Dear community member,
This has been a challenging week for our school community as families, educators and our law enforcement partners took in the disturbing news of a firearm and ammo found on the Aptos High campus.
While the investigation is ongoing, investigators believe it likely the firearm relates to an incident that occurred over winter break. A juvenile who does not attend Aptos High was previously arrested in connection with that incident. Some of the local reporting has been misleading on an important point: The arrest took place over winter break, not this week. For additional information, see the recent Sheriff’s Office press release.
As a former Aptos High parent and staff member, I understand and share many of the concerns that families have raised this week. Nothing is more important than the safety of our students and schools, and we have been in close communication with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office throughout the week. In particular, I want to share our gratitude for the Sheriff’s Office, which has worked tirelessly to provide elevated presence and patrols while diligently investigating this situation in an effort to ensure there is no threat to safety and provide the clarity that educators and families need.
This was also a challenging week for immigrant families in our community, who are reacting to news of an apparent ICE action in Watsonville as we continue to see violent, unprecedented actions taken by ICE agents in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
We will continue to work with the Santa Cruz County Immigration Coalition and with other partners to ensure schools remain places of learning and families have the resources they need to understand and assert their rights on and off school campuses.
In moments like these, we must anchor ourselves in what matters most: the safety, dignity, and care for our community. Let’s look to one another, stand in solidarity, and lead with the values that define us.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools