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Orange Unified School District, California
| Orange Unified School District |
|---|
 |
| Orange County, California |
| District details |
| Superintendent: Michael Christensen (interim) |
| # of school board members: 7 |
| Website: Link |
Orange Unified School District is a school district in California.
Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...
- Superintendent
- School board
- Elections
- Budget
- Teacher salaries
- Academic performance
- Students
- Staff
- Schools
- Contact information
Superintendent
 |
This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates. |
Michael Christensen is the interim superintendent of the Orange Unified School District. He took on the position in November 2024. Christensen previously served as superintendent of the district for six years before retiring in 2017. He also served the district as a deputy superintendent and chief business official. He also worked as a fiscal, facilities, and maintenance advisor for school districts in Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties.[1]
Past superintendents
- Ernie Gonzalez served as superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2023 to 2024. He was appointed to the position as an interim superintendent on March 2, 2023. The board appointed him full superintendent on August 17, 2023, and he resigned from the position effective November 15, 2024. Gonzalez began working for the district in 2010, starting in the human resources department before becoming an assistant superintendent in 2019.[2][3][4]
- Edward Velazquez was the interim superintendent of the Orange Unified School District. He served for six weeks from January 2023 to February 2023.[5] He previously served as superintendent of the Montebello Unified and Lynwood Unified school districts.[6]
- Gunn Marie Hansen was the superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2017 to 2023. Hansen began serving as interim superintendent in September 2017 and was appointed full superintendent in December 2017. The school board voted to terminate her contract on January 5, 2023. Hansen's previous career experience includes working as an elementary and secondary teacher, principal, and district administrator.[6][7][8]
- Michael Christensen was the superintendent of the Orange Unified School District from 2011 to 2017. Christensen's previous career experience included working as the district's director of facilities, director of administrative services, and deputy superintendent.[9]
School board
The Orange Unified School District school board consists of seven members elected by district to four-year terms.[10]
| Office | Name | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 1 | Andrea Yamasaki | 2016 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 2 | Sierra Vane | December 13, 2024 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 3 | Ana Page | December 11, 2020 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 4 | Sara Pelly | May 9, 2024 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 5 | Kris Erickson | January 1, 2019 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 6 | Matthew Thomas | December 13, 2024 |
| Orange Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 7 | Stephen Glass | May 9, 2024 |
Elections
Members of the Orange Unified School District school board are elected to four-year terms. Three or four seats are up for election on a staggered basis every even-numbered year in November.[10] Special elections to fill vacancies on the board can be scheduled outside of the general election schedule.[11]
Three seats on the board were up for general election and two seats were up for special election on November 5, 2024. Recall elections were held on March 5, 2024.[12]
Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.
Join the conversation about school board politics
Public participation in board meetings
The Orange Unified School District school board maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[13]
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[14]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $42,059,000 | $1,655 | 10% |
| Local: | $217,203,000 | $8,545 | 54% |
| State: | $140,831,000 | $5,540 | 35% |
| Total: | $400,093,000 | $15,739 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $412,950,000 | $16,245 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $339,618,000 | $13,360 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $197,617,000 | $7,774 | 48% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $50,372,000 | $1,981 | 12% |
| Administration: | $40,342,000 | $1,587 | 10% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $51,287,000 | $2,017 | 12% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $62,207,000 | $2,447 | |
| Construction: | $58,212,000 | $2,290 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $151,000 | $5 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $9,066,000 | $356 |
Teacher salaries
The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.
| Year | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024[15] | $57,232 | $136,010 |
| 2022-2023[16] | $52,148 | $123,927 |
| 2019-2020[17] | $47,990 | $111,263 |
Academic performance
Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[18]
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 39 | 70 | 11-19 | 21 | <50 | 55-59 | 44 |
| 2018-2019 | 45 | 78 | 30-34 | 29 | 30-39 | 63 | 60 |
| 2017-2018 | 43 | 75 | 30-34 | 28 | 40-49 | 60-64 | 59 |
| 2016-2017 | 40 | 74 | 30-34 | 25 | 40-49 | 50-54 | 55 |
| 2015-2016 | 41 | 76 | 30-34 | 24 | 40-49 | 55-59 | 55 |
| 2014-2015 | 38 | 71 | 20-24 | 22 | 40-49 | 45-49 | 52 |
| 2013-2014 | 66 | 85-89 | 50-59 | 52 | >=50 | 70-79 | 79 |
| 2012-2013 | 68 | 91 | 50-54 | 55 | 80-89 | 80-84 | 79 |
| 2011-2012 | 66 | 88 | 60-64 | 54 | 60-69 | 73 | 77 |
| 2010-2011 | 62 | 85 | 45-49 | 49 | 60-69 | 71 | 74 |
The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 60 | 83 | 40-49 | 45 | >=50 | 65-69 | 66 |
| 2018-2019 | 57 | 83 | 50-54 | 44 | 50-59 | 73 | 72 |
| 2017-2018 | 57 | 83 | 40-44 | 43 | 60-69 | 70-74 | 71 |
| 2016-2017 | 54 | 80 | 45-49 | 39 | 50-59 | 70-74 | 69 |
| 2015-2016 | 54 | 81 | 45-49 | 38 | 50-59 | 65-69 | 69 |
| 2014-2015 | 51 | 79 | 40-44 | 34 | 60-69 | 65-69 | 66 |
| 2013-2014 | 66 | 80-84 | 60-69 | 52 | >=50 | 70-79 | 81 |
| 2012-2013 | 66 | 88 | 60-64 | 50 | 60-69 | 80-84 | 81 |
| 2011-2012 | 67 | 86 | 60-64 | 53 | 70-79 | 81 | 82 |
| 2010-2011 | 64 | 84 | 55-59 | 49 | 60-69 | 75 | 80 |
The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:
| School year | All (%) | Asian/Pacific Islander (%) | Black (%) | Hispanic (%) | Native American (%) | Two or More Races (%) | White (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 93 | 90-94 | >=90 | 93 | >=50 | 80-89 | 93 |
| 2018-2019 | 95 | >=95 | >=90 | 94 | PS | 80-89 | 95 |
| 2017-2018 | 94 | >=95 | 80-89 | 94 | PS | 90-94 | 93 |
| 2016-2017 | 91 | 90-94 | >=90 | 91 | PS | 80-89 | 91 |
| 2015-2016 | 96 | >=95 | >=80 | 97 | >=50 | >=90 | 96 |
| 2014-2015 | 94 | >=95 | 80-89 | 93 | >=50 | >=90 | 93 |
| 2013-2014 | 93 | 97 | 80-89 | 91 | >=80 | >=90 | 93 |
| 2012-2013 | 94 | 97 | >=80 | 90 | >=80 | >=80 | 97 |
| 2011-2012 | 93 | 98 | >=90 | 90 | >=50 | >=80 | 96 |
| 2010-2011 | 91 | 97 | >=80 | 87 | >=50 | >=80 | 93 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | 24,764 | -1.7 |
| 2021-2022 | 25,178 | -1.0 |
| 2020-2021 | 25,420 | -3.3 |
| 2019-2020 | 26,265 | -0.7 |
| 2018-2019 | 26,442 | -5.6 |
| 2017-2018 | 27,915 | -2.2 |
| 2016-2017 | 28,522 | -1.3 |
| 2015-2016 | 28,899 | -2.0 |
| 2014-2015 | 29,473 | -0.9 |
| 2013-2014 | 29,750 | -0.3 |
| 2012-2013 | 29,854 | -0.9 |
| 2011-2012 | 30,136 | -0.8 |
| 2010-2011 | 30,373 | 0.5 |
| 2009-2010 | 30,210 | 0.1 |
| 2008-2009 | 30,170 | 0.1 |
| 2007-2008 | 30,127 | -0.7 |
| 2006-2007 | 30,327 | -1.9 |
| 2005-2006 | 30,901 | -1.5 |
| 2004-2005 | 31,351 | -2.2 |
| 2003-2004 | 32,032 | 0.7 |
| 2002-2003 | 31,823 | 0.4 |
| 2001-2002 | 31,689 | 1.9 |
| 2000-2001 | 31,097 | 0.8 |
| 1999-2000 | 30,858 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Orange Unified School District (%) | California K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 12.2 | 0.0 |
| Black | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Hispanic | 57.1 | 0.0 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Two or More Races | 5.1 | 0.0 |
| White | 23.9 | 0.0 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2022-2023 school year, Orange Unified School District had 990.86 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 24.99.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 0.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 89.19 |
| Elementary: | 541.43 |
| Secondary: | 360.24 |
| Total: | 990.86 |
Orange Unified School District employed 9.00 district administrators and 54.69 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 9.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 64.94 |
| School Administrators: | 54.69 |
| School Administrative Support: | 215.56 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 297.50 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 24.33 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 42.00 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 18.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 23.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 5.20 |
| Library/Media Support: | 0.00 |
| Student Support Services: | 80.60 |
| Other Support Services: | 583.37 |
Schools
Noteworthy events
2024: Recall elections remove two board of education members
Recall elections against Madison Klovstad Miner and Rick Ledesma, the Trustee Area 4 and Trustee Area 7 representatives on the Orange Unified School District Board of Education in California, were held on March 5, 2024.[12] A majority of voters cast ballots in favor of removing them from office, approving the recall.[19]
The recall effort started after the board voted 4-3 in a special meeting on January 5, 2023, to fire the district's superintendent and place the district’s assistant superintendent of education on paid leave pending a curriculum and academic audit. Ledesma and Miner voted in favor of the superintendent's firing along with John Ortega and Angie Schlueter-Rumsey. The board did not give a reason for the decision. In the same meeting, the board appointed Edward Velasquez as interim superintendent and Craig Abercrombie as assistant superintendent.[20]
Ledesma was re-elected to a four-year term on the seven-member board on November 8, 2022. He defeated two opponents with 51.5% of the vote. Miner was elected to the board in the same election, defeating incumbent Kathryn A. Moffat with 50.2% of the vote. Both Ledesma and Miner ran as part of a candidate slate in 2022 that pledged to support charter school parents and be independent of the teachers union. The other two members of the candidate slate did not win election.[21]
2016: Ballot measure implements term limits
A measure to implement term limits for members of the Orange Unified School District school board was on the ballot on June 7, 2016. The measure asked voters if board members should be limited to serving a maximum of three four-year terms.[22] Voters approved the measure with over 86% of them casting ballots in favor.[23]
The board voted 6-1 to place the measure on the ballot in March 2016. Trustee Kathy Moffat was the lone dissenting vote. She said research indicated that term limits can erase institutional memory, make board members rely on staff and outside influencers, and decide on short-term fixes rather than long-term solutions. “Having less experience is counterproductive,” Moffat said.[24]
Trustee John Ortega, who originally brought up the measure, said that 12 years was a long time. Trustee Mark Wayland said term limits would help bring new perspectives to the board and counteract incumbency advantage. “It’s easier to run, and you spend less money if you don’t have to go up against the 'I' word,” Wayland said.[24]
The following analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Orange County Counsel:
| “ |
California Education Code section 35107 allows the governing board of a school district to submit a proposal to limit the number of terms a member of its governing board can serve to voters for approval. If approved by a majority of voters voting on the measure, the measure would only apply prospectively. Presently, the Board of Education of the Orange Unified School District consists of seven members. Each Board member has a term of four years and, currently, there are no limits on the number of terms a Board member may serve. This measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of Education for the Orange Unified School District. The measure would restrict any member from serving more than three terms on the Board of Education consisting of four years each whether served consecutively or nonconsecutively. Members that have served the lifetime three term maximum allowed under this measure would not be able to serve on the Board of Education again. If the majority of the voters within the Orange Unified School District voting on the proposal vote “yes,” members of the Board of Education would be subject to a lifetime term limit of three terms consisting of four years each whether served consecutively or nonconsecutively. A “no” vote on this measure will disapprove the proposal and no term limits will be established.[25] |
” |
| —Orange County Counsel (2016)[26] | ||
Contact information
Orange Unified School District
1401 N. Handy St.
Orange, CA 92867
Phone: 714-628-4000
About school boards
Education legislation in California
Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.
See also
| California | School Board Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Orange Unified School District
- Orange Unified Education Association
- California Department of Education
- California School Boards Association
Footnotes
- ↑ Orange Unified School District, "Superintendent Christensen," accessed December 3, 2024
- ↑ The Epoch Times, "Orange Unified Appoints 2nd Acting Superintendent This Year," March 7, 2023
- ↑ The Orange County Register, "Orange Unified picks Ernie Gonzalez as new superintendent," August 23, 2023
- ↑ Spotlight Schools, "Orange Unified Superintendent Stepping Down," November 5, 2024
- ↑ Voice of OC, "The Replacement for Orange Unified’s Fired Superintendent Resigns After a Month," February 15, 2023
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ed Source, "Orange Unified's conservative majority fires superintendent with a day's notice," January 6, 2023
- ↑ OCDE Newsroom, "Orange Unified School District names interim superintendent," September 21, 2017
- ↑ OCDE Newsroom, "Orange Unified school board promotes Hansen to schools chief," December 12, 2017
- ↑ The Orange County Register, "Orange Unified names new superintendent," April 22, 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Orange Unified School District, "Board of Education Members," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Anaheim Blog, "OUSD Special Election: Yamasaki In The Mail; Salas MIA," February 8, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Orange County Register, "Recall of Orange Unified board members will be on March primary ballot," December 6, 2023
- ↑ Orange Unified School District, "Board Policies: 9323 Meeting Conduct," accessed April 15, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
- ↑ Orange Center School District, "TEACHER/NURSE SALARY MATRIX 2023-2024," accessed April 15, 2025
- ↑ Orange Unified School District, "Teacher/Nurse Salary Matrix: 2022-2023," accessed February 6, 2023
- ↑ Orange Unified School District, "Teacher/Nurse Salary Matrix: 2019-2020," accessed May 19, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
- ↑ KTLA 5, "Orange school board members recalled from office: LAT," March 15, 2024
- ↑ Orange County Register, "Orange Unified fires its superintendent despite community outcry," January 5, 2023
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Firing of an O.C. school superintendent sets the stage for a conservative agenda," January 27, 2023
- ↑ Voter's Edge, "Orange Unified School District Measure G," accessed May 27, 2016
- ↑ Orange County, "2016 Presidential Primary Election," accessed June 8, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Foothills Sentry, "Voters will decide term limits for OUSD board," accessed May 31, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Impartial Analysis Orange Unified School District Measure G," accessed May 27, 2016
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