Santa Maria Joint Union High School District announces new superintendent

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - After an eight-month search, Dr. Antonio Garcia has been chosen to lead the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District on Tuesday.

“I offer you a heart-felt thank you for this wonderful opportunity,” said Garcia during Tuesday's board meeting.

The board of education voted to hire Garcia during the regular meeting Tuesday night.

Garcia began his career as a high school teacher for the Whittier Union High School District.

Currently, he serves as Riverside Unified School District's Assistant Superintendent of Professional Growth Systems.

During the meeting, community members shared some of their thoughts about the announcement.

Juan Velasco, who graduated from Santa Maria High School hopes to see change in the school district sooner than later.

“We want to see how he impacts the community right away. We see a disconnection between our community and our school district,” Velasco said.

Mary Jacka, a grand parent of several children is hoping to see more students in the school district go to college.

“We have hope that they will implement policies, for instance ethnic and gender studies and prepare our kids to make decisions. We don't want kids to be going to prison,” Jacka said.

The new superintendent will begin his position in January 2020.