Citrus Heights Education Committee to present findings to council

By Sara Beth Williams–
A half-year after forming a limited-term education committee to look into the feasibility of Citrus Heights forming its own school district, the City Council has yet to receive a presentation of findings from the group.

The seven-member Citrus Heights Education Committee was authorized by the council in June 2023 and was originally slated to return to the City Council in early November to provide policy recommendations, but has been delayed until January or February, according to Vice Mayor Bret Daniels.

The committee will meet in January and then present to the council in February, Daniels said in an email to The Sentinel, adding that the last meeting had an “in-depth discussion” regarding school test scores and capacity.

During a June 22 council meeting, the City Council appointed Jessica Fork, John Kane, Jeannie Bruins, Karen Mix, Thomas Scheeler, Robin Stout, and Laura Wilbur as members of the Citrus Heights Education Committee. Daniels confirmed that Scheeler resigned shortly after being appointed due to a personal family situation. He was replaced by Jim Remick, Daniels said.

Kane, one of the committee’s members, cited a key problem with local enrollment and also described a “systemic problem” in the state’s education system.

“Part of the reason the city is so interested is that only forty percent of the high school aged kids in Citrus Heights go to high school at our two high schools,” said Kane. Before proceeding with presenting findings to the council, Kane said the committee is awaiting on requested information from the San Juan Unified School District.

The committee’s key responsibilities have included analyzing Citrus Heights schools’ test scores, attendance records, extracurricular activities, and school capacity versus actual enrollment. Kane said the committee “deep-dived” into the school district data throughout the last several months. The committee is also researching the process of creating a school district and evaluating the necessary budgetary resources.

In past council meetings, Citrus Heights city council members have been split on whether the city should focus on working with the San Juan district to improve local schools, or should instead pursue forming a new school district.