The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 7, N0. 21
OCT. 14, 2022
Bogus threats target three Vista schools
Mission Hills HS principal put on leave By Laura Place
SAN MARCOS — Mission Hills High School principal Cliff Mitchell has been placed on leave as the San Marcos Unified School District reviews a “concern” shared with administrators, district officials confirmed. According to San Marcos Unified spokesperson Amy Ventetuolo, the district was made aware of a concern on Sept. 29 and immediately placed Mitchell on MITCHELL leave the following morning. Superintendent Andy Johnsen advised the Mission Hills community of Mitchell’s leave on Tuesday, and emphasized the matter does not appear to involve any harm to a student. “The wellbeing of our students and staff remains our top priority and the district has received no information to date that would suggest that any students are or have been in harm’s way,” Johnsen said. Officials declined to share any further details, stating that personnel matters are confidential. However, Ventetuolo confirmed that law enforcement has not been involved in the matter up to this point. Mission Hills Assistant Principal Nathan Baker has taken over principal duties for the time being, Johnsen TURN TO PRINCIPAL ON 3
By City News Service
VOTE SEEKERS
VISTA — On Friday, Oct. 7, for the third time in as many days, a bogus threat of campus violence prompted heightened security measures at a Vista school. The latest of the three malicious hoaxes began playing out about 11:30 a.m., when a youthful-sounding 911 caller claimed a friend was planning to carry out a shooting at Rancho Buena Vista High School, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Administrators put the Longhorn Drive school into a “secure camps” status — a less-intensive measure than a lockdown — and searched it along with deputies, finding nothing amiss, Lt. Ryan Wisniewski said. Officials cleared the school to return to normal operations about 12:40 p.m., Wisniewski said. On Thursday morning, an anonymous caller claimed a bomb had been planted at Vista High School. Authorities put the campus on lockdown and conducted a walk-through of the grounds, finding no such device. On Wednesday, yet another unfounded threat of violence prompted heightened security and a campus search at Tri-City Christian School on Emerald Drive, sheriff’s officials reported. In each case, the perpetrator placed the hoax call via a Voice over Internet Protocol service, a type of online communications connection harder to trace back to users than more traditional phones, Wisniewski said.
San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones speaks at a candidate forum hosted by the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce at The Father’s House church on Oct. 6. Others on hand included, from left, Jay Petrek, Randy Walton and Mike Sannella. Story on 7. Photo by Laura Place
City Councils wrangle over Prop. 1 support By Laura Place and Jacqueline Covey
REGION — San Marcos City Council members and some members of the community clashed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, over a resolution urging local voters to support Proposition 1, which would codify rights to reproductive freedom in the California Constitution. Councilmembers Randy Walton and María Nuñez brought forward the resolution, which stated the city’s support for the state measure and commit-
ment to protecting reproductive freedom and urged local voters to vote yes on their ballots in November. Proposition 1 seeks to expand the right to privacy definition in the state Constitution to include the right to an abortion and to use or refuse contraception, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of landmark federal abortion protections under Roe v. Wade that had been in place for nearly half a century. “Although California law provides meaning-
ful protections for reproductive rights today, the Dobbs opinion highlights how California will no longer be able to rely on longstanding federal protections that existed under Roe,” Walton said, referring to the Dobbs v. Jackson case before the Supreme Court which ultimately led to the overturning of federal abortion protections. “All cities should take a position on laws that affect their residents.” Nuñez and Walton’s resolution was ultimately rejected by fellow council
members, who voted 3-2 to table the resolution indefinitely. They insisted that taking a stance related to abortion was outside the council’s purview. Mayor Rebecca Jones, who is running against Walton in her re-election bid this November, called the measure “divisive” and told the public it “seeks to influence your personal vote.” “The agenda item tonight does not follow our legislative platform. It is TURN TO PROP. 1 ON 6
LAURIE EDWARDS-TATE FOR PALOMAR HEALTH BOARD 2022 As a dedicated public servant I am:
3 Patient-Centered 3 Transparency Focused 3 Value Employees 3 Ethically Responsible 3 Highly Experienced 3 Fiscally Prudent Paid for by Edwards-Tate for Palomar Health Board 2022
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