Deteriorating buildings, termites, mold, loose or broken tile ceilings, and rotting wood are just some of the many problems students and parents at Castle Park High School are voicing to demand action from the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD).
Castle Park High School was established in 1962 in Western Chula Vista located at 1395 Hilltop Drive. The anonymous Instagram page, "save.cp.now", began chronicling the school’s deterioration. The account uploaded its first post on May 11, showing a termite-infested window sill in the library.
“Millions and millions of dollars in bonds from the Sweetwater Union High School District to fix schools, and this is the best they can do for Castle Park High Students. Time to start holding people accountable,” the post reads.
According to Ballotpedia, the most recent bond was approved on Nov. 6, 2018, authorizing the district to issue up to $403 million in bonds to fund repairs, upgrades, safety measures, and program instruction.
An impartial analysis prepared by the office of the San Diego County Counsel said "the measure may be used by the district may be used for construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, or the acquisition or lease of rental properties for school facilities”.
“A $403 million dollar bond was approved by taxpayers in 2018. I wonder if CHP community members will ever see their tax dollars invested in their schools so our kids will want to stay at Castle Park,” reads a post on the anonymous page.
The page has been uploaded nearly every day since its initial post, bringing attention to the conditions of key facilities.
“Castle Park High students and community members deserve better. We are not fighting for the future of our children,” the account wrote in a post on May 16.
The district provided the following statement to local media about the issue:
“The Sweetwater District takes all concerns, including those about facilities very seriously. The district has dispatched its maintenance department to Castle Park High to review and take stock of the needs,” the SUHSD wrote in a statement.
According to a district spokesperson, they will “continue to identify areas and opportunities for facility improvement within the district”. As the district prepares for future facility bond sales, “it will continue to work with schools in the district, including Castle Park High School, to address areas of need,” the spokesperson said.
A community meeting is planned for June 2 beginning at 7 p.m. at Castle Park High School.
