With the new year well under way, we are now focusing our attention on several major items that will impact both our short-term and long-term planning. With the Presidential campaigns heating up and California's March Primary looming ahead, much is at stake for our school district. Three propositions on the state ballot (Propositions 55, 57, and 58) will directly effect our schools. Proposition 55 is a statewide school construction bond that is designed to provide matching funds for local school districts to build and modernize schools. Our own successful Proposition O, passed in 2002, was designed to receive state matching dollars in order to complete the projects. The state funds are nearly exhausted and can only be replenished by the passage of Proposition 55. Vista Unified is slated to receive over $40 million from this bond which will go to complete our high school expansion program and other school construction projects that are planned. Propositions 57 and 58 are both tied to the Governor's budget balancing plan that must be completed in order for school districts in California to provide basic operations in the next year.

At the January 15th board meeting, the Board adopted new District goals to provide instructional support over the next two years. These goals may be reviewed in their entirety by clicking on this link. Highlights include adopting a common District calendar for all schools, increasing student achievement, improving the performance of English Language Learners, exploring ways to augment music in K-5 schools, and identifying resources to provide total employee compensation to keep pace with comparable school districts. These are just a few of the twenty-three goals adopted by the Board.

As you drive around our school district you will be able to see significant activity and progress on several construction projects. Guajome Park Academy is nearing completion of its first phase of construction as you drive north on Santa Fe Avenue near Taylor Street. A new K-5 elementary school is showing dramatic progress at the corner of Foothill and Oak Street. Artificial turf and track installations are well under way both at Vista High and Rancho Buena Vista High Schools with planned completion by May of this year. Modernization projects are underway at Monte Vista Elementary, Grapevine Elementary, Casita Elementary, and Vista High School. These are cumbersome projects that must take place while school is in session. Staff and students at these schools should be applauded for their patience through the months ahead.

We are also in the process of acquiring property for our magnet high schools project in the vicinity of Highway 76 and Melrose Avenue. After several years of analyzing the very few locations within our district large enough to accommodate 2,000 high school students, this one appears to provide the most promise. We still have several hurdles to cross and I will provide progress reports in future updates.

By the next update, I hope to be able to share more progress on the state budget and what it may mean for our schools.

Sincerely,
Dave Cowles, Ed.D.
Superintendent