City government endeavors to create a livable environment with the help of residents, churches, non-profits, business and education institutes at all levels. In National City there is a long history of collaboration with schools to build a better, safer and more prosperous community. Our City has invested in education through a state of the art library and has partnered with the various school districts in our city to stretch scarce tax dollars.
National City has existing relationships with the National School District, Sweetwater Unified School District, Southwestern Community College, San Diego State University as well as various charter and adult schools. From safety programs to construction programs, city and school partnerships work and are key to a thriving region.
Communication between schools and cities is important as both are supported by your taxes and provide services to mutual constituencies – children, young adults and adult learners. Our City Council recently held a joint City Council and School Board meeting with the National School District to talk about emerging community issues and strengthening our partnership. We currently collaborate in after school programs, emergency preparedness, school safety and joint facilities. The latest productive partnership involves working together to make schools safer through Safe Routes to Schools which is a grant program that has brought in more than $3 million to our community. These funds have made walking and driving around schools significantly safer with signage and other state of the art safety improvements.
The Sweetwater Unified School District staff and City staff dialogue about ways to work together as well. Citizen support for the gleaming new $47 million dollar Sweetwater High School renovation project has been overwhelming. When the District wanted to christen the facility they involved our crews, as well as mayor and city council to shut down Highland Avenue so there could be a real celebration of past and present alumni and the community. Incidentally, all 7 elected officials – mayor and council, city clerk and city treasurer are graduates of the only high school in National City – Sweetwater High School. Because Sweetwater High is synonymous with National City and because it was good for the community, the City Council awarded $200,000 in Community Development Block Grants to help` renovate the athletic fields for school and resident use.
Southwestern Community College is a fixture in National City. A partnership that began in 1998 resulted in the National City Redevelopment Agency committing $11 million dollars to build Education Village with Southwestern and the San Diego County School District. This state of the art facility is located in the heart of National City and is a catalyst for current and future downtown vitality. The facility houses a multitude of activities that bring many students to National City. In addition to being necessary and a stimulus for downtown – it is also architecturally beautiful and award winning. In 2005 and 2006 the facility received three major state awards: The California Downtown Association Crystal Eagle, the Association of General Contractors of America Excellence in Building Construction and the California Redevelopment Association Award for Community Revitalization.
The Aztecs of San Diego State have a presence in National City through our Chamber of Commerce. National City has provided funding for the Business School of San Diego State to assist marketing majors get real world experience. The City council funds a marketing program that the Chamber utilizes to assist local business with marketing plans – the catch is they must use students from San Diego State to build their plans. This program has been extremely well received by the local business community.
Education has been the key to many, many success stories and it’s no different in National City for students and the community. A strong school system makes a strong city and together they make a desirable community.
Zapata is the National City city manager.
