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Public commenters urge Ventura Unified to reverse counseling, paraeducator and program cuts
Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and students urged the Ventura Unified board to rescind proposed layoffs and program eliminations, saying cuts to counselors, bilingual paraeducators, special-education staff and career programs will harm vulnerable students and increase long-term costs.
Dozens of students, educators and parents told the Ventura Unified School District board during public comment that proposed staff reductions and program cuts would seriously harm students and undermine district priorities.
"Do not balance the ledger on the backs of students who have the least. Protect our counselors. Protect our future," said Patrick Pandolfi, a senior at Ventura High School, who told trustees the district plans to cut a general counselor and a college-and-career counselor and called the changes a ‘‘direct dismantling of the support systems for our most vulnerable students.’’
Multiple speakers described the impact of proposed cuts on special education, bilingual services and career-technical programs. Jackson Bailey, a student at VASE,…
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