friday, May 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E500-E501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF JEFFERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL 
                                DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 13, 2022

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Jefferson Union 
High School District upon the occasion of its 100th anniversary. At 
inception, the district had one school,

[[Page E501]]

Jefferson High, which also recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. 
Today, the district encompasses five schools across two cities serving 
over 4,000 students. The district also offers an adult school program.
  For the first thirty-six years, the district was composed of 
Jefferson High School but in 1958 Westmoor High opened in Daly City. As 
the City of Pacifica grew, Terra Nova opened its doors in 1961, 
followed the next year by Oceana. Serramonte opened in 1970 in Daly 
City and then closed in 1981, although many classes for the adult 
school continue at the site as do district administrative functions. 
Thornton High School, also in Daly City, opened in 1975.
  There were schools serving students before the district existed. San 
Francisco provided the main high schools, but in 1922 local leaders 
realized that a nearer site was needed.
  The school district officially commenced operations on June 2, 1922, 
and the first members of the school board were Matthew Grady, 
chairperson, Stella Jensen, clerk, Florence Stockton, Adolph Gehrenger, 
and Roderick McDonald. Mr. Neill O. Best was the head of the school and 
he had three colleagues, Gilda Belloni, Gladys Lukes, and Barto 
Molineaux. Over fifty students were in the entering class of the 
district's first school, and they had their choice of multiple subjects 
including mathematics, science, athletics/PE, Spanish, dramatics, 
commercial arithmetic, typing, bookkeeping, spelling, penmanship, 
civics, free hand drawing, music and vocational guidance.
  Today's district offers classes spanning the range of traditional 
high school subjects such as English, math, science and social science, 
but also includes advanced placement instruction for those who want to 
earn college credits. Oceana offers a food and nutrition elective. 
Jefferson's website points students in the direction of the Skyline 
Promise Program, a pathway to free community college. At Terra Nova, 
students may take ceramics while at Westmoor ceramics and drawing are 
available. Bands, sports and other offerings keep students throughout 
the district engaged. The adult school offers classes in work training 
and technology, English, high school diploma and GED preparation, 
citizenship test preparation, and art.
  Most importantly, the Jefferson Union High School District is 
dedicated to serving the individual needs of each student. A robust 
vocational support system exists and of course college preparation is 
available to all. The cost of living in our community is high, and 
rents force many parents to struggle. The district offers students 
additional services to assist with household stresses.
  On the same day as the celebration of the district's 100th 
anniversary, the district will also cut the ribbon on a 122-unit 
apartment project that will offer employees rent at well below market 
rates. This should help to stabilize the district's employee base and 
strengthen education over the years. A similar strategy was enacted by 
the local community college district and has been decisive in reducing 
turnover. Taxpayers in the high school district voted to support bonds 
to provide funding for this outstanding project. It was a very wise 
choice. It will ease the financial pressure on teachers and employees 
and will allow them to live in the community in which they teach. It's 
not quite a return to the 1960's when housing was far less expensive 
and much more plentiful, but this apartment development is an example 
of public resources--scarce public land--put to significant and 
beneficial use for decades to come. Its success in this and other 
endeavors is due to its superb leadership. The Board of Trustees 
includes Ms. Rosie Tejada, President, Mr. Andrew Lie, Vice President, 
Ms. Kalimah Salahuddin, Clerk, Mr. Nick Occhipinti and Ms. Carla Ng-
Garrett.
  In closing, let me note that Jefferson Union High School District 
achieves the goals of Horace Mann and other early advocates for free, 
universal, public education. The district prepares young people for 
their lives as citizens in a democracy, and it equips them with skills 
to enter the modem economy. Whether in the trades or college, in our 
region or abroad, whether in service to the public or to the private 
sector, the graduates of Jefferson Union High School District have a 
golden opportunity to understand their current place in the world and 
to create their own path for a great future. On behalf of the 
community, I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to the Jefferson 
Union High School District. They are 100 years young, and ready to meet 
all challenges.

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