Feb. 25, 2025, red flooded the Ventura Unified District Office at 6 p.m., and well before then, as teachers, students and families alike went to fight against the recent budget proposal from the Ventura Unified School Board, one that includes the cut of multiple roles in elementary, middle and high schools. Teacher librarians, single subject teachers and all kinds of counselors were put on the chopping block to combat the budget deficit the district could face in the 2025-2026 school year. Despite this, 20 positions were striked from the resolution, saving the jobs of many and maintaining school communities.
The staff reduction plan was announced Feb. 20, the Thursday before this meeting took place. Although the district explored many cost-saving measures, these reductions were decided on as “ongoing financial challenges—such as the expiration of COVID relief funds, declining enrollment, and the unsuccessful parcel tax extension—made additional reductions necessary,” Public Information Officer, Marieanne Quiroz, said in an email interview.
With nearly one thousand people showing up–over 349 in person, 800 plus online and hundreds outside the building–the Board meeting had the “largest turnout ever seen,” in Board President Calvin Peterson’s time on the board. Despite many arguments and uproar, the Board members and attendees agreed on the typical two minutes per person for all of the public comments with multiple 10 minute breaks during the over eight hours the meeting lasted. With nearly 150 speakers at the meeting, these breaks were necessary for the tech crew and supporting staff.
To preface what was to be discussed, Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro explained the 2024-2025 Budget Timeline, listing the board meeting schedule and budget implementations for the upcoming school year. Additionally, Castro clarified that, despite popular belief, the staff reduction resolution will not result in the closure of middle and high school libraries. After receiving handfuls of emails from students leading up to the meeting, board members continued to reiterate the fact that libraries were never in fact meant to be removed.
People of all different ages and backgrounds provided public comments, ranging from second grade students in the district to retired teachers and board members. Many Buena students showed up to the meeting, making their support for their teachers known.
“These [teachers] are so important to all of us,” senior Bowie Gillespie said. “They guide us and quite literally shape how we learn and how we grow as people. Without them, I don’t think we [would] have the same stability we have now.”
Sharing stories of how the many staff members included in the proposal have supported them, Buena students wrote comments and delivered speeches throughout the night. Seniors Solana Warren, Lily Coffin, Harper Thorn, Alanna Bowen, junior Stevie Fischetti, as well as Bulldog alumni shared their love for not only the library, but the support staff, and many others.
“It is our knowledge that gives us power. Knowledge gifted to us by the very support staff, counselors, teachers and librarians whose jobs are being threatened,” Warren said in her comment to the Board.
Nearly matching the number of student speakers, teachers, both active and retired, spoke on behalf of their programs, their students and their school communities. Among these teachers was Micheal Cromie, who has worked with students as a teacher librarian, history and science teacher and a teacher on special assignment, a TOSA, in more than four schools across the district.
“It was great to see the support this evening, especially at such an opaque time restricted by the time crunch that is this vote on the resolution,” Cromie said. “These decisions affect students, families, and so many others beyond the board members. It was amazing to see so many speak out.”
Following five hours of public comments and a handful of breaks, the Board discussed the different prospects of the proposal and whether or not to strike the teacher librarian and counselor reductions from the resolution. At midnight, the Board decided to completely strike elementary counseling, secondary counseling and teacher librarians from their proposal, meaning the 20 staff members these categories held would be safe from reductions by this plan. By furthering these conversations, the Board members decided they could make more well-rounded decisions about staff reductions.
“We need to have a conversation, as a board, about what we believe schools should look like, how they should be staffed, what services they should provide, and work backwards from there.” Board member Sabrena Rodriguez said.
Dr. Frank Cruz c/o 2000 • Feb 26, 2025 at 3:19 pm
I find the board’s claim that library closures were not what was at stake last night disingenuous. It is my understanding, per discussions with those familiar with ed policy in the district, that without a credentialed faculty member in the library, students would not have free use of the facility. Teachers could book and use the library during class time, of course. And no one imagined VUSD would literally take a bulldozer to the building. And while the board did weakly suggested at the meeting’s opening that they had some sort of vague idea of a plan to staff multiple schools with some kind of part time, roaming aid, we have seen kind of reduction of services before in public education. You can’t replace mentors with Uberfied gig workers. It saves the district money on salaries and benefits. But it hurts workers and students. So, yes, technically the library would remain, I suppose, but what is a library without a librarian? As Zack de la Rocha famously reminds us, “They don’t gotta burn the books, they just remove them.” Or defund the librarians who usher us through the process of research as an act of discovery. I’m glad the board listened to the will of the people; and I’m especially proud of the students. Fight on Bulldogs!