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Santee Hires First Safety Director as Schools Prepare to Open in Nine Days

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An empty school hallway lined with blue metal lockers before the start of the school day.
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Map of Santee School District, Santee, CA
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The Santee School District appointed Michael Castillo as its first-ever director of safety and security at its August 4th board meeting, filling a newly created role designed around emergency preparedness and coordination with first responders. Castillo comes from the University of San Diego, where he managed campus law enforcement and training. The district's schools open August 19th.

The position was created following a district safety assessment and reflects a shift in how school communities are approaching emergency planning — moving from safety responsibilities shared among existing administrators toward a dedicated official whose sole mandate is preparedness and law enforcement coordination. With nine days until the school year begins, Castillo is starting with little runway.

Elsewhere in East County, a new roundabout at the intersection of El Paso and Dalhart near Murray Manor in La Mesa was reported on August 8th, representing a live traffic-pattern change for drivers in that corridor. Roundabouts typically reduce severe-angle collisions once drivers adapt, but the adjustment period can be disorienting for those unfamiliar with the change.

No new developments were reported as of Monday morning on several threads the region has been watching: the Fanita Ranch development dispute, a SWAT standoff on Collinwood Drive, or the El Cajon political landscape following Gary Kendrick's withdrawal. No new court filings, arrests, or candidate actions were available to report.

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