VCS School Watch

01/04/2021

Happy new year, everyone.

On the website this morning: Ventura County schools reported 525 COVID cases in December alone.

Here's the breakdown for the 2020-21 school year --
August - October: 36 cases
November (when many schools returned to campus via hybrid learning): 188
December: 525

So far, Ventura County Public Health reported 749 COVID-19 cases stemming from local schools.

12/08/2020

If you (or a family member/someone you know) is a Ventura County student, The Star is looking to hear from you. How is distance or hybrid learning for you?

Let us know by taking this survey: https://forms.gle/oepoVdsGh5HBKiKZ8.

This form is being used in a story about how STUDENTS feel about distance or hybrid learning. By participating, all or part of your answers may be used in an upcoming story. Because part of your answers may be made public, please be mindful of that if you're considering sharing sensitive information...

12/07/2020

: Ventura County schools reported 188 COVID cases in November. It's important to note that several school districts including Simi Valley Unified, Conejo Unified and others reopened for hybrid learning in that time frame.

This brings the total number of cases to 224 since the beginning of the school year.

In total, local schools have reported 224 cases since the start of the 2020-21 school year.

11/20/2020

On Wednesday, Oxnard Union High School District school board voted 4-1 to appoint Tom McCoy as superintendent.

No longer interim superintendent, Tom McCoy is set to lead Oxnard Union High School District.

11/16/2020

ICYMI: Here's what moving back to the purple tier means for Ventura County schools.

Local school leaders contend with the possibility of moving back to the more restrictive purple tier and what it means for reopening.

11/03/2020

Happy Election Day, folks. The Star is providing live updates about polling locations, as well as information about voting (it's not too late to register in California), here.

Want to share your voter experience? Scroll to the bottom of the article and fill out the form, or feel free to email [email protected].
https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2020/11/03/ventura-county-election-updates-voters-line-up-cast-ballots/6076357002/

It's Election Day. Here's what we know about what's happening at the polls in Ventura County.

10/26/2020

: Here's the latest we know about reopening for local public schools.

Pleasant Valley School District is bringing back TK-K students this week.

Several school districts are waiting until 2021 to bring the majority of their students back to campus.

10/22/2020

Based on the agreement between the district + teachers union and Tuesday's town hall meeting, here are some things we know about quarter 2, and the plan for reopening in Oxnard Union High School District.

Oxnard Union students won't be back until third quarter at the earliest, which starts January. However, there are some opportunities for some students to have in-person experience (via activities/sports, tutoring, small cohorts for high-needs groups, for example).

The agreement covers COVID-19 safety, scheduling and attendance and more for the rest of the 2020-21 school year.

10/21/2020

From tonight's Conejo Valley Unified School District board of trustees meeting: Board voted 4-1, with a 'no' vote from Trustee Sandee Everett, on dates for students' return to school.

Here's the breakdown:
TK-2 = Nov. 9
Grades 3-5 = Nov. 12
Grades 6-8 = Nov. 16
Grades 9-12 = Jan. 19

The original motion with last week's proposed timeline was amended by Trustee Betsy Connolly. Story to come.

10/20/2020

Yesterday, Moorpark Unified became the first public school district locally to open its campus for hybrid learning. The Star visited Arroyo West Active Learning Academy to see how it went.

Moorpark's elementary school students returned to campuses for hybrid learning on Monday.

10/20/2020

Here's a roundup of free and ticketed COVID-safe Halloween events in Ventura County.

Looking for safe activities this Halloween season? Here are a handful of events taking place throughout the county adhering to safety protocols.

10/16/2020

Earlier this week, Ventura school board trustees voted unanimously to bring students attending district elementary, El Camino High, Pacific High and Sunset Middle schools back for hybrid in-person/remote learning by a Nov. 30 target date.

Ventura Unified School District plans to bring back small cohorts and elementary students in November.

10/16/2020

A week later, Conejo Valley Unified School District has announced a proposed return to school timeline. If the school board approves it, students in TK-12 will begin to return to school in phases.

Conejo Valley Unified School District students may return to in-person learning in phases over the next few weeks.

10/09/2020

Here's where Conejo Valley Unified School District is at on the road to reopening. Small cohorts of high-needs groups, like special education and English learner students, will be returning in the next two weeks.

A reopen date for all students is unclear, but one thing is for certain: everyone will wear masks.

Conejo Valley Unified School District is preparing for a return to school, though it's not as soon as some may like it to be.

09/30/2020

At their board meeting today, Simi Valley Unified School District trustees voted 4-1 to hold off on submitting a waiver application until Oct. 14.

This decision was made in light of the county's new COVID-19 case rate. (Remember: If we move into the red tier, which is the direction the county is headed in at the moment, schools will be able to reopen for all grade levels.)

Here's what the actual motion was:

09/29/2020

An update to this story: Moorpark Unified plans to open TK-5 schools on Oct. 19, instead of the original Oct. 5 date.

The change was made due to upcoming parent conferences under a modified class schedule, per Superintendent Kelli Hays.

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/09/28/waiver-covid-ventura-county-schools-moorpark-unified-school-district-reopen/3567100001/

Moorpark Unified School District will be the first in the county to reopen public schools for in-person learning.

09/29/2020

NEW: Conejo Valley Unified School District has applied for an elementary school waiver, right on the heels of Moorpark Unified's approval. If CVUSD is approved, the district hopes to reopen for kindergarten through sixth grade.

Additionally, Our Lady of Assumption School in Ventura now awaits state approval to reopen.

This is a map of elementary school waiver application approvals in Ventura County by Ventura County Star education reporter Shivani Patel. It is being updated weekly as Ventura County and California public health release information. If you have questions/comments, feel free to email Shivani at shiv...

09/29/2020

And here's the story.

Moorpark Unified School District will be the first in the county to reopen public schools for in-person learning. Here's what we know:

Moorpark Unified School District will be the first in the county to reopen public schools for in-person learning.