Board of Directors Appointed to Lead San Diego Model School Development Agency
Board will oversee urban village project that provides a new school, replacement housing, open space, retail and family services

SAN DIEGO– San Diego City Schools, the City of San Diego and its Housing Authority and Redevelopment Agency have appointed six directors to the San Diego Model School Development Agency’s Board. The San Diego Model School Development Agency, originally created on June 25, 2002, as a joint powers agency, will facilitate the planning, financing and construction of the San Diego Model School in City Heights.

The San Diego Model School is an urban village project that will include: a new elementary school to alleviate classroom overcrowding; multi-family housing development; open space; joint-use recreation areas; underground parking; retail; and family services such as a health clinic and daycare.

The participating agencies have made the following appointments to the Board of Directors:

City of San Diego: Lamont Ewell, assistant city manager, City of  San Diego

Housing Authority: Sal Salas, chair, Housing Commission

Redevelopment Agency: Hank Cunningham, assistant executive director, Redevelopment Agency

San Diego City Schools: Lou Smith, chief operating officer, Facilities Management, San Diego City Schools   

                                     Gil Johnson, chair, Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee

                                     Mary Hopper, deputy chancellor, Institute for Learning, San Diego City Schools

The chief executive officer of the San Diego Housing Commission, Elizabeth C. Morris, will act as chief executive officer of the agency. In addition, the directors will appoint a resident of City Heights as the seventh director. Each director has one vote and serves a three-year term. Reappointments and replacements will be made by the appointing agencies. The participating agencies approved the appointments at Council and Board of Education meetings on Monday, Aug. 5, 2002, and Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002.

Special legislation, AB 2867, was passed Aug. 7, 2002, in a vote of 6-0 by the Senate Local Government Committee in the State Legislature. Sponsored by Assembly Member Christine Kehoe, the legislation will clarify the terms of the agency. Next steps include site selection, development of an environmental impact report, preparation of a financing plan, detailed design of the facilities and selection of a master developer.

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 San DiegoModelSchool:www.sandi.net/jpa/