REGION — Schools in Encinitas and Carlsbad recently celebrated milestones.
The San Dieguito Union High School District and its original high school marked their 90th anniversary, while Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas, returned to a Carlsbad elementary school to thank the students who inspired a bill to make playgrounds accessible to more children.
Assembly Bill 2241 began in 2025 as a class project at La Costa Heights Elementary School, a Carlsbad school in the Encinitas Union School District.
Teachers Natalie Christ, Sean Murphy and Katie Andan challenged their fifth graders to conduct field research and develop a legislative proposal to make playgrounds accessible to all children, according to a news release.
The students’ plan included features such as adaptive swings, sensory play structures, accessible ramps and quiet spaces.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2241 into law on Sept. 18.
The law requires the California Department of Education to create and maintain an online guide to best practices for inclusive school playgrounds. The guide must include design guidelines that address the needs of children with a range of disabilities and those in underserved communities. The law also allows the department to work with advocacy organizations and school districts to promote inclusive playground design.
“Play is recognized by human rights authorities as a fundamental right for every child and is essential for physical, social, and cognitive development for disabled and nondisabled children alike,” the bill begins.
Boerner, who introduced the bill, returned to La Costa Heights on Nov. 2 to thank the students whose project inspired the law.
“I am so proud to rejoin the former 5th-grade classes of La Costa Heights Elementary, who are now in 7th grade,” Boerner said. “It is amazing to think that two years ago, these students saw their peers with different abilities being left out on the playground, and they wanted to do something about it.
“Their hard work and dedication got AB 2241 to where it is today: signed by the Governor and set to take effect next year. I hope they remember this for the rest of their lives, and know that they have and can continue to change the world.”
Encinitas Union School District Superintendent Andrée Grey said she was proud of the students and teachers who worked on the project.
“This is an extraordinary example of what happens when we empower students to use their voices and connect their learning to the world around them,” Grey said.
90th anniversary
San Dieguito High School Academy and the San Dieguito Union High School District celebrated their 90th anniversary Oct. 29 with an event that brought together current and former members of the Mustang community.
The event included the dedication of the William A. Berrier Mustang Commons, named for a longtime educator and superintendent, according to a news release.
The high school opened on Sept. 14, 1936, with 15 faculty members and 302 students. In the school’s first year, classes took place in canvas tents while the new district planned a permanent school.
In the 2025-26 school year, 1,723 students attended the academy, according to state records.
District Superintendent Anne Staffieri said the celebration was an opportunity to recognize generations of people who helped shape education in the area.
“As we honor this legacy, we remain focused on advancing access to meaningful opportunities, fostering a sense of belonging, and helping every student achieve their potential,” Staffieri said in the release. “The next chapter of San Dieguito’s history will be defined by how well we prepare and support the students we serve today and the generations who will follow.”
