An expanded K-8 option will be available at Blanche Reynolds Elementary.
At a Special Board Study Session on Mon., Dec. 2, the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education approved staff moving forward with a new secondary level program to serve students who require additional flexibility in their lives and therefore need an online based program. Additionally, the Board approved moving forward with expanding the K-8 offerings in the District to include both a midtown and east end option for families.
“In an environment of declining enrollment, the Board and District staff are working hard to offer options to serve the diverse needs of all its students. At the same time we need to attract and retain students in the District,” stated Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent.
The secondary level program is scheduled to open next Fall on the El Camino High School (ECHS) campus. Traditionally, VUSD loses more than 100 students per year to schools with the limited classroom model. A vigorous marketing effort will occur to ensure the community is clear on whom the program is intended to serve and to ensure that the existing ECHS program retains all of its excellence and remains a robust and attractive option for the students it currently serves.
The two expanded K-8 options are slated to open in the Fall of 2021. The midtown option is being planned for Blanche Reynolds Elementary and the process for determining an east end location is just beginning. The new K-8 offerings will also serve the District’s efforts to attract and retain students and families who want smaller learning communities as an option to the larger, more traditional middle school setting. A TK program already exists at Blanche Reynolds making this a TK-8 option. Waiting until the Fall of 2021 will provide the District additional time to develop program components and an educational focus, which could include thematic programs and re-branding.
“We are very excited about these new options for students,” stated Board President Sabrena Rodriguez. “VUSD listened to feedback from students, families, and staff. These new options will allow us to provide modern options for the ever-changing educational needs of our community.”
For more information, contact Hector Guerrero, Director of Educational Options at [email protected] or 805-289-1955.
