[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 170 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO 
                        UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 3, 2013

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 100th anniversary of the 
South San Francisco Unified School District in San Mateo County, 
California. This K-12 school district serves over 9,000 students in 15 
schools in South San Francisco, San Bruno and Daly City.
  As a South San Francisco native, I received my early education in 
primary and middle school at Magnolia, Spruce and Parkway from 1955-64. 
There is no question that the years in the South San Francisco school 
district molded my life.
  Today, the South San Francisco Unified School District has nine 
elementary schools, three middle schools, two comprehensive high 
schools, one continuation high school and one adult school, but its 
beginnings were very humble. In 1866, an elementary district was formed 
under the original name of San Bruno District. In 1878, a one-room 
school near the railroad station known as ``Twelve Mile House'' became 
the first school in the area. It had one teacher and three trustees. 
The first major school in the area was built around 1885. Baden Avenue 
School had four rooms, a library, a principal's office and sanitary 
arrangements outside the building.
  In 1913 the high school district was established. Four years later, 
South San Francisco High School graduated its first class of three 
proud seniors on the new campus on Spruce Avenue. The flu epidemic of 
1918 took a serious toll on the area. All schools were closed and the 
high school was converted into a soup kitchen.
  From the 1920s through 1940s, the district built several schools, 
including Martin, Magnolia and Grand Avenue Schools. Buildings were 
expanded, renamed, demolished and replaced. The district was able to 
serve its students. That changed after World War II when the post-war 
baby boom created a shortage of schools. South San Francisco's 
population doubled to almost 40,000 and 40 percent of them were under 
18. The district embarked on a massive construction project and built 
seven schools--Parkway Intermediate, El Camino High School, Ponderosa 
Elementary, Serra Vista Elementary, Monte Verde School, Foxridge 
Elementary and Skyline Elementary.
  In the 70s, Magnolia and Spruce were closed due to seismic concerns 
and Avalon and El Rancho were closed and sold. In the 80s, Southwood 
Junior High School closed and Parkway, Alta Loma and Westborough 
converted to a middle school format.
  With continuing declining enrollment, Foxridge and Serra Vista closed 
in 1992. Parts of Foxridge were leased to a childcare facility and 
Serra Vista eventually became the home of the NCP College of Nursing. 
In 2005, Hillsdale Elementary closed its doors and the facility was 
leased to Mills Montessori Schools. While the school district has 
experienced expansions and contractions over the last century, it has 
always kept the focus on quality education and lifelong learning. The 
439 teachers, Superintendent Alejandro Hogan and the Board of Trustees 
are committed to educating our future generations and to giving them 
the tools to achieve their highest potentials.
  Plato said over two millennia ago: ``The direction in which education 
starts a man will determine his future in life.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
commend the South San Francisco Unified School District for having 
started thousands of students in the right direction.

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