OCEANSIDE — As students prepare to return to school next week, re-elected Oceanside Unified School District trustees Mike Blessing and Eleanor Evans are looking ahead to more facility upgrades and educational advancements over the next four years.
Evans, representing Area 2, including southern coastal and inland parts of Oceanside, won nearly 52% of the vote against former Oceanside Unified board member Emily Ortiz Wichmann. First elected in 2016, Evans now begins her third term.
Blessing, who represents Area 5 in the central and eastern inland portions of the city, defeated challenger Rosie Higuera with over 53% of the vote. First elected in 2008, Blessing has served on the board for 16 years, making him its longest-serving member.
During the election, Wichmann and Higuera criticized the school board, raising concerns about Superintendent Julie Vitale’s leadership, district finances, test scores and the state-mandated ethnic studies program.
Despite the criticism, Blessing and Evans pointed to significant progress during their tenures.
Blessing, a retired Oceanside city planning director, has enjoyed contributing his planning expertise to help improve school facilities. After his colleagues encouraged him to stick around, he sought another term.
“Over the past four to six years, we’ve been doing excellent work of achieving our goals of new facilities and refreshing existing facilities,” Blessing said. “It felt like the right thing to do.”
During his tenure, Blessing highlighted the district’s use of funds from voter-approved bond measures Prop H and Measure W, which have invested millions of taxpayer dollars in campus upgrades over the past 16 years.
Blessing looks forward to the conclusion of ongoing projects, including construction at Pablo Tac School of the Arts, modernization efforts at Jefferson Middle School, new lighting at El Camino High School and other “front porch” improvements at each district campus.
He also praised the district’s agreement with clean energy company Veregy to install solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations at all 22 schools.
Evans and Blessing credited Prop H and Measure W for enabling facility upgrades and enhanced security measures, such as installing cameras across campuses.
“They provide additional security for teachers and students,” Blessing said.
Evans said she is proud of the improvements in educational tools, including swapping outdated textbooks for tablets and other technology. She also highlighted the district’s compliance with state standards and professional development initiatives under Vitale, who became superintendent in 2017.
“(Vitale) systematically was able to provide professional development for teachers and all staff,” Evans said, noting that many teachers had not been through professional development training over the academic curriculum.
Evans also credited Vitale for reviving and expanding the district’s career technical education programs, enabling students to develop skills in technical, trade or vocational fields, such as construction, business, robotics, agriculture, arts, media and public safety.
“It would be nice if every student could leave school knowing they have a skill,” Evans said. “I want our students to thrive, not just survive.”
Blessing also praised Vitale for her work in the district over the past seven years.
“Julie Vitale was a great hire,” Blessing said.
Both trustees expressed optimism about expanding arts and music programs, securing more grant funding, and fostering partnerships with local organizations like the Oceanside Museum of Art.
“We don’t have a dedicated grant writing program, but we have staff who are seeing the benefits of writing grants,” Evans said.
Evans noted progress in addressing the district’s suspension rates, which have been high by state standards, and said the focus has shifted toward student-centered approaches.
Blessing and Evans said they are focused on continuing the work that earned them re-election.
“We’re more focused on the students now,” Evans said.
The school board holds monthly meetings, typically on the second Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Chavez Middle School. Agendas and updates are available on the district’s website.
Oceanside Unified students return from winter break on Jan. 13.
