Welcome Back Staff Letter

August 2022

Dear OVSD Colleagues,

After a brief retirement, I am excited and honored to return to the Ocean View School District (OVSD) as the new Superintendent. I previously served as the Deputy Superintendent in OVSD for six years and have worked over 35 years in public education. I have already begun reacquainting myself with the District, meeting with various stakeholders, visiting classes during the Summer Education Academy, and touring school sites. As we prepare for the post pandemic era in OVSD, I pledge to focus on the needs of all our students by creating safe and nurturing learning environments in our schools, district office, and departments.
 
My immediate goal is to prepare for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. The past few years have been challenging for everyone, our students and staff, parents, and the greater Ocean View community at large. Our focus is to continue the excellent work of our classroom teachers, support staff, and administrators in providing the best educational and instructional programs that all our students so deserve.
 
Ocean View School District is an outstanding school district with extraordinary employees, engaged parents, and excellent schools. The District motto, “Where Achievement and Relationships Matter!” has been the guiding light, and I will continue to reinforce this declaration to all our stakeholders.
There have been minor changes in our Leadership Team in OVSD. The Executive Cabinet stays the same with Dr. Julianne Hoefer, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services; Keith Farrow, Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services; and Reagan Headrick, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources. We have four changes to the Leadership Team.  Isis Ortiz is the new Spring View Middle School Principal, formerly the Assistant Principal at Mesa View Middle School and Principal of the District’s Virtual Middle School Academy. Jared de Lachica is the new TOSA/Interim Assistant Principal at Spring View. We welcome Venus Moeller as the new Assistant Principal at Mesa View. Promoted from Interim Central Kitchen Coordinator, we congratulate Gail Hoeker, Operations Supervisor, Food and Nutrition Services.

The District’s Facilities Department has been busy over the summer, deep cleaning the schools in preparation for the new school year, moving Vista View Middle School out of the Interim Site and back home to their modernized middle school, and moving Star View into the Interim Site for the 2022-23 school year as their school gets reimagined and modernized. The Mesa View Middle School modernization is currently in the design stages after receiving input from the staff in June. Most importantly, work has begun to install enhanced security systems for the school office entries.
 
Educational Services coordinated the Summer Education Academy for approximately 1,200 students, including purchasing close to 20,000 incentives for students.  They also prepared the Summer Professional Advancement training series and are anxious to see the power of teachers teaching teachers.  Finally, Educational Services staff collaborated with the Purchasing Department to secure school supplies for the start of school, totaling more than 80,000 items.  
Summer is always a busy time for staffing. The Human Resources Division has been working on finalizing staff assignments to support program needs. We have hired 34 classified and certificated staff to fill vacant positions.
 
The District is committed to providing safe and healthy learning environments. We have updated staff COVID-19 protocols to align with the revised guidance from the California Department of Public Health. More information will be communicated from the Human Resources Division on staff COVID-19 protocols.

I am enthusiastic about the prospects of a wonderful 2022-2023 school year for everyone in the Ocean View School District. You are invited to attend our Kickoff Event on Friday, September 2nd, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. at the OVSD District Office field, 17200 Pinehurst Lane, Huntington Beach. *All OVSD employees will be required to attend this Districtwide event.  This will also be an opportunity to get reacquainted with your colleagues, acknowledge your commitment to OVSD, and generate enthusiasm for the new school year. The event will be held outside; participants are recommended, not required, to wear a facemask. Please sit with your school or department and be ready to display your team spirit! Your principal or supervisor will share more about our spirit competition! Immediately following, staff meetings will be held at school sites at 9:30 a.m., and details will be given to you by your principal or supervisor.

In closing, I wish you all an amazing and fulfilling 2022-2023 school year, and I look forward to visiting the campuses soon.

Regards,

Michael Conroy, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Ocean View School District
“Where Achievement and Relationships Matter!”
 
*Please note: All certificated and classified staff will be required to attend, including classified staff on 10- and 11-month work calendars.  Classified employees who are not regularly scheduled to work on this day will be compensated for their attendance on September 2nd and should make themselves available from 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Your supervisor will let you know of the specific times, locations, and information about submission of timecards.