California's Stay-At-Home-Order We wish this was an April Fool’s Day prank, but it is not. Regretfully, please see the message below regarding school closure for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. April 1, 2020 Dear Ballard School Community, Today, Governor Newsom announced his expectation that all school districts in California continue with distance learning through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This means that while school campuses will be closed, distance learning will continue. While we understand this poses serious hardships to many families, it is the most effective way to slow the transmission of this pandemic and do our part by continuing to implement social distancing practices. We at Ballard School are following the guidance from the California Department of Education and are working collaboratively with all schools within Santa Barbara County to best serve our school communities. Although school buildings will not reopen this year, learning and school will still be in session. We recognize that the situation is not ideal, but we are working hard to ensure your child's success. We will continue distance learning plans and services the remainder of this week and when we return on April 14th after Spring Break. I am proud of our school community and am deeply grateful to you, our students, families, teachers, and staff for your flexibility and efforts during this unprecedented time. We appreciate the tremendous resilience you’ve shown throughout the COVID-19 closures. We’ll continue to update you with information as it becomes available. Please continue to follow advisements from the Public Health Department regarding physical distancing and sheltering-in-place as we work together during this crisis. The school grounds and play structures will be closed to gatherings and group activities until further notice. I know we are all looking forward to the next time the Red Schoolhouse bell rings signaling the beginning of another fantastic day at Ballard School! Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Allan Pelletier Superintendent/Principal

2016 California Gold Ribbon School! 2014 California Distinguished School!

Unless otherwise announced, the next regular Board meeting is scheduled take place on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM in the Ballard School Library. (This meeting may be rescheduled depending on the status of California's Stay-At-Home order.) The agenda for the meetings will be available on the school bulletin board and this website ('Best of Ballard'). The meetings will be held in the Ballard School Library.

Enrollment: 143 students Telephone: 805-688-4812 Fax: 805-688-7325 2425 School Street Solvang, CA 93463 Superintendent/Principal: Allan Pelletier apelletier@ballardschool.org (You may also click on the word 'email' to your right.) Administrative Assistant: Gina Floyd gfloyd@sbceo.org Board of Trustees - Chris Kazali (President) - Tracey Cassidy (Clerk) - Rick Jacobs

"The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark." ~Barbara Hall

For Student and School Safety... We do not list off campus student events, including field trips, on this page. Please call the school office (688-4812) with questions. At this time all Santa Barbara County Schools, including Ballard School, will remain closed until further notice from the Governor’s office and the state and local Departments of Public Health. You may find the documents listed below (and many more) under the 'Best of Ballard' tab. - 2019/2020 School Calendar - School Board Meeting Agenda: 5/21/20 - School Board Meeting Agenda: 3/18/20 - School Board Meeting Minutes: 1/16/2020

You can find a school district boundary map, monthly calendars, board meeting agendas and minutes, and more in the 'Best of Ballard' section of this website. Others... - 2018/2019 School Calendar ('Calendar' or 'Best of Ballard') - Email & Class Website Information ('Faculty') Please do not hesitate to call (688-4812) or email (apelletier@ballardschool.org) if you cannot find what you are looking for.

Do you need to know when you have music or library? There are always a lot of great things going on at Ballard School! Click on the 'Upcoming Events' tab for the latest information!