Oceanside Unified School District

Clair Burgener Academy (CBA) has been chosen as a recipient of the 2018 Golden Bell Award.  This award recognizes outstanding public school programs for innovation, sustainability, and best practices that facilitate positive student outcomes. The Golden Bell Awards are sponsored by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and reflect the depth and breadth of the educational programs provided by the CBA staff and the district’s governance decisions in support of the program.

CBA serves more than 350 students through an independent study program that offers a personalized learning model for each student. This alternative learning environment allows students to customize schedules to fit their own unique needs and allows them to complete classes at an accelerated rate. The dedicated and caring staff at CBA focus on individualized support for students who may otherwise be at risk of not graduating by challenging each student to take responsibility for their own success. As students complete coursework and earn required credits they also learn invaluable social and life skills along the way.

“It is such an honor for our school community to receive this award. It represents and celebrates, the hard work and dedication that our students, teachers, and support staff put in to each day here at Clair Burgener Academy,” said, Principal Dr. Jessica Poumele.

CSBA will officially present the Golden Bell Awards at the 2018 recognition reception and ceremony on November 29, 2018 in San Francisco. CSBA is the non-profit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. With a membership of nearly 1,000 educational agencies statewide, CSBA brings together school governing boards and district and county office administrators to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state’s more than 6 million school-age children. Learn more at www.csba.org.

Oceanside Unified School District Board of Trustees Appoints Dr. Julie Vitale to Superintendent Post

Tonight, the Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) Board of Education appointed Dr. Julie Vitale as the next superintendent for the district. Dr. Vitale will begin her tenure as superintendent on July 1.  

Vitale is a lifelong champion of students and currently serves as the superintendent of Romoland School District, a nearly 4,000-student elementary school district located 22-miles south of Riverside, CA, where she increased the achievement for English
Language Learners and students living in poverty. She succeeds Dr. Duane Coleman, who will retire as of June 30.

"Dr. Vitale’s leadership and proven track record is a welcome addition to our district,” said Board of Education President Ann Corwin. “She will bring a new perspective to the district and is committed to seeing students flourish in our schools and in the community.”

With more than 26-years of experience in education, Vitale has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district administrator. Her service in education includes tenures as an assistant superintendent at Monrovia Unified as well as school site and district leadership positions at the Corona-Norco Unified School District. She is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University.

“I look forward to working with the Board of Education, district and site leaders, teachers, staff, the community, and most importantly, students and their families, on moving the district in a positive direction,” said Vitale. “I believe everyone has something to offer and it is my personal mission to engage people in meaningful and rewarding work for the good of students.”

Vitale was selected by the Board of Education by a 5 to 0 vote. Her salary will be $250,000 with benefits in the amount of $18,635 per year. Additionally, she will be eligible to receive a $7,090 stipend for earning a doctoral degree.

School District’s Commitment to Digital Citizenship Nationally Recognized

Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) kids are digital citizenship ready. At a special meeting today, for the second year in a row, OUSD was recognized as a Digital Citizenship Certified District by Common Sense, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of digital media and technology.  

The digital citizenship certification supports the district’s commitment to teaching students, educators, and parent’s tangible skills related to internet safety, protecting online reputations and personal privacy, managing online relationships, and respecting creative copyright.

"We're honored to be recognized as a Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified District," said OUSD Board of Education President Ann Corwin. "Students have never had as much access to the internet and to mobile technologies as they do today and it’s critical that they learn how to safely, ethically, and effectively use media and technology resources.”

The honor also recognizes OUSD’s commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing students to use the immense power of digital media to explore, create, connect, and learn, while limiting the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying.

“We applaud the faculty and staff of Oceanside Unified School District for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of a student’s education,” said Liz Kline, vice president, education programs for Common Sense Education. “The district deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at-large.”