10/16/2026
Good afternoon PVSD Families,
The end of this week has been difficult and emotional for all of us. The heartbreaking tragedy in Bend, Oregon, and the challenges brought by this week's weather have weighed heavily on our school communities. As we reflect on the past several days, there is both profound sadness for a school community experiencing unimaginable loss and deep gratitude for the people who work every day to keep our children safe and supported.
This week, I joined a team of dedicated PVSD school and district office staff for the Ventura County Office of Education's School Safety Series, now in its fifth year. This ongoing professional learning brings together educational leaders, law enforcement, and other public safety partners to strengthen school emergency preparedness. Together, we learn from experts, examine emerging safety concerns, review effective practices, and strengthen the coordination that is so essential before, during, and after an emergency. I am grateful for the commitment of our PVSD team members who participate in this important work and bring their learning back to our schools.
The tragedy in Oregon is a devastating reminder of why this work matters so deeply. No child or staff member should ever have to fear for their life at school. Please take a moment to read my extended message on school safety below.
I am especially grateful for our strong partnership with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and the many law enforcement professionals who support our schools throughout the year. My sincere thanks to Commander Tennessen, Sergeant Miller, Senior Deputy Koenig, our School Resource Officer Deputy Lathrop, and all of our law enforcement partners for their expertise, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to the safety of our students, staff, and families. Their participation alongside our PVSD team in the VCOE School Safety Series is another example of the collaborative planning, learning, and preparation that strengthens our schools. Their partnership extends well beyond emergency response and is an essential part of our ongoing safety work. This week, I also appreciated the opportunity to participate in Morning with the Sheriffs at Tierra Linda, a wonderful example of the relationships our law enforcement partners build with students and families. These connections strengthen trust and help our children see the caring people behind the uniforms.
One of the best parts of my job continues to be spending time in our classrooms. This week, I visited CHSA where I had the opportunity to observe teaching and learning. These visits are always highlights of my week and wonderful reminders of why the work we do together matters so much.
I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to our families and staff for your flexibility and partnership as we navigated this week's challenging weather. Our teams monitored conditions closely, communicated throughout the week, and worked to maintain safe learning environments. PVSD's investments in emergency preparedness, including backup power supplies, emergency lighting, classroom radios, and satellite communication capabilities, help us prepare for circumstances that may interrupt normal operations.
A special shout-out to the students, staff, and families at Dos Caminos School, who continued teaching and learning despite losing power. Their flexibility, creativity, and commitment to learning under challenging circumstances deserve special recognition. I am grateful for the way the entire Dos Caminos community came together, and equally thankful for the dedication and resilience of staff and families across PVSD who continue to navigate power outages at home while ensuring teaching and learning continue in our schools.
Equipment and planning are important, but equally important are the people who put our preparations into action. Thank you to our staff for their thoughtful responses throughout the week and to our families for your patience, understanding, and partnership.
I am looking forward to the cooler temperatures and possibility of some much-needed rain in the forecast for next week. I hope the change in weather brings a welcome bit of respite for all of us.
I hope you and your families have a peaceful and restful weekend.
Please be sure to read this week's update. It was emailed home and is available in ParentSquare.
Sincerely,
Dr. Danielle Cortés
Superintendent of Schools
[email protected]
