Committee recommends one-year ASES agreement with Oxnard School District, including $130,000 in-kind match

The Oxnard Community Services, Public Safety and Housing Development Committee on May 13 recommended that the City Council authorize a one-year agreement with the Oxnard School District for the city to operate California After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs at district sites.

Staff said the proposed agreement would provide funding not to exceed $4,470,000 for after-school operations, with the city contributing approximately $130,000 in in-kind services to match program requirements. The Oxnard agreement would cover 20 sites and serve an estimated 2,200 youth, according to staff remarks during the meeting.

Why it matters: Committee members highlighted the goal of exhausting allocated funds rather than returning unspent state money. Members pressed staff about staffing—staff said the Oxnard program has 24 full-time positions with two vacancies and extra-help staffing about 75% filled, and that hiring has improved this school year.

Enrichment offerings: Committee members asked about robotics and STEM pathways. Recreation Supervisor Donnelly Perez said robotics offerings vary by school and are provided via contracted service providers; some sites offer robotics and related competitions, though availability differed by site and provider.

Vote and next steps: A motion to approve the agreement was made, seconded and carried 3-0. Staff said they will proceed with contract finalization, staffing, and site-level program implementation and will continue recruitment efforts to fill remaining vacancies.

Ending: Committee members reiterated support for aggressively using the funds to expand services and avoid returning state dollars; staff noted hiring improvements and committed to ongoing reporting on staffing and program outcomes.