Community Update

Each year, Vista Unified School District honors classified and certificated employees and administrators for their dedication and hard work to the students of Vista Unified. An opportunity for nominations are provided to all employees including classified, certificated, and administrators to nominate their peers for a Golden Apple Award. These winners are selected each year and honored at the February board meeting. This has been a tradition with Vista Unified School District since 1983 and continues to this day. Please join us in congratulating the Golden Apple Award Winners for 2026.

This spring, students across our district will participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), California’s annual state assessment. Students in grades 3–8 and 11 will take assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and students in grades 5, 8, and 11 or 12 will also take an assessment in Science.

Testing will take place during April and May, and as the testing window approaches our schools will share additional information on testing schedules and resources. These assessments provide students with an opportunity to show what they have learned and how much they have grown over the school year. The CAASPP assessments reflect the important skills students build every day in their classrooms, including reading, writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Just as importantly, CAASPP assessments help schools understand student progress so they can continue strengthening instruction and providing the right support for every learner.

Families can help by encouraging regular attendance, healthy routines, and a positive outlook toward learning. We appreciate your partnership in supporting students as they continue to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

For more information, please view these CAASPP resources:

• Parents Guide to Understanding CAASPP Assessment

• Starting Smarter – CAASPP

• CAASPP Practice & Training Tests

As Vista Unified begins developing next year’s Blueprint and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), we are starting with what matters most: the voices of our community. Last year’s input shaped key themes that are guiding reflection and planning, and now we are asking what still matters, what needs to shift, and what we should strengthen. This process connects state priorities, district resources, and the daily learning experiences of our students. Through our Framework for the Future and the Pulse of Possibility: Pedagogy and Pathways, we remain committed to designing meaningful learning and future-ready opportunities for every learner. We invite families, staff, students, and community members to participate in sharing your voice. In this process we are also gathering input about the use of screens in school and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school.

Your voice shapes decisions.

Survey Links:

• Family Survey in English
• Family Survey in Spanish
• Staff Survey Link
• Staff Program Audit Survey

LCAP Community Forums:

• Virtual - DATE CHANGE:

• March 3, 2026; 6:00-7:30pm; Zoom (Click Here For Zoom Link)

You may examine the survey questionnaires on our district website by clicking here.

On March 11, 2026 the Board of Education will hold a workshop at 5:00 p.m. at 1234 Arcadia Ave, Vista CA, 92084. The purpose of this workshop will be to focus on district facility conditions, status of improvement projects, and options for a potential bond. You can learn more about this workshop when the agenda is posted on the Board website which can be accessed by clicking here.

CalKIDS is a statewide California program that provides scholarship savings accounts for eligible children and students to help families take an important step toward college, career training, and future opportunities. Many students may already have free money available through CalKIDS, and families can check eligibility and claim funds online. Universidad Popular, a community-based organization in North County San Diego, offers FREE enrollment support to help families check eligibility and apply at no cost.

🔗 Learn more: CalKIDS.org/OCPSC
🌐 Universidad Popular: unipopular.org

We are excited to present the fourth annual Performing Arts Under the Stars Concert Series over four days from Tuesday, April 7th to Friday, April 10th at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. This series celebrates the impressive talent and hard work of students across all grades levels from all 26 schools in our district. We will be celebrating student talent, skills, and abilities in dance, choir, band, violin, ukulele, drama, and much more. Please join us in supporting our amazing student performing artists.

We are also excited to showcase the talent and skill of our visual arts students at the fourth annual Visual Arts Under the Stars. The art pieces created by middle and high school student artists will be showcased in a professional art installation at the Vista Civic Center from April 15 to May 6, 2026. We will be hosting an official reception for the student artists on April 15, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

On February 11th, we held the inaugural San Diego North County Special Education Conference, a true reflection of collective impact. Parents, students, educators, and community partners came together to co-design and lead a day centered on inclusion, belonging, and real pathways for our students. From student MCs and performances to powerful panels and conversations, the day was grounded in lived experience and shared leadership.

We are incredibly grateful to Collective Impact Solutions (CIS), VUSEPTA, and Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM), along with all of our partners, sponsors, presenters, and volunteers who helped make this event accessible and meaningful for all. This wasn’t just a conference, it was a community coming together to build something better for our students and families. This is what true collective impact looks like.

On February 6th and 7th, we hosted our SYNC Inclusive Youth Basketball Experience, and what an incredible couple of days it was. The energy, the joy, and the sense of belonging on the court said everything. Seeing students with and without disabilities learning, playing, and building relationships alongside veteran NBA and professional players was powerful. This is what happens when we intentionally create spaces where every student belongs.

We are deeply grateful to Collective Impact Solutions (CIS), VUSEPTA, and SYNERGY, along with CEO Fred Buggs, David Wilson, and our incredible NBA veteran and professional players, Olden Polynice, Jud Buechler, Dominic McGuire, and Lamar Farr, as well as all of our partners, volunteers, and families who made this possible. This is what we set out to do, and this is what inclusion looks like.

What happens when a school district property is being considered for a change of use? How do community members have a voice in what the property might be used for? How does the Board officially hear from the community on this topic? These are common questions that come up when a Board of Education is considering what to do with a former school site or parcel of school district owned land as the Board considers some alternative uses for it.

An Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) is a legal requirement of a school District to gather community voice. This type of committee is established to explore and make recommendations on options for District owned real property that is being considered by the Board of Education. According to the law, this committee must comprise no less than seven (7) and no more than eleven (11) members with specific backgrounds and qualifications that are representative of the committee. So what is the process of setting up the AMAC to review these properties?

• Step 1: The Board Passes a Resolution for an AMAC

• Step 2: Open up applications for community members who want to participate in the AMAC

• Step 3: Review applications of potential AMAC members

• Step 4: Board of Education selects AMAC members

• Step 5: Board of Education defines the session scope of the AMAC

• Step 6: The AMAC members meet to review topics specified by the Board of Education

• Step 7: The AMAC makes recommendations to the Board of Education via an official report

• Step 8: Repeat Steps 5-7 as called upon by the Board of Education

At this time the application window is closed and the Board of Education will begin the process of selecting members. An update on the AMAC will be provided at the March 11, 2026 facility workshop of the Board of Education. The selection process for members is anticipated to happen at the regular meeting of the Board of Education in April. You can learn more about the AMAC on their website by clicking here! If you have questions about the selection and next steps, you can email Ms. Berenice Guzman at bereniceguzman@vistausd.org

STEM2Career Expo is coming up, March 25th from 5:00-7:00pm at Rancho Buena Vista High School. This free event will showcase all schools in regards to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) as well as all of our Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways. Come see what Vista Unified has to offer in regards to STEM, CTE, and Careers!

Our next Bike Edu. night is on Thursday, March 5th from 5:00-6:00pm at Vista High School. As a reminder all middle and high school students must obtain a permit to ride to school. Visit our website with the most up to date information.

Did you know you have access to all of the past Community Updates? Click here to check them out! Another way to access those is by going to our website: vistausd.org/news and clicking on Archived Community Updates.

Email: webmaster@vistausd.org
Website: vistausd.org
Location: 1234 Arcadia Avenue, Vista, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 726-2170
Twitter: @VistaBlueprint