One of San Pasqual Academy‘s best-know graduates, civil rights leader Rev. Shane Harris, is fighting to keep the unique home for foster youth open for another full year.
Harris, who is president and founder of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates, joined Supervisor Jim Desmond in a meeting on Tuesday with San Diego County child welfare officials.
“San Pasqual Academy has played a vital role in the lives of thousands of foster youths throughout San Diego County just like me,” said Harris after the meeting. “Supervisors should extend it’s closure to June 2022 to give more time to students, alumni, staff, stakeholders, county officials and state officials to guide its future with care.”
The 20-year-old academy near Escondido is the nation’s first combined residential and educational home for dependents of the Juvenile Court.
It faces a loss of state and federal funding at a time when county finances are under pressure because of the coronavirus pandemic.
