Join us to raise the Progress Pride flag at City Hall on Thursday, June 1 at 11 a.m. Read on. Ojai Unified School District | Home "[1], Trustee Area 1 representative Phil Moncharsh, who was elected to the board in November 2022, said in January 2023 that he planned to place a performance evaluation of the superintendent on the agenda in the future. Choose wisely! The fiscal health of the district needs to have a spotlight at each board meeting. Some of these may already be clearly established and others may be defined as a result of this process. All rights reserved. OUSD school board to interview trustee candidates. Before event you can register to participate as an attendee and submit questions for the moderator to consider. Parent, business owner. So, tonight, Dr. Chandler, youre being served with notice of your recall for these reasons. David Walker of Ojai is running for Ojai Unified School District Board of Trustees, Area 1. Your email address will be used to confirm your account. Ojai's teacher union voted to approve new contract terms with Ojai Unified School District on Monday, nearly two years after its last contract expired. Design work has been funded and is underway. David Walker (top left), Phil Moncharsh (top right),PJ Garahan (bottom left), Jim Halverson (bottom right). Get full access to the Ojai Valley news and sports coverage, as well as arts and entertainment, opinions and more. I co-founded the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in 1987, was its longtime president and proudly still serve on the OVLC Board. While some families will continue to select private, the rate of private school attendance is rising while enrollment in public is dropping. Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them. Because all of the voting areas have new boundaries, therearetechnically no incumbents. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. Ojai Unified School District, California - Ballotpedia FCMAT The careful and considerate management of these funds a projects by the OUSD Board of Trustees is critical for our communitys vitality. Choose wisely! Board applications are due April 25. OJAI EDUCATION FOUNDATION | PO Box 1769, Ojai , California 93024 | www.ojaied.org OEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit benefiting students and teachers in grades K - 12 in Ojai's public schools. Upon adoption, the School District is provided with an additional 90 days to conduct public hearings prior to an ordinance ordering the transition to a By-Trustee Area Election System (Elections Code Section 10010). I realize Im just one of so many community members who have been watching and engaging with the school board decisions recently. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. 1:00 Leroy Smith, the chief civil attorney for the Ventura County government, retired Saturday. This will be the first time that the Nordhoff High School boys and girls water polo teams will have a home pool that is the. Provide Educators & Staff the Resources to Excel: Negotiate raise in compensations (at time of collective bargaining) to align our educators and staff with county averages. Enter your address to get a personalized list of candidates and ballot measures, including biographies, top priorities, who supports each candidate, and more. You havent said a single word about it. For Area 1, three candidates will be on the ballot; Alana Robinson, Phil Moncharsh and David Walker. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. I am focused on ensuring every student has the quality. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. [2][3], Philip Bagley, a parent of three students in the school district, served Chandler with the notice of intent on January 23, 2023. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email each Friday. What are the top three issues that you think are important to voters that the school board should be addressing? Click to view our latest print and archive editions. | The School Board will consider an ordinance establishing By-Trustee Area Elections, By-Trustee Area boundaries and which By-Trustee Areas will hold elections and when. The chart below details the status of 2023 recall efforts by individual school board member. Candidate Contact Info Email - arobinson133@gmail.com Ojai Unified School District Candidate for Trustee, Trustee Area 1 Next Contest Alana Robinson Mother 363 votes (22.4%) My choice Candidate has not provided information. 7:30 PM , Thursday, September 29th. I have lived in the Ojai Valley for more than 41 years and I have an abiding love for this place. Eight applicants for two open trustee positions on the Ojai Unified School District Board of Trustees will be interviewed in public by the three school board members on Wednesday, May 10, in the Chaparral Auditorium at 414 E. Ojai Ave. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email each Friday. OUSD school board to interview trustee candidates Kimberly Rivers May 9, 2023 Updated May 11, 2023 Submitted photos The eight applicants for two seats, one each in Area 2 and Area 4 on the Ojai Unified School Board of Trustees. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email each Friday. Weekly obituaries, delivered to your inbox. State legislature | In the interests of transparency and in the spirit of openness, the Board makes the following announcement: On April 6, 2023, at the meeting of the Board of Education of the Ojai Unified School District, the Board appointed Dr. Sherrill Knox as Interim Superintendent. Secure transaction. 3) Adequate parent representation: we need to make sure parents have a voice at the table. Ojai mayor and school board candidate forum - Thursday, Sept. 29 I attended Yale University on scholarship and graduated, with Honors, in 1970. You must select at least 2 candidates to compare them. Voters will see five of the six candidates for Ojai Unified School District school board on their ballot in November because one of the candidates, Atticus Reyes for Area 3, is unopposed and therefore, per state Election Code, his name will not appear on the ballot. I provide training to teachers and administrators on how to utilize our student information system more efficiently so that they may serve students more effectively. Create a password that only you will remember. It's time for a new look! Your gift purchase was successful! Working to change the perception of Ojais schools, and to keep Ojai kids enrolled in the OUSD targeted tutoring sessions, group mentorships, and big sister/ big brother programs, all to help raise performances on standardized tests and to foster overall academic and social proficiencies. Home Frequently Asked Questions | Ojai Unified School District An effort to recall Rebecca Chandler from her position as the Trustee Area 2 representative on the Ojai Unified School District Governing Board in California ended in March 2023 when Chandler resigned from the board. As of the board meeting on Oct. 12, approximately 700 OUSD families had not yet responded. View archived e-Editions of Ojai Valley News. School board takes internal pick for interim Ojai superintendent college and managed the Aquatic Center where they trained. During school hours and times of training and competition, they should have priority access to the pool and dressing rooms, which will be located on the campus. An Ojai native, Knox was the district's second choice for the job after Penelope DeLeon, former Oxnard Union High School District superintendent, withdrew on March 26, four days after being selected in a 3-2 board vote. My wife and I are active parents of three kids aged 7 and younger. Copyright 2023 Ojai Unified School District. Before event you can register to participate as an attendee and submit questions for the moderator to consider. Michelle "Shelly" Griffen School Board President Top 3 Priorities We are in the midst of the greatest upheaval to education. Interim superintendent will make $185K like her predecessor. I also believe diversity and representation are vital to any governing board as they can bring fresh ideas and perspectives, and if elected, I would be the only Latinx person as well as the only person of my generation on the school board. Best Ojai schools listed by Ojai school districts. How have other school districts responded to the threat of litigation under the CVRA?Many school districts have changed their election method, voluntarily or by court order. You can support this work with atax-deductible donation toReport for America. 2. As of Friday, July 22, no one has pulled papers for Area 1. Alana Robinson | Voter's Edge California Voter Guide I was the head coach of a youth swimming team, ages 5-18, for three summers during. If the court finds against a jurisdiction, the jurisdiction must change its election system and pay the plaintiffs attorneys, experts, and other expenses. OUSD school board to interview trustee candidates The Oxford dictionary defines subsidiarity as, the principle that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level. The reason schools are run by local districts rather than centralized bureaucracies in Sacramento or Washington, D.C., is because schools must be dynamic and responsive to the needs of their specific community. 3. Walker: I am a product of public education in the Santa Clarita Valley, and I earned my associates degree from Ventura College. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out at pjgarahan@gmail.com. Halverson: Since 1981 married to Robyn, with children Jenna (1984) and Brad (1986). Improve the current animosity that has developed between important stakeholders in our community and the board and administration of OUSD. My OUSD experiences as a student, parent, grandparent, employee, and volunteer in the district not only give me a broad knowledge base, but enhance my perspective on vital issues that currently face our community. Ojai School Board Districts 1 & 5 Candidate Forum. We should do so in an open manner, being accessible to the public, seeking input from all community members, and always striving to emphasize the collective success and achievements of all district students. The School Board adopted a resolution of intent on March 13, 2019. How to best enhance the educational experiences and outcomes for our students, How to solve the looming budgetary and fiscal issues facing our District. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. The NHS pool should be for the students first. 2023 www.vcstar.com. Subscribe today! Both seats will be on the November 2024 ballot. Your email address will be used to confirm your account. Best Ojai Schools | Ojai, CA School Ratings | Best Schools Get full access to the Ojai Valley news and sports coverage, as well as arts and entertainment, opinions and more. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. View archived e-Editions of Ojai Valley News. Walker: 1. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. This form is not only for families that may qualify for support; the district benefits from every form submitted with a potentially significant impact. However, the specific date on which a Board of Education Member will be elected from each of the new geographic areas (i.e., either in November 2020 or November 2022) will be determined as part of the ordinance that adopts the new districts. View archived e-Editions of Ojai Valley News. Tell them about Voter's Edge. Because the CVRA eliminates some of the elements that a plaintiff must prove, defending a lawsuit brought pursuant to the CVRA is more difficult to defend against than a claim under the FVRA. Garahan: 1. No candidate yet for Area 1 School Board seat - News The two trustee seats are vacant after the abrupt resignation of OUSD Vice President Shelly Griffen (Area 4) and Board President Rebecca Chandler (Area 2) on March 27 and 28, respectively. Ojai Unified School District is a school district in California. He said, "That is why her performance review is so important now. I want to see our district regain community trust. Ventura County Community College District, Pleasant Valley Elementary School District, Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District. How many School Board members will be elected?The School Board will be considering maps that include five By-Trustee Areas. Every day a student is absent for any reason costs the district $40 to $50. City of Ojai News; Stay Up To Date With Your Community. It is my sincere belief that when considering whom to vote for in an election for a local public board, THE MOST IMPORTANT factor is always the candidates background and relevant experience. For Public Records requests, please email: CPRA . 2020 General Election Candidate Forums ALL CANDIDATE FORUM VIDEOS are available on our YouTube channel, including both 'Gallery' and 'Speaker' views. It eliminates what is known as the geographically compact FVRA precondition (e.g., can a majority-minority district be drawn) as well as the totality of the circumstances or reasonableness test. Click to view our latest print and archive editions. Reach him atisaiah.murtaugh@vcstar.comor805-437-0236 and followhim on Twitter@isaiahmurtaughand@vcsschools. As part of increasing community awareness and transparency in the district, I would request that all business agenda items be removed from the consent agenda and be discussed separately. Board Members | Ojai Unified School District This project was billed to the community as being a community pool. If the community is going to be taxed on this project for the next 30 years, then we must make sure that its available for community use. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Cities | Compare Profile My choice No info provided Chiany Dri Top 3 Priorities Invalid password or account does not exist. Click to view our latest print and archive editions. Use tab to activate the candidate button. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Ojai Unified School District - Trustee, Trustee Area 5 - Voter's Edge We should not have to wait until May or June for this to happen. Here are my thoughts and ideas on the project. I would be approachable at school events where my children attend. "), The current trustees have the broad strokes covered. My expertise includes how to effectively operationalize research, educational policy, and educational theories into practice. The Ojai Valley News invited candidates to submit Op-Eds about their campaigns. How many years have you lived in Ojai? How can I help shape the By-Trustee Areas?The School Board is conducting public hearings to receive community feedback on the proposed By-Trustee Areas. Jim Halverson, M.D., of Ojai is a family physician running for Ojai Unified School District Board of Trustees, Area 5. The CVRA removes two of these factors. [5], Bagley said the superintendent "is the destabilizing force." The latest Ojai Valley, and West Ventura County news. Not every vote has to be a 5-0 decision, which isnt realistic to real world deliberations. Ojai School Board Districts 1 & 5 Candidate Forum. Area 1 is an entirely new area in the district and is located in thewestern portion of the district. And by exploring the concept of magnet school classrooms in our various elementary schools, focusing on such things as: performing and creative arts; science and technology; dual language immersion; environmental awareness; etc. It is time to determine whether the downtown District. Thursday, September 10 VIDEO CA Senate District 19 Candidates Monday, September 21 Educational Benefits Form: This can be found online (ojaiusd.org), takes less than 15 minutes, and determines state funding. There are improvements to be made in all areas. The OUSD Board has approved a 35-meter-long-by-25-yard-wide pool to be constructed on the Nordhoff campus. Board Certified Family Physician since 1985. This is the first round and includes questions aimed at getting a broad idea of the candidates perspectives on the role and function of the school board members. One challenge that has recently been before our board is the design and construction of the NHS pool. What is a community of interest?A community of interest is any distinctive area within the school district boundaries that has a definable group of people, unique geography or some other distinguishable feature or characteristic that it would be undesirable to divide in the creation of By-Trustee Areas. State and local courts | Your gift purchase was successful! Encourage candidate to share their information on Voter's Edge. Cancel anytime. In order for our district to move forward there will need to be open communication and transparency. State legislature | https://bit.ly/3qqjFf43). Ojai Unified School District 414 E. Ojai Avenue Ojai, California CA 93023 805-640-4300 805-640-4419 For Public Records requests, please email: CPRA@ojaiusd.org Schools I support that decision. For a plaintiff to be successful in a claim of violation under the FVRA relating to at-large elections, the plaintiff must show that: 1) a minority group is sufficiently large and geographically compact to form a majority of the eligible voters in a single-member district; 2) there is racially-polarized voting; and 3) there is white bloc voting (the term used by the courts reviewing such cases) sufficient usually to prevent minority voters from electing candidates of their choice. Why consider the transition to a By-Trustee Area Election System now?The School Board has decided to take advantage of recent legislation (AB 350) that provides a short window of opportunity to discuss, invite public input and ultimately decide on a district-based election process. As part of election coverage, the Ojai Valley News sent questions to all candidates. I would recommend the district conduct research on other communities that have navigated this situation and recommend a joint-use agreement model for OUSD to adopt. Other volunteer activities and support include: Student of the Month and Service Above Self Scholarships given by RCOW to Nordhoff High School since 2010, NHS Spring Musicals since 2006, co-founder of MAESTRO, (nonprofit supporting NHS Music Department), Ojai Education Foundation, the NHS Dance Department. has emerged as the board's "preferred candidate . The solutions to challenges that will face OUSD now and in the future will not please everyone. Walker: Good governance looks like humility, transparency, public deliberations, and allowing dissenting voices to be heard. Subscribe today! Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Those interested in running have until Aug. 12 to pull papers from the Ventura County Clerks office at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. The trustees will be interviewing the applicants, but will make their choices at a future meeting this month. 2. How many By-Trustee Areas will be considered? Email him for the Nov. 5 and 6 times. Introductory offer for new subscribers only. We are not, however, to become a means by which any group of parents tries to assume control over what our collective body of children learn and/or what they read or study something which the other candidate running in my area has stated is his primary reason for seeking election. I have already spent countless hours understanding the majority of issues facing OUSD and reviewing contracts, strategies, and board meetings of other successful districts in California. "[3], When she resigned from the board, Chandler said, "There are lot of people reading false information on social media and just being cruel [] I felt like it wasn't productive for me to be there any more. Are you this candidate? Atticus Reyes is automatically elected to the school board for Area 3 since he is the only candidate. Jim Halverson during his campaign for Ojai Unified School Board speaking at the forum held by the Ojai Valley Democratic Club. I would be honored to undertake the important issues facing our district and our community. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Healing begins with leaders who are able to collaborate, communicate, and commit to provide integrity-based and transparent governance., All applicants were required to complete a financial-disclosure form, as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Halverson: 1. Ojai's school board approved Cantwell's appointment in a 5-0 vote at its meeting Tuesday night. I am a true example of the American dream. The controversy that developed between the Ojai Unified School District Board of Trustees and concerned citizens surrounding the size and usage of the new pool at Nordhoff High School was one of several reasons that I chose to run for the trustee position on the Board for Area 5. The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) prohibits the use of any election system that impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election.. I believe in public education, and in a diverse and inclusive society where all people are respected and treated fairly. Photo submitted