Personnel commission approves expanding instructional-assistant PE classification to middle school

The Personnel Commission of the Ocean View School District approved a proposal to expand the instructional assistant physical‑education classification to include grades 4 through 8 and explicit support for a middle‑school dance program.

Dr. Jensen presented the item, saying the classification change will add rhythmic‑movement duties to support middle‑school dance and align with credentialing standards that treat dance as part of physical education. “We are proposing an update on the instructional assistant PE classification, to expand support from currently … grades 4 and 5 … to include our middle school, so it’ll be 4 through 8,” Dr. Jensen said.

Dr. Jensen told commissioners the change will strengthen VAPA programming and allow the district to use Prop 28 funds to bolster middle‑school capacity and flexibility. The proposal was presented as a response to prior public input from students who asked the board to ensure dance curriculum and programs at schools that requested them.

The discussion included procedural clarifications and context about credentialing: Dr. Jensen said a PE credential is required for teaching dance within the school system, framing the reclassification as a natural alignment with existing standards.

No formal vote was required on that presentation item beyond its inclusion on the consent calendar, and related routine personnel and classified recruitment reports were noted as available to commissioners. The next procedural step identified was implementation through human resources and alignment with existing credentialing and hiring processes.