Oak Hills hosts VIP visitors
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

Last November, Oak Hills Elementary in Oak Park qualified as a Blue Ribbon-school nominee. Oak Hills was similarly honored once before and the students are starting to feel blue all over again after a visit last week.

Every year, the U.S. Department of Education sponsors the national Blue Ribbon schools program. For 18 years, it’s recognized elementary and secondary schools in alternating years for scholastic achievement and merit.

"The visit (last week) was for validation," said Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Marilyn Lippiatt.

Nominees were pulled from a group of 92 California Distinguished schools. California was allowed 44 nominees for consideration of Blue Ribbon-status and an additional five entries were allowed for schools with changing demographics. A total of 49 nominees representing 15 counties and 34 districts were eligible for the prestigious award in California.

After being nominated, members of Oak Hills filled out a detailed application. To be considered for a ribbon, the school must embrace the following criteria: student focus and support; school organization and culture; challenging standards and curriculum; active teaching and learning; professional community; leadership and educational vitality; school, family and community partnerships; and indications of success. Applicant schools must demonstrate sustained high achievement or substantial growth over time.

In January, a review panel in Washington, D.C. read Oak Hills’ application and selected the campus to receive the two-day visit last week by a national team to verify the accuracy of information on the application.

Lippiatt feels satisfied with the visit. All information was validated and demonstrated during the team’s visit, she said, although reaction of the team was hard to read. They said nothing.

With a total of three schools in Ventura County nominated for a Blue Ribbon, Oak Hills is the only school nominated in Oak Park. Tony Knight, principal of Oak Hills, is very excited. He said the visit last week was thorough and complete.

Special honors will be awarded to schools that have implemented outstanding programs in special education and technology. A separate panel investigates this aspect. Knight said Oak Hills did, in fact, discuss the school’s technology program.

Site visits are still taking place. Oak Hills officials won’t know the results for another four to six weeks, according to Lippiatt. Knight doesn’t expect any announcement until fall.

If the school is awarded a Blue Ribbon, administrators will be notified via letter. School representatives will then be invited to a ceremony this autumn in Washington, D.C.