Community Update

The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) development process is a collaborative effort aimed at aligning district funding and strategies with the needs of students and the community. It begins with extensive engagement of partners, including parents, students, educators, and community members, to review priorities and identify areas for growth. This process involves aligning district goals with both state and local priorities. This process includes the opportunity for our community to provide their input and thoughts through a series of Community Forums.

VUSD will host Community Forums, both in-person and via Zoom, to provide an inclusive platform for the community to share feedback and input for the LCAP. These forums will allow participants to discuss district goals, actions, and priorities while ensuring all voices are heard in shaping plans to support student success. The following are times and ways to contribute your voice to the process:

Survey Options:

• English

• Spanish

In Person Meeting Dates and Times:

• Feb 19, 2025 from 6:00-7:00pm at Vista Innovation Center (VIC)

• Feb 20, 2025 from 6:30-7:30pm at Breeze Hill Elementary MPR

• Mar 20, 2025 from 8:00-9:00am at Foothill Oak Elementary MPR

Virtual Meeting Dates and Times: (Zoom Link https://vistausd.zoom.us/j/94197295167)

• Feb 12, 2025 from 6:00-7:00pm

Visit our website to learn more.

The Educational Excellence and Innovation department is in communication with the San Diego County Office of Education and will be providing parent information workshops on A-G in the coming months.

Magnet School applications are still being accepted for families interested in having their student attend one of Vista Unified’s five magnet schools in the 25-26 school year. Applications and additional magnet school information can be found at the Vista Unified Magnet School Webpage. The window to apply for Mission Vista High School, VIDA, or Vista Magnet Middle School closes on Friday, February 21st at 4:30pm. The application window for Casita Center or Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts remains open through Friday, March 7th at 4:30 pm.

The District is in the process of developing the budget for the next school year and beyond. In January the Governor proposed a balanced budget that included a lower cost of living allocation increase than the rising cost of goods and general inflation. This proposal included focused funding support from the state on meal programs for students, the continuation of before and after school programs that have been established, more access to transitional kindergarten, and for community colleges a focus on career technical education. The primary concern for 80% of school districts in the state continues to be declining enrollment. For Vista Unified School District, there has been a steady decline in enrollment from the historic high of 28,000 students in 2004 to this year's enrollment of just over 18,000 students. Experts continue to predict that the District will have lower levels of enrollment in the future which will reduce funding. The next step in the budget process is the Second Interim budget report which will be presented at the regular meeting of the Board of Education on March 6, 2025.

VUSD collects student, parent, and staff input each year using the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), sponsored by the California Department of Education. This is an important survey that promotes better health and well-being among our students, improves the school learning environment, and combats problems such as drug abuse and violence. The CHKS survey results are also used to determine services and funding allocations in our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) each year.

This year, between March 10-21, 2025, students in grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 will have the opportunity to participate in the CHKS survey. Your child does not have to take the survey, participation is voluntary. Parent consent forms for student participation will be shared by our schools in the coming weeks.

VUSD parents and staff will also have the opportunity to participate in the California School Parent Survey and the California School Staff Survey. The surveys gather information on topics like developmental supports, school connectedness, school safety, student habits, and student groups. All surveys for students, staff, and parents are voluntary and anonymous. No names are recorded or attached to the survey forms or data, and results will be made available for analysis under strict confidentiality controls. You may examine the survey questionnaires on our district website by clicking here.

This April, the Vista Unified School District invites the community to celebrate the incredible talents of our students at two special events—Performing Arts Under the Stars and Visual Arts Under the Stars!

Performing Arts Under the Stars runs April 8-11 at Moonlight Amphitheatre. We invite you to

Visual Arts Under the Stars kicks off with an Opening Reception & Awards on April 16 at the Vista Civic Center. Come join us in celebrating the artistic achievements of our middle and high school students. The Opening Reception will feature an awards ceremony honoring outstanding student artwork. The exhibition will be on display from April 16 – May 7, offering the community a chance to experience the inspiring work of our young artists.

Join us in supporting and celebrating the arts in Vista—where creativity shines bright!

Email: webmaster@vistausd.org
Website: vistausd.org
Location: 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VistaBlueprint