School Closures Advisory Committee

First Meeting Held- First Two Schools Taken Off List for Potential Closure

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 the evaluation process that will be used as part of this work. The presentation and scoring information reviewed at the meeting are below for those who would like to learn more. 

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, there is no other location within the district that 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. 

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.

Presentation #1- English

Presentation #1- Spanish

VUSD Scoring Criteria

Chair and Vice Chair Responsibilities

Information will be shared here after the School Closures Advisory Meeting on April 23, 2026. Thank you.

The School Closures Advisory Committee is a group of teachers, staff, families, students, and community members who will study how Ventura Unified School District school facilities are currently being used. The committee will review data, apply clear criteria, and make a recommendation to the Board of Education about whether any school sites should considered for closure. No schools will be closed prior to the 2027-28 school year.

No. The committee does not make final decisions. Its role is to review data and provide a recommendation. Any decision about school closures would be made by the Ventura Unified Board of Education at a public meeting.

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 use public funds efficiently and thoughtfully.

Ventura County has experienced a sustained decline in birth rates, resulting in fewer students entering schools. At the same time, the median age of residents has increased. These trends mean the District must carefully align the number and location of school sites with the population it serves.

The committee will review a wide range of information, including but not limited to:

• School enrollment and capacity data
• Facility utilization data
• Financial impacts of operating under-utilized schools
• Demographic projections from a professional demographer, determining if we can anticipate any “baby booms” in the future.
• Information about housing development and population trends

This data will help determine whether future growth is likely to result in additional students.  We will ensure all attachments the committee is given are also on the website.

Not necessarily. In many districts, new housing development does not always result in significant increased student enrollment. That is why the committee will rely on professional demographic data rather than assumptions.

Bond funds can only be used for physical facilities, such as construction, repairs, and modernization. They cannot be used to pay for teachers, reduce class sizes, or fund instructional programs. This makes it important to carefully evaluate where facility investments are made. In addition, the sooner the decision on which schools may or may not be identified for closure the better so that bond funds can be directed appropriately.

No. This is a separate but related effort. The District has an ongoing process related to the surplus of certain non-school properties. The School Closures Advisory Committee focuses specifically on active school sites and their long-term educational use.

Not automatically. Any discussion about reuse, leasing, or sale of a school site would happen later through a separate process at the discretion of the Board of Education.

No. Class size is not determined by school facilities. Class size is governed by a collective bargaining agreement with our certificated union.

The committee is expected to begin meeting in March 2026 and meet monthly.

The committee is expected to bring a recommendation to the Board of Education by October 2026.

Even if the Board were to approve any closures, no school would close before the 2027–2028 school year.

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

Community members are encouraged to:

• Visit the District website for updates
• Review committee agendas and materials
• Attend or watch Board of Education meetings
• Reach out to the District with questions or feedback at VUSDSchoolsCommittee@venturausd.org.