Grounds Department
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the Grounds Department is to provide school sites and district facilities an appealing and pleasant outdoor environment to enhance student's and staff's experience.
This is being accomplished by:
- The development of a long-range landscape master plan.
- The regular maintenance and groom of outdoor environments.
- Responsive services to work order requests.
- Proactive summer planning and development services.
- The establishment of standards of care for our students, faculty, and staff.
- Ongoing professional development to meet or exceed our standards of care.
Scope of Responsibility
All aspects of lawns, trees, bushes, irrigation, pesticide applications, pest control, playgrounds, and auxiliary external spaces.
Grounds at a Glance
The Grounds Department team consists of twenty dedicated employees who service roughly 200 maintainable acres of District property.
- Total Acres: ≈ 443
- Regular Serviceable Acres: ≈ 200
- Grass and Turf Acres: ≈ 102
Team Profile
Twenty employees on four (4) teams - North, South, Athletics, and Irrigation
Featured Projects
Completed Rain Test at Rancho Minerva Middle School: January of 2023
The New Mean Green Bower in Action
Prototype Mulching Project 2022
Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts November 2023
Vista High School Improvements 2023
Delivery of Field Improvement Soil 2022
Spring Sports Lining for RBV Softball
Boom Truck Over T.H.E Leadership Academy 2022
Spring Sports Shot Put Lining for TournamentÂ
More About the Grounds Department
Related Links
Related Committees
- Asset Management Advisory
- Citizens' Bond Oversight (CBOC)
- Climate Action
- Career Superhighway
Contact Us
Office Hours: 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Phone: (760) 726-2170 ext. 92704
Rainout Line: (760) 726-2170 Ext. 92719
VUSD grounds department will temporarily close athletic fields based on weather conditions. This is done to ensure the safety of our students, staff and outside organizations who use our outdoor athletic facilities.
Our Staff
Anthony Arias
Grounds Manager
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92704
Email: anthonyarias@vistausd.org
Salvador Mayo
Grounds Maintenance Lead North Crew
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92704
Email: salvadormayo@vistausd.org
Robert Johnson
Grounds Maintenance Lead Field Crew
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92704
Email: robertjohnson@vistausd.org
Ernesto Rivera
Grounds Maintenance Lead South Crew
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92704
Email: ernestorivera@vistausd.org
Departmental Oversight
Shawn T. Loescher, Ed.D.
Chief Operations Officer
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92702
Email: shawnloescher@vistausd.org
Danica Reed
Administrative Secretary I
(760) 726-2170 ext. 92702
Email: danicareed@vistausd.org