News & Updates

The Ventura Unified School District Board of Education recently took action at a Special Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, regarding three surplus properties: the Jewett Estate, Avenue School site, and Washington School site. After years of open discussions in Regular Board of Education meetings about these properties, and after reviewing proposals and listening to public comments for each location across multiple meetings, the Board identified entities to move forward with in the negotiation process.

Jewett Estate

The Board reviewed three proposals submitted for the Jewett Estate, located at Ralston and Beaver Streets in Ventura, near Ventura Community Park and Kimball Road.

The Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to continue negotiations with Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation  based on their proposal.

Avenue School Site

The Board reviewed eight proposals for the Avenue School property, located at 2647 North Ventura Avenue.

The Board voted unanimously, 5-0, to continue negotiations with Ventura Housing.

Washington School Site

The Board reviewed seven proposals for the Washington School property, located at 96 MacMillan Avenue in Ventura.

The Board voted 4-1, with Trustee Fredericks voting no, to continue negotiations with City Ventures.

Next Steps

The District will now enter into negotiations with each selected entity to negotiate agreements to be approved by the Board.

Before any agreement is approved, a public hearing will be held. Following the hearing, the proposed agreement will be presented at a regular Board of Education meeting, in open session, for Board action.

If approved, this will conclude the formal negotiation process. While negotiations are ongoing, they remain confidential. Once completed, the proposals from all entities who submitted, will be shared with the community on the District website.

The District will continue to provide updates through Board of Education meetings, press releases, the News and Updates webpage, VUSD Connections newsletters, and social media as we move forward.

Additional Context

The Board’s responsibility is to ensure that District properties are used in ways that best support students and staff, with a primary focus on the needs of the school district.

For several years, the Board of Education has also been exploring opportunities to support workforce housing for employees. Providing more affordable housing options for teachers and staff is one strategy to help recruit and retain high-quality educators.

As part of this effort, the Board continues to evaluate surplus properties as a way to both ease financial pressures and explore opportunities that could benefit District employees and the broader school community. This work will remain a priority as negotiations move forward.

School districts across California and the nation, including Ventura Unified, continue to face financial challenges. Operational costs such as gas, electricity, healthcare, and supplies continue to rise, while schools remain underfunded both at the state and federal level. At the same time, Ventura County has experienced declining birth rates, and families moving out of Ventura County, which results in fewer students enrolling each year in our schools. Based on recent demographic studies presented to the Board, this trend is not expected to reverse in the near future.

Additionally, the cost of living in Ventura County has increased significantly over the past two decades, making it more difficult for families, including VUSD staff, to afford to live in the community.

These factors contribute to broader discussions and action around school funding, including bond measures, parcel tax, staffing adjustments and reductions, use of surplus properties, potential school closures, and long-term planning efforts.

The Ventura Unified School District is proud to introduce Sydney Traub as Co-Chair of the School Closures Advisory Committee.

Sydney is a 9th grader at Foothill Technology High School and previously attended Montalvo Arts Academy and Anacapa Middle School. As a current student, she brings a valuable perspective to the committee, offering insight into the day-to-day experiences of students and how decisions may impact them.

In addition to her role on the committee, Sydney serves as Freshman Vice President at Foothill Technology High School. Through this leadership role, she has developed skills in communication, collaboration, and representing her peers.

Sydney recognizes that the work of the committee is both important and challenging. As a student and sibling of another VUSD student, she understands the concerns many families may be feeling as this process moves forward.

“To help keep the committee focused on the facts and data, I will encourage everyone to set aside their personal views for the betterment of our district.”

She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a respectful and productive environment during discussions, sharing:

“I will also help by implementing the three most basic rules of classrooms: be respectful, listen to others, and take turns.”

Sydney believes one of the committee’s key responsibilities is to balance community input with a clear understanding of the data.

“While the opinions and statements of our community are welcomed and encouraged, the committee must remember that we need to see and hear the facts as well because, at the end of the day, we must give the board our best recommended course of action that will better our community and give future students the best education possible.”

She acknowledges that this could be a difficult process, but remains hopeful.

“This process is a very difficult and heart-heavy one. We as the committee have a very hard job ahead of us, but I know with our amazing members, board support, and community families, we can accomplish this difficult task.”

VUSD appreciates Sydney’s leadership and the important perspective she brings to this process. Her voice helps ensure that students remain at the center of these conversations as the committee continues its work.

For more information about the School Closures Advisory Committee, including meeting materials and opportunities for public input, please visit the School Closures webpage, .

We are pleased to introduce the Chair of the School Closures Advisory Committee, Mrs. Peggy Maryanski, who brings a deep commitment to public education and decades of experience serving students and the Ventura community.

With a 20-year career in Ventura Unified, she shared,
“I taught mostly kindergarten and also 2nd grade, reading intervention, and math intervention over my 20-year career with VUSD. I made my home in classrooms on both sides of town, and in midtown (Sheridan Way, Juanamaria, and Elmhurst). At each site, I participated in the PTA, School Site Council, and/or the staff Leadership Team, knowing that my important work in the classroom was dependent on each school's thoughtful financial decisions, committed leadership, and a strong school culture. I was a dedicated teacher and loved my students and my work. I retired in 2023.”

Her professional background also includes 15 years as a local news reporter and editor.
“I reported on many public entities and respect those that, like VUSD, strive to meet their mission with transparency and consensus.”

She emphasized her commitment to thoughtful leadership and collaboration, noting,
“I am grateful to be a member of this important committee and believe I can contribute as chair. I am dedicated to public education. I have the benefit of insight into schools without an active stake in any particular one. I am versed in public budgets and their constraints. I am open to creative problem-solving. I do not shy away from challenging conversations.”

When asked how she plans to lead the committee, she shared a perspective shaped by years in the classroom:
“I taught kindergarten for 16 years. Taking my cue from Robert Fulghum's ‘All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,’ I hope to ensure that committee members take turns, share, and play nice. We have a lot to learn together and an important task to accomplish. We will also break occasionally for milk and cookies.”

She recognizes the importance of the committee’s role, stating,
“The school closures advisory committee is a microcosm of our community. Everyone on this panel cares about doing the right thing. In meeting the committee's mandate of making a recommendation to the Board of Education about which schools, if any, should be closed, the committee has a responsibility to model for our fellow Venturans the value of making well-informed decisions, considering others' views, and valuing consensus.”

For families and staff who may be feeling uncertain, she offered this message:
“Action and knowledge are antidotes for anxiety, and I encourage interested parties to participate and stay informed as this committee gathers information and seeks consensus. Know that I am committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive process, and if our work lacks these characteristics, I urge observers to speak up.”

She also spoke candidly about why this work is necessary:
“To NOT look at potentially closing schools, to avoid painful conversations, to embrace the status quo is to abdicate VUSD's responsibility to its many stakeholders. The district's greater community deserves to know that VUSD is willing to reflect on its current state, acknowledge the need to do better, build a stronger financial safety net, and consider even the most substantive changes. We owe the same to the future.”

A longtime Ventura resident, she shared her personal connection to the district:
“My husband, Ken, and I raised our daughter in Ventura and were very happy with the rich and challenging education she got through VUSD. I have lived the passion of school spirit. I’ve lived in Ventura for 27 years, and I intend to stay. I am grateful I can serve my community in this role.”

We thank her for her leadership and service as the committee begins this important work. We will share more about our Vice-Chair in an upcoming communication. 

 

The Ventura Unified School District’s School Closures Advisory Committee held its first meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026, beginning an important process to review school sites and develop recommendations for the Board of Education.

During the meeting, committee members received an overview of the committee’s purpose, responsibilities, and the process that will guide its work. The committee includes parents, staff, students, and community members appointed by the Board of Education to bring a variety of perspectives to the discussion.

The committee also reviewed group norms, the code of conduct, and Brown Act requirements to help ensure the process remains respectful, transparent, and focused on students. These norms include keeping students at the center, respecting different perspectives, asking clarifying questions, and actively participating in discussions.

In addition, the committee received an overview of school sites across the district and of the evaluation process to be used as part of this work.  The presentation is available on the School Closures Advisory Committee website .

At this first meeting, the committee was also informed that Buena High School and Ventura High School should not be considered for closure. Given the number of students enrolled at each comprehensive high school and the specialized facilities required, no other location within the district could accommodate either school if one or both were closed.

The committee elected a Chair and Vice Chair to help guide the process moving forward. The Committee elected Peggy Maryanski to serve as its chair. Peggy is now retired, but was a long-time VUSD educator. Sydney Traub, a freshman at Foothill Technology High School, was elected by the committee to serve as its Vice-Chair. We will share more about our chair and vice chair in future communications.

The committee is in the early stages of its work and is focused on learning about the process, reviewing information, and preparing for future discussions. The public is welcome to attend meetings. The next committee meeting will be held at 255 W. Stanley Ave on April 23 at 5:30 pm. Park in the first parking lot and follow the signs into the meeting.

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) School Attendance Review Board (SARB) has been recognized by the California Department of Education (CDE) as a 2026 Model School Attendance Review Board (Model SARB) program. This statewide recognition highlights districts that demonstrate exemplary practices in improving student attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism.

VUSD’s SARB is chaired by Vicky Yasenchok, whose leadership has helped guide the district’s collaborative and student-centered approach to supporting attendance.

The Model SARB Recognition Program identifies district and county programs across California that use proactive, supportive strategies to help students stay engaged in school. These programs emphasize early intervention, strong family partnerships, and coordinated support systems that address the underlying barriers that may impact student attendance.

“Being recognized as a Model SARB reflects the dedication of so many people across Ventura Unified,” said Vicky Yasenchok, Chairperson of the Ventura Unified SARB. “I have seen firsthand the meaningful impact a strong and responsive School Attendance Review Board can have on students and families, as early intervention, collaboration, and consistent follow-up help students facing significant challenges regain stability and achieve academic and emotional success. This recognition is an incredible accomplishment and a true testament to Ventura Unified School District’s persistence and unwavering commitment to our students.”

The recognition also highlights Ventura Unified’s commitment to working closely with families to support student success.

“This recognition truly belongs to our school staff, students and their families, the School Attendance Review Board, and our Ventura Unified SARB Chairperson, Vicky Yasenchok,” said Maria Elizarraras, Director of Student Support Services. “Addressing attendance barriers requires collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to student success. We are dedicated to fostering strong attendance while partnering closely with families to understand students’ challenges and provide the support they need to thrive.”

Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student achievement and long-term success.

“Patterns of positive attendance with the related benefits of achievement and socioemotional growth take root in the first years of school. We are grateful to our students and families who prioritize school attendance every day, and to our district staff for promoting environments that help students feel safe, seen, and engaged,” said Dr. Antonio Castro, Superintendent of Ventura Unified School District.

VUSD is one of 13 districts and county offices of education across California to receive the 2026 Model SARB designation. Model SARB programs are often asked to share their best practices with other districts across the state, helping expand effective attendance strategies that support student success.

The official recognition will be presented at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference, taking place March 16–18, 2026, in Sacramento.