SAN YSIDRO — San Ysidro School District Superintendent Dr. Julio Fonseca has been appointed to serve as the Education Seat of the San Diego Regional Continuum of Care Council (RCCC), an organization that advocates to end homelessness for all individuals and families throughout the San Diego region.

Fonseca’s application for the position was unanimously accepted by the selection committee, who selected Fonseca for his commitment to and involvement in addressing homelessness in the San Ysidro School District.

“Our students cannot reach their full potential if they are exposed to the barriers associated with poverty on a day-to-day basis,” Dr. Fonseca said. “While serving as the Education Seat, my focus will remain on advocating for the students of San Ysidro, as well as for the children across the San Diego area. It is an honor to be selected as the Education Seat and I thank the committee for their support.”

The San Ysidro School District has strongly advocated for students and their families facing homelessness, representing approximately 30 percent of the District’s enrollment. Hoping to rally resources within the community as it deals with inclement weather associated with El Niño, the San Ysidro Board of Education recently declared a local state of emergency and formally requested Gov. Jerry Brown declare a state of emergency within the San Ysidro School District.

In November, the District also spearheaded an initiative titled “Project Dream” to collect blankets for SYSD students in living in foster care or homeless shelters to keep them warm during the winter months.

As a member of the RCCC Governance Board, Fonseca will research underlying issues that cause homelessness and work with fellow board members to develop strategies that address homelessness in the San Diego region.

“Dr. Fonseca has been tasked by the Board to identify effective methods to tackle poverty and homelessness head on,” SYSD Board President Marcos Diaz said. “His recent appointment to the RCCC provides an additional opportunity to create long term solutions that will positively impact the lives of our students and their families.”

Fonseca will serve as the Education Seat on the RCCC Governance Board through June 30, 2017.