Bill Sandke, a former Coronado City councilmember, announced his plans to run for the Coronado school board, which has two four-year term seats open in the 2024 election cycle.
This week Sandke became the second candidate, after incumbent trustee Renee Cavanaugh, to issue and file documents for the Coronado Unified School District governing board, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters’ website.
As of Aug. 9, the official last day in the filing period, Cavanaugh and Sandke have been the only two candidates who have announced they are running. Coronado is among the districts identified in the Registrar’s list whose incumbents did not file candidacy documents by last Friday, extending the candidate filing deadline to Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m.
Sandke said his approach is to make sure that Coronado has a school system to be proud of.
“It’s really exciting to possibly have another opportunity to officially serve my city,” said Sandke. “It was an honor before and I’d be honored again.”
Having an active and vibrant school system with good enrollment numbers contributes not only to the vitality of the community, he said, but it also contributes to residents’ property values and the overall value of the community.
“I think a solid school system is something that Coronado has had for years and is very proud of and continues to deserve, and I think the opportunities presented by the Basic Aid funding will allow the school system to improve, and I’d like to be a part of that,” said Sandke.
Coronado Unified anticipates becoming a “basic aid” school district by the 2027-28 school year, 10 years earlier than the original 2036 projection, and local property taxes are expected to increase district revenues.
For Sandke, these opportunities include improved wages for employees, addressing facility and infrastructure issues at the schools and enriching basic curriculum and programs.
Yearslong community ties
Sandke, 60, was three when his family first moved to Coronado from Point Loma.
From that age through fifth grade, Sandke attended Crown Elementary School until the military relocated his family for several years. They eventually returned to Coronado for his senior year of high school.
In 1982, Sandke graduated from Coronado High and later graduated from UCLA in 1986 with a degree in political science.
Sandke returned to Coronado in 1989 and purchased what is now called Crown City Photography. He has also worked as the Hotel del Coronado’s resident photographer since 1999, through five different ownership groups.
Sandke served as a Coronado City Council member for two consecutive terms from 2014-2022.
“Community service is something I’ve participated in for 30 years,” said Sandke. “When I was appointed to the Planning Commission and then elected to City Council, twice, those were really rewarding to me both personally and internally in terms of giving back to a community that’s given me so much, to myself and my family, but also it was a lot of fun to do,” said Sandke.
Now the professional photographer said he looks to continue nurturing Coronado’s cohesion and fabric through leadership in a district where his own children were educated.
“I think the school system represents a place where that cohesion can be strengthened and built upon,” said Sandke. “That Coronado connection, that sense of Community is really what makes Coronado so unique.”
Focus on school
“The importance of the schools was actually very vividly told to me by my mother…I had just started running for City Council. And my mom told me, ‘Hey don’t screw up the schools’…I told my mom, ‘Well, I’m running for City Council not for the school board, but I’ll keep an eye on the schools,” added Sandke. “To a certain extent that’s always been in the back of my mind…I think it’s a nice, opportune time for me to get involved.”
Sandke said he understands the relationship between the school and the city, and the overlap between some of the facilities.
“Partnerships are hugely important in any industry, in any community. The partnership between the school system and the city is tremendously important and I look forward to making that even better going forward,” Sandke said.
