WASC evaluators visit Costa

By Hanna McGuire
Executive Arts Editor

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges visited Mira Costa on April 11 to ensure that the school is continuing its self-improvement and advancing its quality of learning.

WASC is one of six regional accreditation associations in the nation, and its goal is to create the highest quality learning experience for all students. In 2009, Costa received an accreditation term of six years, the highest accreditation that a school can earn. Dr. Edward Trimis, principal of Verdugo Hills High School, and Bruce Osgood, principal of Village Christian High School, evaluated Mira Costa.

“We affirm what the school is doing and suggest improvements,” Trimis said.

Three years after receiving the previous six-year accreditation, English teacher Michael McAvin, Vice Principal Jaime Mancilla, Principal’s Secretary Heather Hoffman and Student Data Coordinator Jan Norris wrote Costa’s progress report.

“The brunt of the work fell on McAvin because he wrote the narrative,” Mancilla said. “He looked at where Costa was three years ago and what has changed.”

This year, Verdugo and Osgood not only looked at Costa’s academic achievements, but also determined whether it has fostered excellence with its teachers, environment and class variety.

“Mira Costa’s scores are up and the music program improved from three years ago,” Osgood said. “The general tone of Costa is more academically focused, with a positive climate.”

Principal Ben Dale, once a WASC chair, believes that Mira Costa has made great strides in regards to its communication and student-faculty relationships since the WASC visit three years ago.

“One of our main goals these past three years has been to improve the support for the middle student, and I think we’ve done that,” Dale said.

In their summary of significant progress, Osgood and Trimis wrote that Mira Costa has improved its development of student accountability and a school community with collaborative students and staff.

“I continue to be impressed with the fast track of our goals,” Mancilla said. “We have accomplished three-fourths of our goals, and I think we make the right decisions for Costa and our students.”

Along with giving Costa a summary of significant progress, Osgood and Trimis recommended having more staff development collaboration meetings, which would benefit both the Costa staff and students.

“Our challenge is that we are so good that getting better becomes harder,” Dale said. “Improvement is so much in the minute details and exploring ourselves to get bumped up to the next level.”