News & Updates

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Education has directed staff to begin a clear, evidence-based process to evaluate whether any school sites should be considered for closure as early as the 2027-2028 school year. As part of this effort, the District is forming a School Closures Advisory Committee to study enrollment trends, review criteria, analyze data, and provide a recommendation to the Board of Education.

This process is in its early stages. The School Closures Advisory Committee is expected to begin meeting in March 2026, meet monthly, and bring a recommendation to the Board by October 2026. Even if the Board were to approve any closures, no school would close before the 2027–2028 school year.

For several years, VUSD closely monitored enrollment trends, watching to see if post-COVID declines might stabilize. However, enrollment continues to decline by approximately 300 students per year. Regional data also shows sustained decreases in birth rates, fewer families moving into the area due to the high cost of living, and an aging population. Together, these trends require the District to carefully assess how many school sites are needed to best serve current and future students.

Many VUSD schools are operating below their intended capacity. Maintaining under-utilized campuses requires resources that could otherwise be invested directly in classrooms, student programs, and learning opportunities. The District has a responsibility to review our internal processes and procedures to ensure public funds entrusted to the Ventura Unified School District are being used efficiently and thoughtfully, while remaining focused on student success.

The School Closures Advisory Committee will include teachers, staff, families, students, and community members from across the City. The committee will review a wide range of information, including district enrollment and school capacity data, facility utilization, financial impacts, housing and population trends, and demographic projections prepared by a professional demographer. All materials reviewed by the committee will be made publicly available on the District website.

“We understand that this process may bring a range of emotions for our students, staff, families, and community,” said Marieanne Quiroz, Public Information Officer for Ventura Unified School District. “We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for community feedback as the process unfolds, sharing all of the information reviewed by the committee, and approaching this work with transparency, care, and compassion.”

The committee does not make final decisions. Its role is to review data and provide a recommendation. Any decision regarding school closures would ultimately be made by the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education at a public meeting.

Committee meetings will be held in accordance with the Brown Act, allowing the public to attend and provide comment. There will also be meaningful opportunities for staff, students, families, and community members to share feedback throughout the process.

VUSD is currently building the processes and protocols that will guide this work. Meeting dates, agendas, and updates will be posted on the District website and shared through the District’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Community members are encouraged to follow these platforms to stay informed as the process moves forward.  Community members are encouraged to:

·        Visit the District website and social media platforms for updates:

o   Website: www.venturausd.org/about/committees/school-closure-commitee

o   Facebook: www.facebook.com/Venturausd/

o   Instagram: www.instagram.com/schoolventura/

·        Read the monthly VUSD Connections Newsletter (families and staff)

·        Attend School Closures Committee meetings

·        Share questions or feedback by emailing VUSDSchoolsCommittee@venturausd.org

The Ventura Unified School District appreciates the community’s partnership and engagement as this thoughtful, data-driven, and community-centered process begins