By Brad Tobias
In September 2023, the Department of Defense Education Agency (DoDEA) awarded Oceanside Unified School District a $2 million grant.
Upon accepting this award, the district’s superintendent, board of education and executive staff applauded themselves for a job well done.
According to its website, the school district has three K-8 schools on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, providing education for 2,500 dependent pupils. Sounds good, right? Let’s take a deeper look at the criteria for the award.
Under P.L. 109-364, the Secretary of Defense may utilize designated funds to provide resources to public school districts that educate students from military families. These grants will aid military-connected schools with extra resources to improve STEM-related education for military students.
The process involves checking for eligibility, completing the application, and waiting for approval.
In short, receiving a DoDEA grant is like getting a library card; it’s a worry-free approval. Please note that the DoDEA award is taxpayer-funded. Is the district providing a satisfactory return on investment?
From an academic success standpoint, I would say “no.”
In the 2022-23 CAASSP, the base schools recorded the following results: Stuart Mesa Elementary had 43% English language proficiency and 31% math proficiency, Santa Margarita Elementary had 56% E.L. and 40% math, and North Terrace Elementary had 55% E.L. and 44 % math.
The results are a dismal failure under the standard grading scale. The sadder point is that most of the district’s schools not located on Camp Pendleton have even worse scores.
I am not blaming the certified staff members. Instead, I blame the superintendent and board, whose curriculum and policies stifle academic success. Let’s look at another factor.
Shortly before the application process began, the Oceanside Unified school board nearly unanimously voted to close and demolish Reynolds Elementary, the closest off-base school.
The school’s closure was due to structural concerns for earthquakes, whose modifications would’ve cost less than the total DoDEA grant amount. The decision also displaced hundreds of military-dependent students from trusted teachers and friends.
Trustee Eleanor Evans, up for reelection this November, boasts she was a military brat. However, she turned her back on the district’s military dependents by abstaining from her vote to save the school and promote academic success for military pupils.
Another incumbent board trustee seeking reelection, Mike Blessing, carelessly voted for demolishing Reynolds Elementary. It’s bad enough that military kids have to move so often because of their military connection. With the school shutting down, the children had to start fresh at yet another school.
On top of the academic standards and mismanaged property, there are also budgetary concerns. The district is facing mountainous issues.
In fact, on the proposed budget, the district’s budget section reports for the 2024-2025 net change in fund balance/deficit spending of $17,999,518, with similar numbers being in red for the following two school years.
Regardless, Oceanside Unified Superintendent Julie Vitale’s salary is more than $357,000 after a series of higher and higher raises. In comparison, the U.S. vice president earns $284,000 annually.
It’s safe to assume that a dismal fiscal cliff is coming soon, and likely quicker than we realize. In the same report, the district also projects losses of 470 pupils yearly.
Based on this information, should the DoDEA and taxpayers’ dollars be aligned in this partnership with the district? Again, my answer is no.
Profits are not being fulfilled as they should. But what’s the solution? Withholding future DoDEA grants? Replacing the board of trustees? A new district superintendent? While it may be drastic, I conclude the answer is all the above. The taxpayers are not benefitting from the results of the district leadership’s action.
However, the saddest part is that military children, represented by the purple ribbon, are being used for the sake of obtaining additional federal funds, most of which are grossly misused.
The Department of Defense demands perfection from its servicemembers. It should do the same for the grants it awards and results for the military children.
Brad Tobias holds an MPA degree from Liberty University. He and his wife have three children in Oceanside schools, and he is an advocate for constitutional freedoms and governmental accountability.
