Back to Class

Montecito Union School students headed back to class this week, arriving to a campus that underwent several updates over the summer. MUS superintendent Dr. Anthony Ranii sat down with us earlier this week to talk about campus upgrades, enrollment numbers, and what’s new for the 2019/20 school year. 

The day after school let out for summer vacation, crews went to work improving the north parking lot, which had several safety and accessibility issues. The lot was brought up to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and the drive aisle was extended to allow more cars to queue up for drop-off and pick-up, lessening congestion on San Ysidro Road. A new ramp and staircase was added, and the “safety refuge” area where kids get in and out of cars was also extended, adding an extra layer of safety, Dr. Ranii said. The remodel was done in an environmentally friendly way, with permeable concrete on the parking stalls and a planting area to catch rainwater runoff in order to recharge the groundwater basin. “Environmental stewardship is one of our core values, so it was important that we did these projects in an environmentally-friendly way,” Dr. Ranii said. The school added 55 staff parking spots to the vacant lot adjacent to the south parking lot, allowing for the parking of all teachers and employees. The cost to pave and stripe the lot was $15,000, compared to a previous $2.5M plan to make both lots into one large lot. 

The school also undertook two separate playground projects, demolishing and replacing the play structure on the kindergarten playground, and incorporating up-cycled and natural elements including boulders and logs that came down into the community from the 1/9 debris flow. The main playground on the terrace was also improved with the addition of a new swing set and jungle gym equipment. The area was reconfigured in order to accommodate a new pathway that allows walking and ADA access to the upper terraces; a slide built into the hill between the terraces, as well as a new ball wall, are forthcoming. 

Other projects at the school this past summer include the purchase and installation of 24 air conditioners, 24 heating systems, and new low energy light fixtures, all funded in large part from a state grant through Prop 39. “It’s now more energy efficient so we can spend more money on kids and less on energy bills,” Dr. Ranii said. 

Administrators are continually seeking ways to better secure the campus perimeter, and this summer several weak areas were shored up. New this year: visitors to campus will be required to “buzz in” to the main building; the school has an extensive camera security system in place along with an all-door locking mechanism in case of emergency. “Every year we work to make our campus as safe as it can be,” he said. 

“We’re trying very much to live within our means,” Dr. Ranii said about the campus improvements, which cost roughly $2.3M, paid for out of the school’s general fund. $200K was funded through the Montecito Union School Foundation for the upper terrace playground improvements. At this time, the school board has agreed to move forward with facility improvements that can be funded through the school’s reserves. Future plans include extensively updating the electrical and sewer systems of the kindergarten and first grade building and the main building, which will be paid for in part through a $3.5M grant from the state. “We have no plans to build a multipurpose building at this time,” Dr. Ranii said, referring to a former plan to build a large cafeteria/multipurpose building and amphitheater on campus, along with other infrastructure improvements. The plan was to be paid for by Measure Q, a $27,150,000 bond measure that was shut down by voters in 2014. The school will continue to provide lunch service through a contract with Santa Barbara Unified School District, which provides a permitted food truck to serve hot lunch. This year, the school is working on composting 100% of its food waste, in addition to having the children use reusable silverware rather than disposable; reusable plates will likely be implemented in the future. 

Montecito Union School has 360 students enrolled for this school year, showing a 9% decline in enrollment, which is also occurring statewide. “I don’t want people to think that our decline in numbers is related to the debris flow, because it’s not. Statewide, schools are showing decreased enrollment numbers,” he said. This year, 24 students from 20 families are living outside of the District, displaced due to the debris flow. In October, the school board voted to allow any students who moved out of the District following the debris flow to continue to attend the school until the end of 6th grade. “We felt that was both the graceful and responsible thing to do,” Dr. Ranii said. 

The first day of the new school year was Wednesday, August 21.