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Mesa View Middle School Modernization
August 28, 2024 was the big day at Mesa View, the grand reopening and ribbon cutting of our last middle school project to be modernized using Measure R funding. The school looks absolutely fantastic with all new interiors, labs, classrooms, lunch area, office building, band room, locker rooms, fields, play areas, and more. We thank all who were involved in making this project a success. All 800 students came outside for the ribbon cutting on their first day of school too. Thanks to the teachers for making it possible. What a monumental event. The passage of Measure R and the work that has occurred to this work completed had been a true team effort. Thank you to all who voted for the bond, worked on it, and to the residents who are financing it, we appreciate you. These school modernizations have created improved neighborhoods and stand as a testament to our community’s investment in our children and future. Go Eagles π¦ !
Marine View Middle School Modernization
OVSD hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 15, 2021 for the $26 million modernization of Marine View Middle School at 5682 Tilburg Drive in Huntington Beach. The modernization project, funded through Measure R, a general obligation bond, called for a totally re-envisioned school which required a complete overhaul of the campus. In a nod to the school’s nautical name and location in the heart of Huntington Beach, the front exterior of the school and hallways are adorned with beautiful murals of iconic images from throughout Surf City. The project scope included building a new science lab, art lab, woodshop, media center, dance studio, and kitchen. In addition, the new facilities support Marine View’s comprehensive Visual and Performing Arts program and an exciting array of electives, including Industrial Technology, 3-D Printing, Robotics, Woodshop, Art, Dance, Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Drama, Music, Guitar, Spanish, Leadership, and more.
Westmont Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy Westmont VAPA Academy underwent a beautiful transformation and modernization and opened in September 2019. The project includes: improved security measures; more parking; modernized classrooms, multi-purpose room and front office; new shade structure; and updated outdoor space. Classrooms have new, large one-way windows, adjoining glass partitions, new cabinetry, cutting-edge insulation, and improved heating and air-conditioning systems. The bright new colors are vibrant!
Oak View Gymnasium
June, 2019 Oak View Elementary School opened its new gymnasium. Funding for the gym construction came primarily from Ocean View’s settlement with Republic Services (formerly Rainbow Environmental Services). The gym has an enclosed play area, adjacent lunch shelter and a beautiful new courtyard. It will provide students, families and members of the community with a fantastic new venue.
College View Modernization
College View Elementary School's modernization occurred during the 2019-2020 school year. Modernization will included security features, modernized classrooms and front office, new bus drop-off area, expanded library, interior hallways, HVAC, with a college/university theme.
OVSD Central Kitchen
We finished the new central kitchen, a much-needed facility in Ocean View. It is located on Warner Avenue, adjacent to our Warehouse and Transportation buildings (near Lowe’s). The Food & Nutrition Services team is excited to prepare and serve thousands of fresh, healthy meals to our students from a modern kitchen. We finished completion of the kitchen in August 2019.
Safety Fencing
As you know, our voters passed a $169 million General Obligation Bond in 2016. Providing safe, secure campuses was a key campaign promise. We started the installation of Phase I of safety fencing at seven schools: Westmont, Village, Circle, Golden, Lake, Hope, and Harbour. All of these campuses are fully enclosed with one secure entrance to the school site during school hours. School office staff more easily be able to monitor visitors to our campuses and decrease the potential for unwanted intruders via the Raptor system. Having one point of entry to our schools will be a major shift in behaviors and practices in Ocean View. We have assembled a committee of staff, parents and community representatives to establish security protocols related to gates and access to our campuses, both during and after school hours. We are developing best practices for check-in and check-out, gate closure, all doors locked during the school day, buzz to enter entry systems, and weekend access for organized sports and community use, and related topics. Our goal is to establish clear, consistent safety protocols across the District, and then communicate them to all of our stakeholders.
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Ocean View Is Keeping Student Safety at the Forefront
In my roles as mother, teacher and Board President, I am always thinking about student safety. Not a single day goes by that I am not reminded about the many ways we take care of our students in the classroom, on the playground, and as they travel to and from our schools. In Ocean View, there are many programs, drills and policies in place to keep our students safe, so they can focus on their number one job – learning.
Schools and districts from across the nation recently recognized three important safety programs, National Bullying Prevention Month, the Great Shakeout and Red Ribbon Week. These programs allow our OVSD personnel to interact with students, families and community organizations to promote safety and educate students about these critical topics. Our Board of Trustees updated its policy on bullying earlier this year, and Ocean View schools are actively practicing bullying prevention throughout the year, with programs such as Where Everyone Belongs, a middle school program that enables seventh and eighth grade students to support sixth graders as they transition into middle school. Other schools celebrate with Kindness Week and Be A Buddy, Not A Bully Week. Our schools will also participate in the Great California Shakeout on October 20. Earthquake safety drills were held at our schools and District offices, so students and staff could practice what to do in an actual earthquake emergency. This year’s official Red Ribbon Week was held October 23-31, 2022. Our Board of Trustees will pass a resolution recognizing Red Ribbon Week, and schools hosted weeklong activities raising awareness about drug use prevention.
One of my highest priorities is to find ways to do what is right for our children, and this includes the maintenance of our school grounds. Since 2016, I have worked closely with District staff to focus on long-term pest prevention through approved Integrated Pest Management best practices. Ocean View is the first public institution in Huntington Beach to begin using organic pesticides and stop using Roundup. Others should follow our lead. One of my top priorities for the City of HB is to cease using toxic chemicals like Roundup on all public lands. I vow to get this done, just as I have at OVSD. It just takes leadership that doesn't take "No" for answer. I am the leader that you can count on, as my track record proves.
You may have heard educators mention Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS. We use PBIS in Ocean View as a way to support our students socially, emotionally and academically. By creating clearly defined expectations for behaviors and outcomes, students feel supported and a safe, positive learning environment is cultivated. These same strategies can be used anywhere and I hope to bring these programs to the larger community through our Community Services Department in HB.
In November 2016, our community showed its support for the Ocean View School District by passing the District's first-ever general obligation bond in the amount of $169M. As part of our school modernization priority projects, safety and security issues, like perimeter fencing and security systems, are being discussed. In fact, our Maintenance and Information Technology staff successfully installed a new Shoretel phone system in all classrooms, schools and District offices. These phones will provide an added level of safety and reliability in an emergency situation and every day. We have also installed electronic security via the Raptor System to screen all visitors to our school sites, screening for registered child molesters, and others who have no reason to be on campus.
As an added measure of safety, we always encourage families to talk openly with their children about safety. It is a good idea to discuss safe school routes if children are walking to and from our schools. Safe school routes, developed with our partners including Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminster, and the County of Orange, can be found under “Families” at www.ovsd.org. As a strong team of educators, families and community leaders, we will continue to make going to school and learning a positive, safe experience for all students!
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