Santee Breaks Ground on Dual-Purpose Community Center While Schools Navigate Opportunity and Controversy
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Construction on Santee's long-anticipated Community Center officially entered Phase 2 this month, with building construction at 10129 Riverwalk Drive — adjacent to the Cameron Family YMCA — now underway through September 2027. The 12,500-square-foot, two-story facility is designed to serve as both community gathering space and the city's backup Emergency Operations Center. A public opening is anticipated in November 2027. Phase 1, which comprised parking lot construction, ran from February through June 2026, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held January 30th with Mayor John W. Minto and Barnhart-Reese Construction.
On the education front, Grossmont Union High School District graduated 4,725 students this week across nine comprehensive high schools, two charter schools, a middle college high school, and two special education academies in ceremonies held June 3rd and 4th. But a San Diego County civil grand jury report published June 2nd cast a shadow over the district, finding that the governing board's 2023 decision to change mental health providers was based on 'falsehoods and misrepresentations' about care provided to LGBTQ students.
The board voted 3-1 to deny renewal of a contract with San Diego Youth Services, leaving students without access to six mental health clinicians and a suicide prevention program for four months. The grand jury issued ten recommendations, including allowing San Diego Youth Services to continue providing services to three high schools through its East County Behavioral Health Clinic — an agreement that runs through June 2027. The district has 90 days to respond.
On a forward-looking note, the Santee School District is launching a Career Technical Education program for seventh and eighth graders funded by a $215,000 state grant. A 12-week Digital Media elective, developed in collaboration with GUHSD teachers, launches this fall, with Health Science and Information & Communication Technologies courses planned for 2027-28. The Santee Teen Center opens for its full summer schedule Friday, June 12th.