Governor’s order puts private schools in a pinch

Some are seeking path to reopen sooner



PREP WORK—Chase Hershman of Thousand Oaks clears overgrown bushes at the new Hillcrest Christian School campus (formerly Pinecrest School) on Wilbur Road in T.O. Hershman is an HCS alumni and son of Hillcrest board of directors president Tony Hershman. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

For Hillcrest Christian School in Thousand Oaks, word that Ventura County campuses would be required to begin the school year without students in the classroom came at an inopportune time.

After years searching for a larger location, the K-12 school just completed its purchase of the former Pinecrest School campus on Wilbur Road, a deal made possible by the sale of $25 million in bonds.

Misty Ochoa, Hillcrest Christian’s director of development, said school officials received the keys to the new campus at the end of June.

“It’s huge. We kind of came across some struggles and hardship but God worked every one of them out,” she said. “It’s been pretty miraculous.”

HCS is banking on another miracle.

When asked about fall plans, Ochoa said the school was still moving ahead with the intention of welcoming students in person, though they have contingencies in place if they can’t make that happen. Staff spent the summer preparing the new classrooms according to standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so students could resume in-person instruction safely.

SPRUCING UP—A group of girls from the incoming freshman class at Hillcrest Christian School volunteer to clear overgrown landscaping on July 20. The school is hoping to find a way to reopen in August. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

“We are moving full-steam ahead,” Ochoa said July 28. “We are very optimistic.”

The administrator declined to share details on why she was optimistic the campus would reopen, but she did say that there has been a significant increase in interest from potential families this year, having conducted over 80 applicant interviews over the past two weeks. That’s a welcome development as the new campus is three times larger than its last location.

“For us, the sky’s the limit as far as the opportunity for growing,” she said. “It’s a huge blessing despite all this uncertainty.”

Private schools across the Conejo Valley had to pause plans for on-campus instruction this fall after Gov. Gavin Newsom said July 17 that schools—public and private—in counties on California’s COVID-19 watchlist, including Los Angeles and Ventura counties, would be required to open via remote learning.

Even after public school districts announced remote learning for the fall, many private schools had planned to resume in-person instruction with social distancing and other safety protocols in place because lower enrollments made it possible to do so.

A photo shows how La Reina intends to set up its socially distanced classrooms. Courtesy of La Reina

La Reina High School and Middle School on Janss Road in Thousand Oaks was among them, but as Ventura County’s COVID stats have worsened, the Catholic 6-12 girls’ school has since pivoted and now will offer online instruction.

Principal Maggie Marschner said the school has adjusted its instructional schedule since last spring to minimize and make meaningful use of screen time. Fall classes will include time set aside for social-emotional learning and community building.

She said there will be a particular focus on making sure that new students make connections and feel like they belong.

“You learn better when you feel safe and when you feel connected and when you feel happy,” she said. “La Reina is known for its academics. I want to make sure there’s that community piece that happens in those little interactions with your teachers and peers.”

Karen Starleaf, LR’s director of advancement and communications, said the school’s online learning program has become an attractive option for parents. She said enrollment is already up for the 2020-21 school year and they are still accepting applications.

Across the county line at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Head of School Rob Black told parents in a July 23 email that the campus would begin the year online only. The announcement came after “$4 million in changes to our campus infrastructure, facilities, additional staffing, protocols and practices” in order to welcome students back safely.

Going remote was not the school’s first choice.

On the day of Newsom’s order, Black told families the school still intended to offer in-person instruction because it met all the governor’s principles for reopening except for being in a county on the COVID monitoring list.

In an email to the Acorn on Monday, Black said the 5-12 school was “still exploring and pursuing potential remedies.” In his July 23 email to parents, Black said OC was looking into the state’s elementary school waiver program for its fifth and sixth graders.

Waivers

According to a footnote in a five-page guidance document on reopening schools published July 17 by the California Department of Public Health, education officials can apply for a waiver to resume in-person instruction if their county is on the watchlist.

“A waiver may only be granted if one is requested by the superintendent (or equivalent for charter or private schools), in consultation with labor, parent and community organizations. Local health officers must review local community epidemiological data, consider other public health interventions, and consult with CDPH when considering a waiver request,” the footnote reads.

Ochoa said Hillcrest Christian would be requesting a similar waiver.

Reached Wednesday, county spokesperson Ashley Bautista said Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin is not accepting any waiver requests at this time.

“Once the numbers go down and there is further state guidance, public health will provide further information on schools,” Bautista said in an email.