New School Culture on the Rise in Santa Clarita Valley

By Teresa Todd

Old school ideals have taken us this far. Today, there's a new school culture arriving on the scene that will take our community into the future with forward-thinking opportunities and continued prosperity.

No matter how many classes offered, conferences attended, or lectures suffered through, one of this valley's treasures will always be "History of the Santa Clarita Valley" recounted by local historian and culturist, John Boston. Traversing the cityscape in search of stories and relics from our valley's past, Boston's traveling course entertains and enlightens as to what life was like in our historic town.

The most astonishing revelation gained? That in earlier day our area forefathers aspired to make the Santa Clarita Valley "pig capital of the world." Hard to believe given the cosmopolitan flavor and feel of today's city on the rise complete with all the modern amenities and creature comforts now present.

Our community has grown from its onion field roots in a way that typifies a graceful coming of age. Sprouting first-class shopping malls and high-end business centers, our town is losing the innocence of simpler times and gaining forward-thinking vision securing our future.

What does it all mean? It means comfortable homes for living, good schools for instructing, quality businesses for patronizing, and an abundance of services for caring. Santa Clarita is a place where building a strong sense of community never ends. Local leaders have made quality of life a mainstay throughout our community.

Even our own community college district has seen more than its share of change. Typical of humble beginnings, College of the Canyons began in 1969 with only 800 students. Today in its 36th year, the college serves over 14,000 students per semester. While course offerings may have been sparse in the early years, there are now classes and programs covering almost every facet of instruction. This is important not only for students pursuing higher education opportunities, but equally as important for individuals seeking vocational training, personal and professional development, or re-entering the workforce.

I am about, I swear, to get to my point. And my point is simple: Change happens and it happens with or without our help or assistance. Understanding that everyone defines success from his or her own personal perspective, I would say that, overall, change in Santa Clarita since our earlier days has been positive and encouraging. Our community is a celebrated place to live, work and play. Ideal for raising a family, it's also a place that radiates a heartwarming welcome for friends, visitors and newcomers. Philanthropy for local charitable and social welfare causes is beyond compare. It's all good, but what next?

Change is not limited to landscape, hillsides and buildings. Rather, it touches the very fabric of our culture evolving a richness of diversity among residents. Young professionals and eager newcomers discovering the area are quick to infuse their energy, talents and vision into our way of life. There's no separation of home and state in Santa Clarita. We all work together to ensure every decision made furthers our quality of life and benefits our citizenship.

While our community has seen dramatic and forceful changes throughout the years, our elected school board leadership has seen very few. One could certainly flip a coin in favor of continuity of service, but the other side of that toss is the case to be made in favor of fresh ideas, new energy and broad-based perspectives to reflect our changing population.

School board elections are about people, ideas and values. Elections are also about philosophy. Like the ripples that radiate in a pond from the toss of a pebble, I hold the philosophical belief that it begins with the individual and the essential closeness with the family unit. It is at the center of this union that our culture, religious faith, traditions and history are communicated and passed down. Schools and community have a place in the big picture, but they should serve to reinforce and expand upon what has already been established in the home.

Old school ideals have taken us this far. Today, there's a new school culture arriving on the scene that will take our community into the future with forward-thinking opportunities and continued prosperity.

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