Morning Report: Principal? Psychologist? Whatever.

Last week, we published a story about how the Chula Vista Elementary School District handled (or failed to handle) allegations of sexual misconduct in a special education classroom.

Parents told us one reason they thought the district let a teacher’s alarming behavior go on so long was the school principal’s apparent lack of administrative experience.

A copy of the principal’s resume showed that, prior to being hired by Chula Vista Elementary, she had never served as a principal or vice principal or even taught full time. She was a psychologist in the Sweetwater Union High School District.

After the story appeared, the district requested a correction. Spokesperson Giovanna Castro said it was inaccurate to state the principal had no prior administrative experience because “psychologists are administrators.”

We added the district’s claim to our story. But we wondered: Principals and psychologists do important work. But the work is very different. Are psychologists administrators?

We checked it out. Turns out, in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, psychologists are not administrators. District psychologists are represented by the teachers union, whose contract explicitly “excludes management employees [and] supervisory employees.”

Nor does the California Association of School Psychologists think psychologists are administrators. “The job of a school psychologist is not like that of a teacher, school counselor or administrator,” the Association’s website says.

Castro responded. “In [the principal’s] previous district, psychologists are classified as administrators,” she said. “The article states that she has no administrator experience, but she did in her former district.”

We checked that out too.

Donis Coronel, head of Sweetwater Union’s administrators association, said psychologists are not represented by her union.

But she said the district puts psychologists on the management pay scale because they supervise classroom aides, in particular the aides who work in special education classrooms.

“They don’t lead a school or make budget decisions,” Coronel said. “They report to the principal. But their duties are considered somewhat management because they supervise the paraeducators.”

City Council Locks in Paid Parking at Balboa Park

The San Diego City Council finalized a paid parking plan for Balboa Park that starts on Jan. 5. 

The final rates: The paid parking lots are split up among a three tier system. The lots closest to the park are the most expensive. Residents can pay up to $8 a day and non-residents $16. Street meters along the park and in the park would cost $2.50 an hour with a $10 max. 

What about those parking passes? The Council also approved monthly, quarterly, and annual passes for residents and non-residents. Residents could pay up to $150 annually for a pass and non-residents $300. 

And all that revenue generated from parking? It all goes back to the park as we reported in the summer. The Independent Budget Analyst said paid parking could generate $4 million, that’s up from an estimate of $2.9 million shared by city staff. Still, it’s a significant decrease that could lead to a budget hole. 

The Inspiration Point parking lot will be free for the first three hours.

What County Supervisors Did on Tuesday

-Larry Cohen was sworn in Tuesday as the county treasurer-tax collector. Cohen, longtime chief of staff to Democratic Rep. Juan Vargas, will finish now-former county official Dan McAllister’s term, which ends in January 2027. Cohen has said he plans to run for the post next year. (City News Service)

-Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve Chair Terra Lawson-Remer’s proposal to partner with the San Diego Foundation and other philanthropic organizations to save the county an estimated $13 million over two years. Lawson-Remer says the partnership, which requires contributions from both the county and philanthropists, will help the county maintain up to $36 million in county-contracted programs that could otherwise face cuts as the county faces $300 million in estimated federal cuts. (Union-Tribune)

-Supervisors voted 4-1 to back Supervisor Joel Anderson and Paloma Aguirre’s pitch to lead a county subcommittee that will dig into county contracts and how the county could save cash and improve services. The bipartisan duo said their goal is to investigate where the county can save money without disrupting services and potentially change policies that are impeding progress and revenue opportunities for county government. (Union-Tribune)

-The board voted 4-0, with Lawson-Remer absent, on Supervisor Jim Desmond’s proposal that county staff explore the feasibility of a regional homelessness-spending audit, including spending by local cities. Aguirre and Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe asked that officials also consider analyses that are already in the works as they consider next steps. (City News Service)

Newly Housed Outpaced Newly Homeless in October

For the first time since June, the number of people becoming homeless in San Diego County was eclipsed by the number of people exiting homelessness.

In October, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness reports that 1,079 people became homeless for the first time and 1,112 moved into housing.

Your monthly reminder: For most of the last couple years, local efforts to house homeless residents haven’t kept up with the flood of people losing their homes. That equation must change to dramatically reduce homelessness. 

Brews & News

Brews and News Live Podcast is happening today and it’s not too late to get tickets! 

Join us tonight at 6 p.m. at Soda Bar for a chance to get all the inside scoop on current San Diego happenings. CEO and Editor-in-Chief Scott Lewis, Managing Editor Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña, education reporter Jakob McWhinney, and social media star Bella Ross will take the stage for this special recording of San Diego’s foremost public affairs podcast. The crew will be joined by John David Wicker, director of intercollegiate athletics at San Diego State University. 

Spots are limited. Grab your ticket now to be part of the celebration!  

This is a public 21+ event w/ valid ID at Soda Bar. 

In Other News 

• San Diego already recorded three times above its typical seasonal rainfall and more is on the way. (Union-Tribune)
• The Oceanside Police Department launched a new program where residents can register security cameras with the department to help assist with investigations. The program, Connect Oceanside, will gather registered camera locations, so that officers can request footage when necessary. (KPBS)
• The La Jolla Playhouse announced that Jessica Stone, a Tony Award-nominated director, will take on the role of the organization’s new artistic director in early 2026. (KPBS)
• The San Diego Unified School District will vote on a resolution aiming to recognize the needs of students that are experiencing homelessness. The board will decide if it will acknowledge Runaway and Homeless Youth Awareness Month in November. (Fox 5)

The Morning Report was written by Jim Hinch, Mariana Martínez Barba, Lisa Halverstadt and MacKenzie Elmer. It was edited by Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña. 

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