A new academic year begins Wednesday, August 16th, and we would like to share some updates to ensure a successful start to the school year for all stakeholders.
This week, the Oxford Prep faculty from our South Orange County and Saddleback Valley campuses will come together for professional development and prepare to welcome students back to our classrooms. The shared energy and ideas generated during this valuable time together will set the stage for a great new school year filled with innovation and collaboration!
As we prepare for the first day of school, we ask that parents prioritize caution and patience to ensure that the commute to and from campus is safe for our students, as well as other drivers and the residents surrounding our schools.
follow instructions of school staff directing traffic.
Finally, as you may be aware, on July 24th, our Oxford Prep Chino Valley campus was notified that the Court of Appeal had denied our Petition for Writ of Supersedeas and lifted the temporary stay. This notice means that, pending final settlement efforts with CVUSD, our Chino Valley school will not open for the 2017-2018 school year.
As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for the families and staff so deeply affected by this news. We are grateful for the ongoing support demonstrated by our SOC and Saddleback Valley schools for our Chino Valley families and staff. We also recognize the critical role each and every Oxford Prep stakeholder plays in staying engaged, positive, and supportive as we look ahead to SOC’s five-year renewal in 2019.
In expanding opportunities for stakeholder input, we are excited to welcome our newly elected Advisory Councils to each campus this year. We anticipate Advisory Council orientation meetings will be coordinated with the new members and each campus Chancellor after school begins.
As you enjoy these final weeks of summer break, we invite you to check your campus website and calendar for important reminders regarding our updated school uniform policy, school supply lists (SOC | Saddleback), upcoming campus beautification work days, Meet Your Professor Day on Monday, August 14th, and of course, our first day of school on Wednesday, August 16th!
We are excited to announce that we have received official approval from the California Department of Education of our 2017-18 contract for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) food vendor. Revolution Foods has now been officially approved to provide NSLP services to both our Saddleback Valley and South Orange County campuses. Please look for upcoming announcements regarding meal pricing, menu options, creating an account and more.
Individual results for the 2017 California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) were mailed to Oxford families during the week of July 7th, 2017. Official school-wide results are currently under embargo by the California Department of Education and will be made publicly available in the coming months.
As part of the Prop 39 Energy Grant program, Oxford Prep SOC has submitted our Energy Expenditure Plan (EEP) to the California Department of Education. We anticipate receiving a final EEP plan from the CDE next week to review and approve. Oxford Prep will then work with our authorizing agency to plan for facility energy upgrades to our SOC campus.
As part of the election process, the Board has accepted applications from interested parties, including parents. The Nominating Committee has reviewed the applications, conducted panel interviews, and has selected three candidates for consideration for Board membership.
Three qualified candidates for the Oxford Board of Directors addressed the Board during the July 27th meeting. Each candidate had an opportunity to present their background, expertise, and interest in fulfilling the mission and vision of Oxford Preparatory Academy. The election will take place during the August 24th regular Board meeting and the new members will begin serving in their role immediately as they begin their 4-year terms.
The Board unanimously approved a Suicide Prevention Policy to specifically address the needs of high-risk groups. This policy, as mandated by Assembly Bill 2246, includes suicide awareness and prevention training for teachers, and seeks to ensure that all school employees act within the authorization and scope of their credential or license.
The Board of Directors approved a vendor bidding policy. This policy, as part of the Fiscal Policy and Procedures, sets forth guidelines and procedures for acquiring bids or estimates on certain contracts.
On June 28, 2017, Oxford Prep received a Notification of Withholding of Accreditation Status for both the Oxford Prep SOC and Chino Valley campuses from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Board discussed the notification from WASC and voted to direct staff to re-apply for SOC’s WASC accreditation status.
The Board approved a Child Abuse Policy to address the required training, procedures for reporting abuse, and Oxford’s legal responsibility and liability. In accordance with California Penal Code 11166, Oxford Preparatory Academy employees are Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse.
The Board considered and approved a Hiring Policy to outline the processes for hiring new staff and the applicable laws that are to be followed.
The Board approved the delegation of authority to the Executive Director related to early admission decisions for transitional kindergarten. Under Ed. Code section 48000(2)(B), a child who will have his/her 5th birthday after December 2 but during that same school year may be admitted to Oxford Prep’s TK program if the Executive Director determines that the admittance is in the best interests of the child. Oxford Prep’s new delegation of authority now aligns with common practices among large school districts in California and improves the efficiency of TK enrollment procedures.
The Board also approved a Student Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Device Policy to outline the rules for student possession of personal electronic devices on Oxford Prep campuses during school hours.