Kathryn Cox

The board meeting included the adoption of the agenda with various modifications, and actions taken during a closed session regarding public employee discipline and the appointment of a new middle school principal. Additionally, the superintendent introduced new school staff, including an interim principal at Foothill Technology High School and a new principal at Lemon Grove School. The board also presented gratitude awards to several teachers, volunteers, and para-educators for their significant contributions and dedication to the district's students and school communities.

This infographic summarizes key findings from the 2025-26 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) survey administered for the Ventura Unified School District, which informs its three-year strategic planning. The survey highlights strong student engagement and positive teaching practices, alongside overall positive student support with notable growth in resources for special populations. It also indicates a strong school climate and high parental and community engagement, with effective communication. Staff satisfaction is high at the school level, though lower concerning district leadership and decision-making involvement. The findings guide the district in achieving positive student outcomes and addressing strategic priorities.

The Local Control and Accountability Plan for Ventura Unified School District for the 2026-27 school year details how the district will utilize funds to serve its students. The plan is structured around five main goals: improving student academic achievement while reducing performance gaps, fostering positive student learning environments and mental health, strengthening family engagement as educational partners, advancing early elementary literacy attainment, and increasing the overall graduation rate for all students.

The committee meeting included a presentation on district demographic and enrollment data by SchoolWorks, Inc., which analyzed enrollment trends, birth rates, housing development, and facility utilization. The committee also engaged in a collaborative discussion regarding the scoring and ranking of various school sites based on established criteria and addressed public comments concerning the factors used for school closure decisions.

The committee meeting focused on providing an update regarding the scoring and ranking of school sites based on demographic studies, facilities data, and classroom usage reports. Discussions included the revision of capacity calculations and their impact on excess capacity metrics, the methodology for projecting residential development growth, and the current maintenance status and physical condition of various district campuses as assessed through facility inspections and the long-range master plan.