Thousand Oaks High School
LANCER The
Volume LIX, Issue 1 - September 26, 2024
2323 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
www.tohsthelancer.com
Local High School Publications Grill School Board Candidates
The Lancer, the Panther Prowler and the Westlake Wire arranged a panel with the 2024 school board candidates to find out what their campaigns and candidacy are all about With the desire to share student voices and understand how candidates plan to address key issues within the school community, the Panther Prowler staff provided nearby cohesive high school journalism programs with the opportunity to question the board candidates for the upcoming 2024 local school board election in their first panel of this election. Incumbents Lauren Gill and Karen Sylvester are defending their seats in Area 1 (Westlake) and Area 5 (Newbury Park). Both have served on the board since 2020 and are being challenged by Nancy Van Volkinburg in Area 1 and Frank Enderle in Area 5. A total of 13 student journalists participated in the panel, pressing the candidates on topics that will shape the experience of students and parents in the district over the next four years and beyond. Issues such as equity, inclusion, school safety and student experience took center stage as the candidates shared their visions for the future. The panelists were asked to outline their backgrounds and how their experiences influenced their desire to serve on the school board. Gill emphasized her commitment to providing all students with a safe and supported path to success. She highlighted her work in implementing programs for multilingual
ALAN KO Digital Editor
Isabelle Cipriano - Panther Prowler - with permission
FIRING QUESTIONS - Local Conejo Valley Unified School District high school journalism students gathered in Room B-9 at the Newbury Park campus on September 9, 2024 to question the candidates for the upcoming school board election. learners and expanding arts education, pointing out the district’s accomplishments such as the dual language immersion program at Conejo Academy and the recently launched Visual and
Performing Arts (VPA) strategic plan. Enderle expressed concerns about declining academic performance, particularly with test scores. He criticized the board’s handling of the
COVID-19 pandemic, stating that it negatively impacted students’ learning, and that Newbury Park High School, in particular, has not been performing to its potential. Enderle strives for more fiscal responsibility and efficiency in the district. Sylvester focused on her efforts on the board to increase diversity and inclusion. She discussed her role in creating advisory councils for LGBTQ+ and African American students, along with the initiative to diversify literature and provide representation in the curriculum. Van Volkinburg expressed a more traditional stance on education. Volkinburg focuses heavily on returning to “the basics,” such as reading, writing and math. Additionally, Volkinburg believes that the topics of sexual education and sexuality should not be taught in school. The 2024 election will be extremely significant for both local and national politics. The future of CVUSD will be at stake. Direct questions on technology, safety, curriculum and equality, all revealed significant differences between the incumbents and the opposing candidates. The candidates also met in an open forum hosted by the League of Women Voters in Ventura County at the Thousand Oaks Civic Center Scherr Forum on Sept. 16. Van Volkinburg was absent from the forum due to a previous conflict. Therefore, Sylvester was unable to participate, per forum rules.
For more candidate perspectives on issues, see page 4
New carbon dioxide monitors appear in classrooms ALYSSA KISZCZAK Digital Editor
The district moved forward this past summer to install carbon dioxide sensors per state requirements
This past summer, carbon A red light indicates over 1500 been installed, students’ and dioxide monitors were installed ppm, and teachers should notify staff’s awareness of this issue has in all district classrooms including the Maintenance Department to increased. classrooms at Thousand Oaks During any breaks, it High School. is recommended to keep doors open to decrease the In 2022, CVUSD received accumulated levels of CO2. a $2.9 million grant from the Also, placing a fan in front of California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency an open door facing a classroom (CalSHAPE) Program, to can provide more fresh air as well. improve school heating, “If CO2 is building up in a ventilation, and air conditioning classroom and we realize the systems. air system is on but CO2 levels These monitors light up Alan Ko - The Lancer one of three colors based on are rising we obviously have to make adjustments,” said the CO2 levels measured in FEAR OF RED - Senior Alex Swanson Principal Eric Bergmann. “Once the room, reading parts per reads A Doll’s House in English teacher doors are open and windows are million (ppm). A green light Kelly Abram’s classroom while the open, the amount of air we are indicates below 1000 ppm and carbon dioxide monitor blinks red. is considered to be healthy CO2 pumping to classrooms should levels. A yellow light indicates the evaluate the performance of the dissipate relatively quickly. If it’s level is between 1000 ppm and ventilation system. not, it gives us the information to 1500 ppm, this is still a safe level. Now that these monitors have go back and make adjustments.”
What’s Inside 4
Club Corner: Get invoved on campus
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Homecoming: A week in the four seasons
Heatwave tests CIF regulations New bylaws changed the ability for outdoor sports to participate in the sun during extreme heat conditions Extreme heat in Southern California is disrupting sports, causing delays and schedule changes for schools across Ventura County. With temperatures throughout September increasing to highs over 90 degrees, the Friday night lights have shone 30 minutes later than expected. Thousand Oaks High School sports have been impacted by policies issued by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Athletic practices and activities were limited or halted throughout the month. The Lancer football team rescheduled its game against Agoura on Friday, Sept. 6, from the traditional 7:00 p.m. kickoff to 7:30 p.m., corresponding to the excessive heat warning the National Weather Service issued Monday morning of Sept. 2.
ALAN KO Digital Editor
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How to T.O.: Advice for freshmen
In the Agoura game week, practices for various outdoor sports across the county were limited on Wednesday and completely paused on Thursday. Assembly Bill 1653, enacted on Jan. 1, 2024, mandated schools to have a “written emergency plan” covering situations such as extreme heat and concussions. These protocols are based on WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). CIF requires that schools use the WBGT to dictate if it is safe for athletes to participate in activities in the sun. The Conejo Valley falls under a category 1 area, meaning all athletic activity must cease if the WBGT measurement is equal to or greater than 86.2 degrees Fahrenheit. “We do our best to find alternate solutions,” Assistant Principal of Athletics Ken Nishya said.
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The Green Hole: Spirit and leaders