Due to the recent budget deficit facing Ventura Unified School District, Buena’s Law and Justice Career Education Pathway (CTE Legal) is being cut under Resolution #25-03, due to low enrollment. The legal pathway, taught by Lauren Rad, has been a key program at Buena for seven years, with Rad also leading the Mock Trial Club. Over the years, she has prepared students interested in the legal field by equipping them with valuable skills that apply both in the legal system and in everyday life.
The courses within the legal pathway familiarize students with components of criminal justice and different characteristics of the law. In the first year, students learn about criminal law and the understanding of different crimes, while the second year involves civil law. Law school is often regarded as very challenging due to the amount of work given and complex materials. The CTE pathway allows students to preview law, and get a taste of what going into law school may be like, while also helping students on the fence explore if they want to pursue a legal profession after high school.
“[These classes] have contributed so much to my development as a professional and as a student and as a person, and have really contributed to the way that I view the world and the interest that I have in my future career,” senior Solana Warren said.
Rad also serves as the faculty advisor for the Mock Trial Club, which analyzes legal cases and competes in annual competitions. While participation in Mock Trial is not required for students in the CTE Legal pathway, many choose to join. Mock trials simulate real court proceedings, allowing students to gain firsthand experience with courtroom procedures, develop strong arguments and deepen their understanding of the judicial system. Participation is especially beneficial for students interested in legal careers and can strengthen college applications.
“I think that everyone is really grateful for Ms. Rad, and she’s really dedicated so much of her time to these classes and to the Mock Trial team, and she has made the high school experience of everyone who has come into contact with her fantastic,” Warren said. “She is just such a bright presence on campus, and I am so grateful to have had her as my teacher, and I know I’m not alone in that.”
Although the classes in this pathway have been a valued asset to Buena and students for many years, both classes have faced low enrollment in recent years. Currently, both classes combined only have 17 students, 10 in Concentrator Legal Careers (year 1), and seven in Capstone Criminal Justice (year 2). Even students who are interested in taking the pathway might not be able to because of scheduling conflicts, since the only two classes in the pathway run into some of the AP classes.
“At the beginning of this school year, I was worried we weren’t going to be able to run it this year because my classes are very small this year,” Rad said.
-
CTE Legal students participating in mock negotiations.
The CTE Legal classes enrollment also suffers from a wider trend in declining enrollment seen throughout the school, district and statewide. With lower enrollment overall, there are fewer students at Buena signing up for classes in general, which affects demand for electives like CTE Legal.
“I do think that there’s not enough awareness or attention to [the pathway], but it’s difficult to promote a class that is so niche. People don’t necessarily realize that they don’t have to want to be a lawyer to benefit from the class,” Warren said.
In general, teachers and staff members are often cut in level of seniority, which means the longer a staff member has worked in the district, the less likely it is for them to be cut. However, in this case, seniority did not have an influence as it was far too expensive to keep a teacher with such low enrollment in the pathway.
“It’s difficult for a school to sustain a lot of pathways if students aren’t signing up for those pathways in large numbers,” principal Dr. Audrey Asplund said.
Budget cuts have also been plaguing schools throughout the district. While lots of speculation has risen, the decrease in funding comes down to a few different aspects. Schools in the district have been battling declining enrollment, and since funds are allocated considering the number of students in a district, some crucial funding has been lost. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a federal relief grant was awarded to VUSD, which has now expired.
Another significant loss of funding for the district came from the parcel tax, a property tax paid by Ventura County residents. In Nov. of 2024, Measure H was placed on the ballot to renew the tax, which would have provided $2.1 million annually. However, it failed to pass by less than one percent. As a result, VUSD no longer receives this funding, further contributing to its current budget challenges.
VUSD must recover millions of dollars to achieve financial stability by the 2026-2027 school year. With staff salaries accounting for approximately 85% of the district’s budget, it is unsurprising that personnel costs are the primary focus for budget reductions.
“For me personally, my number one consideration is how cuts will impact our students. I have been a teacher for over 25 years, my first concern will always be for the quality education and support we are offering our students,” Board Trustee Shannon Fredericks said.
Board President Calvin Peterson did not respond to request for comment.
Although the CTE Legal pathway will end after this year, the Mock Trial Club will continue as long as a new faculty advisor is secured for next year.
“I have loved every day of this work. It has been so much fun,” Rad said. “I enjoy being with my students. I think they’re fun and interesting and smart, and this has been a great way to spend the last seven years.”
