El Segundo superintendent outlines priorities after 100 days, urges narrower district goals and facilities planning

Dr. Jason Johnson, superintendent of El Segundo Unified, presented the findings of his first 100 days to the school board on Jan. 14, 2025, and outlined recommendations including a facilities master plan, a tighter set of district goals and stronger systems for academic interventions.

In a review of work completed during the initial months in the district, Johnson said the review included “student shadows,” focus groups and conversations with principals, teachers and community members. “This report includes all those voices,” he said.

Johnson highlighted student feedback that career pathways and improved school lunches were priorities. “Improving school lunch … has been at minimum in the top 3 of students,” he said, noting that free lunch expansion had greatly increased participation.

Among key findings Johnson emphasized vertical articulation — the districtwide coordination of curriculum across grade levels — and a need to better systematize interventions so students are identified, tracked, entered into and exited from support at the right times. “We can do a better job systematizing that to ensure that all students are being identified,” he said.

Johnson described his approach as a “water the plant job,” aimed at strengthening existing work rather than sweeping changes. He said the district will build on current goals from 2020–24 rather than discard them and urged the board to narrow priorities so objectives and accountability are clearer.

On facilities, Johnson praised the recently passed bond and said many district buildings are over a century old. He recommended updating a long-range facilities master plan to prepare district campuses for the 2030s and to align spaces — for example, science and engineering labs — with evolving instructional needs.

Johnson also previewed expanded internship and career-pathway experiences to be announced in February and asked the board to use an upcoming Jan. 22 workshop to refine priorities. The board workshop will run Jan. 22 and the board will begin selecting narrower focuses on Feb. 11, he said.

Board members responded with support for the emphasis on student voice and for bringing representatives from each school to the Jan. 22 workshop. Board President Glenn thanked staff and called participation from students and principals an important part of the planning process.

Looking ahead, Johnson recommended the board continue reviewing goals with an eye toward clear objectives and implementation steps to measure progress.