Shanahan for OjaiA terrific and fun opportunity to learn about animals and have fun this summer. Moorpark College’s Learning Zoo is unique in the country. And the cost is extremely reasonable for this exciting program.
http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/news/2017-jr-safari-summer-camp
It was my privilege and pleasure to attend the VC Innovates Pathfinder Awards Luncheon and to cheer for our own two-time winner Michael Swank. His efforts at Matilija and Nordhoff schools created noteworthy and leading edge graphics programs. We are lucky to have such a fine example of dedicated teaching and learning working with our students. Michael is but one one of the great instructors working in OUSD. Congratulations and thanks for representing OUSD!!
Tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Oxnard College, see the acclaimed Seeing is Believing, a film about musician Rachel Flowers. The film is about her journey as an unsighted musician, and screens tonight at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center. Admission is free. Don’t miss this inspiring story of a local luminary.
Earlier this year, the OUSD board of education approved sending the City of Ojai, and other public agencies, a letter offering them first right of refusal to negotiate leasing the downtown Ojai property where the District administrative offices and other facilities are located. This was an action also recommended after long and intense deliberation by the resident/volunteers of the OUSD 7/11 Committee, when they voted to consider the property “surplus” due to declining enrollment.
Given the loss of revenue from declining enrollment, the District must seek financial sustainability, and the OUSD Board accepted the 9/11 Committee recommendation after several public hearings. This opened the door to considering other uses, which would be intended to contribute revenue to the school district.
When this was discussed by the OUSD Board, several members made it clear that this was a process that must include significant public input, and ideally, partnership with the City of Ojai.
Tuesday of this week, at the Ojai City Council meeting, the Council discussed whether to express interest in leasing the downtown property. In the course of the discussion, in urging the Council to respond with interest, one member stated that the OUSD’s next step is to publish a request for proposals from developers if the City didn’t express interest.
Nothing could be farther from accuracy. I am not alone in my commitment to public involvement and input in major Board decisions that affect our community. This Board has demonstrated that commitment repeatedly. It has also stated publicly that part of the process of developing a request for proposals will again include extensive public and municipal input.
Contrary to the implication made by a Council member, there is no “rush to development” by the OUSD. We take our responsibility seriously, and seek to protect both the OUSD finances, and the heritage property itself.
Introducing the California School Dashboard, your new guide to understanding your child’s education – See the announcement from Ventura County Office of Education. It’s new, not perfect, but hopefully, as it evolves it will provide important performance information.
A public preview of the Dashboard is expected to be available starting in mid-March at caschooldashboard.org, with full implementation slated for the 2017-18 school year.
If you weren’t lucky enough to catch this superb production the first time around, now you have another chance. Selected for competition at the International Thespian Festival this summer, the Nordhoff Theatre Arts Department is staging two special encore performances of Steel Magnolias to raise funds to defray the cost of participating in the festival. Get your tickets early…they’re gonna sell out, I’m sure.
Today I learned with dismay that the Trump White House has rescinded Federal Title IX rules allowing transgender youth to use the school bathroom of their gender identity. With all the problems in the world today, and with his own disorganized administration, our President still had the time to wrest away from some of our most vulnerable students the protections they deserve.
Even Education Secretary deVos, whom many say knows nothing about her new job, had the common sense to understand the potential tragedy of this shift. She initially opposed this change, but the President listened to Jeff Sessions, who wants to roll back civil rights to the 1950’s, and told Betsy to get in line. She did.
But she also pledged that the Department of Education will protect student rights, saying that the Office of Civil Rights remains committed to “investigating all claims of discrimination, bullying and harassment against those who are most vulnerable in our schools.”
Last year, the OUSD passed policies protecting transgender students, and assuring them a welcome and supportive environment at our schools. Regardless of the misguided and wrong approach of this federal administration, I remain fully committed to maintaining the protections we have put in place. All our students deserve a respectful and safe learning environment.
There are tough times ahead. We must stay strong, united, and active.
Ojai Unified School District has announced that it will close schools on Friday, February 17th, due to the heavy rain predicted. Students should enjoy the unexpected respite, while the rest of us rejoice in the rain!
Shanahan for Ojai 