Jones announces departure from BUSD

Bonsall Unified School District Superintendent David Jones has announced that he will be leaving the school district at the end of the school year.

Jones initially notified the BUSD board at the Feb. 10 board meeting, and additional remarks about approaching the end of his BUSD career were made at the March 10 board meeting. Jones has been hired elsewhere, although that entity will not be disclosed until a contract is finalized.

"It just means a lot to me that the staff and the board have been supportive of my decision," Jones said. "We have a great working relationship."

Jones opted to notify the board in February so that the process for a new superintendent can be put in place. "They can take their time to do a thorough search," Jones said. "I really wanted to make sure that I'm doing the right thing for the district and for the board."

"BUSD wishes Mr. Jones success in his next position and appreciates the early notice to do a thorough superintendent search," said BUSD Board President Larissa Anderson. "We look forward to securing another dynamic leader, one who will propel progress and encourage trust with all constituents. With change comes opportunity for Bonsall Unified School District to be an even more brilliant beacon of educational excellence in North County."

BUSD hired Jones as the district's superintendent in August 2017 to replace Justin Cunningham, who retired. Jones had been the Vallecitos School District superintendent for the previous six years.

Jones has been in the education field for 26 years. "I will be in education and making a difference for kids and for teachers and for administrators. Education is my love," he said. "I will be in it to the end."

In 1994, Jones began his education career in Minnesota as a teacher. He taught in Minnesota for seven years. His sister lives in Carlsbad, and Jones joined her in Southern California when he took a position as an assistant principal for the Orange Unified School District in Orange County.

After three years as an assistant principal he moved to Solana Beach and became the principal at Carmel Del Mar Elementary School in the Del Mar Union School District. He was the principal at Carmel Del Mar for seven years before the Vallecitos School District hired him in 2011.

Jones' son, who is now a junior at La Costa Canyon High School, is on the Mavericks' basketball team and hopes to play basketball in college at a school to be determined. "Part of my decision and next steps will support my son," Jones said. "He's ready for that next step, and this change will help me support him."