Countywide : Schools Nominated for National Award

Two Ventura County secondary schools have been nominated for a national award that recognizes innovative curriculum and instruction and parent and student involvement.

E. O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard and Oak Park High School in Agoura are two of 40 schools in California to be nominated for the Blue Ribbon awards, sponsored annually by the U. S. Department of Education.

The Oxnard school qualified this year because the federal government opened five slots in every state to “developing schools,” said Norma Carolan, a research analyst for the California Department of Education. Carolan said the five slots went to rural and inner-city schools in the state.

The developing schools had larger numbers of students on welfare and subsidized-lunch programs, as well as students who move with their migrant farm-working or military families, Carolan said.

E. O. Green Principal Deloris Carn said she hopes that the nomination will bring recognition to teachers at the junior high school.

“I can’t compliment my teachers enough,” Carn said. She said she believed that the nomination came partly for the school’s “rigid curriculum and policy for behavior” and its Quest Program, which teaches students decision-making skills.

Oak Park High School Principal Jeff Chancer, whose school was noted for its high California Assessment Program test scores, said he hoped that the nomination would help the school in its fund-raising efforts.

“People have been rapping education for not doing our job,” Chancer said. “This is going to show them that we do have a good program here.”

Last year’s round of awards went to about 200 elementary schools nationwide. Of the 36 nominated in California, Carolan said, 19 were given Blue Ribbon Awards.

The program recognizes elementary and secondary schools in alternating years.

The awards will be announced in May, Carolan said.