New Haven Unified Superintendent John Thompson previews mental‑health program, surveillance upgrades and bond measure in final update

John Thompson, superintendent of New Haven Unified School District, used his final Friday update of the 2023–24 school year to outline a three‑year strategic plan and several operational priorities, including a districtwide mental‑health assistance program, installation of video surveillance at every site and a planned facilities bond on the 2024 ballot.

Thompson opened the update by noting this would be his last Friday message for the 2023–24 school year and praised the district community for supporting students. He said the graduating Class of 2024 spent their freshman year in distance learning and described a student panel he convened featuring students going on to Ohlone College and Stanford, among other institutions, who shared advice about AP classes, extracurriculars and standardized testing.

As part of the new strategic plan, Thompson announced a mental‑health assistance program that "will be at all of our sites and available to all of our students who may need that assistance." He described the strategic plan as a three‑year framework for district work going forward; the superintendent’s update did not specify exact start dates beyond saying the plan will begin in July and cover upcoming school years.

Thompson also said the district will expand video surveillance systems to all sites next year, noting a system at James Logan High School has been in place for a full year. On facilities, he announced the district intends to place a bond measure on the 2024 ballot to address aging and failing buildings, saying the state "does not provide facilities funding dedicated to facilities and facility repair," and asking for community support to fund needed work.

Thompson listed program expansions across grade levels: a coding and robotics pilot at Hillview Crest Elementary School will be expanded districtwide and integrated into elementary science instruction; both middle schools added Spanish courses this year and will receive new track and field and drop‑off areas that the superintendent said will also be available to the community on weekends; the first cohort of Spanish dual‑immersion students will matriculate to middle school and already meet biliteracy competencies comparable to high‑school AP Spanish students.

At the high‑school level, Thompson described a concurrent‑enrollment program between Dakota School for Independent Study (DSIS) and James Logan High School that allowed students to take classes across both programs during the school day; he said the district will work to make concurrent options with Ohlone and Chabot colleges easier to access.

Thompson closed by recognizing Classified School Employees Week and naming Alfredo Estrada, a custodian at Yvonne Veracruz Middle School, as the district’s Classified Employee of the Year, and he directed listeners to a video profile linked in his Friday email update. He said community members should expect a summer update before the fall semester.