Cody Petterson, the current board president of the San Diego Unified School District, has confirmed that he will not seek reelection next year.
This decision comes as he approaches the end of his term, leaving him with approximately a year and a half left in office.
Petterson’s announcement marks him as the only one-term board member since Marne Foster, who resigned in 2016 after pleading guilty to accepting illegal gifts.
Reflecting on his time, Petterson stated that serving on the board was an “honor,” but he struggled with the sustainability of his commitment to the role.
At the heart of his decision lies a simple mathematical consideration.
The San Diego Unified School District is vast and intricate, and Petterson reported spending between 25 and 30 hours each week on district matters.
In return for this substantial time commitment, board members receive a monthly stipend of $1,914.42.
As a single father managing his responsibilities for two children while also holding a full-time job, Petterson found the balance unmanageable.
He remarked that the profile of someone who can effectively run for a board position often includes individuals who are financially secure — such as retirees or those with spouses as primary breadwinners.
For individuals like him, the position becomes a mad dash, often leaving little room for personal balance.
Upon winning a board seat, Petterson harbored skepticism about the potential for significant change within the district, a sentiment he had expressed during his campaign.
Despite acknowledging the challenges and scandals the district faced, he takes pride in the advancements made during his tenure.
Among these achievements, he highlighted improvements in transparency toward both the media and the community, along with enhancements in student performance, discipline practices, and data collection methods for informed decision-making.
With another year and a half remaining in his term, Petterson expressed enthusiasm for continuing his work on the board, recognizing more objectives to pursue.
Looking ahead, Petterson has plans to remain in politics and is likely to run for a position on California’s Board of Equalization.
In this capacity, he would oversee various aspects of the state’s tax system, a role he has prepared for as the chief deputy for Mike Schaefer, the current board member representing southern California.
If he decides to run and succeeds, Petterson intends to focus on addressing one of California’s most pressing issues: the housing crisis.
He aims to explore sustainable revenue generation and incentivize transformative changes necessary for improving the housing production system.
Petterson warned that without effective solutions, the housing problem will continue to burden society, impacting not only his constituents but also their children’s ability to live in the community.
In a related development, San Diego Unified has recently welcomed two new student board members.
Alina Nguyen, a senior at Hoover High, and Ashley Ordaz, a rising junior from University City High, were sworn in during a recent meeting.
Despite their roles as board members, these students receive the same stipend as Petterson, yet their votes only serve as preferential rather than contributing to the final tallies.
Previous boards attempted to amend this policy, with proposals to change it coming to votes.
However, these efforts were met with rejection by the board’s majority, leading to rare non-unanimous decisions within the district.
As the San Diego Unified Board progresses, there are notable changes in other areas as well.
This week, they unanimously passed a cell phone ban, restricting students from using their devices during school hours.
In a wider context, education is reacting to significant changes in federal funding.
Currently, the Trump administration has frozen more than $6 billion in federal grants, which could severely affect local schools that depend on these funds for various programs, ranging from services for English learners to after-school care.
While Petterson looks towards future goals and the evolving landscape of school governance, the decisions made in the coming months will undoubtedly shape the educational experience for students in the San Diego Unified School District.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
