The Superintendent's Advisory Committee recommends closing the Vista Academy of Visual/Performing Arts (VAVPA) middle school program due to declining enrollment, facility needs, and budget cuts. The rationale includes being in year 5 of program improvement, few students matriculating to Mission Vista High School, and a small number of only 300 students in grades 6-8. Next steps discussed include articulating magnet programs from elementary to high school and closing the 6-8 grade program at VAVPA as of June 30, 2013 while giving current students an extended transfer window.

1. District Magnet
Program:
Recommendations
Devin Vodicka, EdD
March 14, 2013
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2. Superintendent’s Advisory
Committee: Magnet Schools
• Purpose: The purpose of the committee is to make
recommendations to the Superintendent regarding current
and future magnet programs in VUSD.
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3. Committee Members
• Scott Sypkens, Facilitator, San Diego County • Steve Hargrave, Director, Student Services
Office of Education • Jennifer Gilstrap, Empresa Parent
• Jeanie Luckey, Deputy Superintendent • Tekoa Chilcote, Vista Academy Parent
• Donna Caperton, Assistant Supt., Business • Barbara Franklin, VTA
Services • Adalia Lavado, Olive Principal
• Joe Green, Beaumont PTA • Ron Briseno, Community Member, Vista
• Erin English, Foothill Oak Principal Chamber
• Emy Quiroz, Grapevine Parent • David Whiddon, Mission Vista HS Asst.
• Jenifer Golden, Mission Meadows Principal Principal
• Amanda Roberts, Olive Teacher • Cecilia Sawyer, Lake Teacher
• Catina Hancock, Vista Academy Principal • Sharon Scott-Gonzalez, Vista Academy Teacher
• Emily Garcia, Vista High School Student • Laura Smith, Casita Principal
• Eric Chagala, Vista High Asst Principal • Tara Biancamono, Mission Vista HS
• Jose Villarreal, Vista Magnet MS Principal • Craig Wiblemo, Mission Vista HS Principal
• Jayden Gilliam, Washington MS Student • Lisa Hoffman, CSEA
• Anna Johnston, Vista Magnet MS Parent • Steve Post, Mission Vista HS Teacher
• Ellen Crews, Washington Teacher • Gail Cerelli, Casita Teacher
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• Larry White, Executive Director, C & I

4. Meeting Dates & Location
• January 10, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library
• January 16, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library
• January 31, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library
• February 6, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library
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5. Advisory Committee Recommendation
to Superintendent
• The District Magnet Program Committee recommends to the
Superintendent the closure of the Vista Academy of
Visual/Performing Arts (VAVPA) middle school (grades 6-8)
effective at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
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6. Rationale for Recommendation
• Site-based funding has been cut in half since 1992
• Facility needs are abundant
• School is in Year 5 of Program Improvement
• Fewer students are being drawn to the school
• Very few students are matriculating to Mission Vista HS
• Current K-8 configuration is the only one out of 32 sites in the
district
• Small number of students in grades 6-8 (approximately 300)
severely limits schedule flexibility
• Vision of the school needs to be refreshed
• Current K-5 program has been more successful in integrating 6
arts across the curriculum

7. Superintendent’s Analysis
• Alignment with Framework for the Future:
• Vision, Mission, and Values
• Strategic fit with Goals
• Student achievement trends
• Enrollment patterns, Intra/Inter Transfers, and “Feeder” status
• Financial Analysis
• Facilities Impact
• Communications
• Next Steps
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8. Alignment with Framework for
Future
• Vision: Vista Unified will be the model of educational
excellence and innovation
• Goal 1: We will attract and retain more students
• Analysis:
• Magnet school concept aligns wonderfully with our
Framework for the Future
• Current VAVPA model must change in order for us to move
in the direction of our vision and to achieve our first goal.
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9. VAVPA Student Achievement
Trends
• Year 5 Program Improvement
• Academic Performance Index
Rankings (2011)
• Statewide Rank: 3 out of 10
• Similar Schools Rank: 3 out of 10
• English Language Arts proficiency has
improved since 2008
• Math and Science proficiency has
declined since 2008
• Source: California Department of
Education 9

10. Enrollment Patterns
• Source: California Department of Education
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11. Vista Academy Transfer Data
2011-12 2012-13 2013-2014*
18 7 1
Note: the transfer window
closes on March 31, 2013.
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12. Matriculation to Mission Vista
High School
• Currently there are 59 students or 5% of the total student
population at Mission Vista High School(MVHS) that have
come from Vista Academy.
• Currently there are 206 students or 17.4% of the total student
population at Mission Vista High School that have come from
Vista Magnet Middle School (VMMS).
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13. Financial Analysis
• Current Middle School enrollment of 288 students generates 9.33 Full Time
Equivalent (FTE) Teachers
• General Fund actual FTE is 11
• With categorical funds, total FTE is 14
• Net difference of 4.67 FTE
• Approximate cost of 1.0 FTE is $75,000
• Total current additional investment of $350,250
• If staffed at 9.3 teachers:
• 2 English
• 2 Math
• 2 Science
• 2 Social Studies
• 1 PE
• .3 for electives
• Conclusion: Current model is not cost effective; cost effective model is not
instructionally effective 13

14. Magnets and Budget
• Current reality is that Mission Vista High School and Vista
Magnet Middle School are budgeted to receive 15% additional
teacher FTE as a result of their unique schedules.
• Mission Vista High School draws 256 students on interdistrict
transfers as well as 100 students who live in Vista but
previously went to private schools, generating almost $2
million in revenue to offset additional costs associated with
their staffing model.
• Vista Magnet Middle is the first and only school to exceed 900
on the API and they draw 22 Students on an interdistrict
transfer.
• Small size at VAVPA middle school has required additional
investment of over $350,000 to run a comprehensive schedule
for students. 14

15. Financial Sustainability
• Superintendent recommends budgeting 15% additional FTE
for every magnet school and allowing site to redirect the
equivalent amount of funding to support their magnet
programs
• Superintendent recommends that the effectiveness of the
magnet program be re-evaluated every 3 years based on two
criteria:
1. Student achievement improvement
2. Incoming transfer rate improvement
• Magnet schools not meeting criteria for improvement would
be at risk to lose additional funding to another site based on a
competitive “grant” process 15
• Estimated net impact to budget: $860,000

16. Facilities Impact
• Current VAVPA 5th-7th grade enrollment includes:
• 12 students from Madison attendance area
• 33 students from Roosevelt attendance area
• 107 students from Rancho Minerva attendance area
• 154 students from Washington attendance area
• Vista Magnet Middle has capacity to absorb hundreds of
additional students
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17. Communications
• According to input from the Magnet Advisory Committee:
• Middle school parents are going from year-to-year, holding their
breath asking themselves is this the year the district is going to
close down the 6-8 program at VAVPA. Parents have known and
heard the rumors for a few years now. Too much uncertainty.
• The Committee needs to work on supporting the other existing
magnet schools with funding.
• Damage is being done by not having a well-rounded middle
school program – it has hindered the high school transition.
• Superintendent meetings:
• All middle school principals on 3/7
• VAVPA staff on 3/8
• VAVPA parents on 3/12
• Principal communication to all staff and families 17

18. Next Steps:
Magnet Articulation (Option 1)
Elementary Middle High School
Casita Vista
Mission
Magnet
STEM Vista STEM
STEM
Washington Mission
VAVPA Arts Arts Vista Arts
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19. Magnet Articulation: Option 2
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Casita IB Vista HS or
VMMS IB
RBV HS IB
PYP STEM MYP STEM
MYP/DP
VAVPA IB Vista HS or
Washington
RBV HS IB
PYP Arts IB MYP Arts
MYP/DP
PYP: Primary Years Programme (Grades K-5) 19
MYP: Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10)
DP: Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12)

20. Superintendent’s
Recommendations
1. Closure of the 6th-8th grade program at Vista Academy of
Visual and Performing Arts as of June 30, 2013
• Recommend that all current 5th-7th grade students/families at
VAVPA be given an extended window through April 15th, 2013, to
indicate their desired school of attendance.
• Recommend that every Middle School, including Vista Magnet
Middle School, be available for this extended transfer window.
2. Recommend that 15% FTE adjustment be budgeted 2013-14
through 2015-16 at Casita, VAVPA, VMMS, and MVHS
• Recommend that 15% FTE adjustment also be budgeted
beginning in 2014-15 for Washington Middle
3. Recommend that the Magnet Advisory Committee define
articulated magnet pathways at dual elementary, dual
middle, and dual magnet high school with targeted 20
implementation in 2014-15.