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Ventura Unified outlines school‑closure review as enrollment falls
Summary
Ventura Unified Superintendent Antonio Castro told the City Council the district will convene a Brown Act advisory committee to review demographic, programmatic and fiscal data amid a steady enrollment decline; any closures would follow the advisory process and, if approved, would not take effect until the 2027–28 school year.
Dr. Antonio Castro, superintendent of Ventura Unified School District, told the City Council the board has directed staff to begin a formal, data‑driven school‑closure review after the district’s enrollment declined from roughly 17,000 students in 2016–17 to about 14,000 in 2025–26 and is projected to fall toward 13,000 in coming years. "My name is Antonio Castro. I'm proud to represent Ventura Unified as the superintendent," he said while presenting the district's timeline and methodology.
The district says a sustained enrollment decline reduces state funding: Dr. Castro explained that a loss of about 300 students per year at approximately $12,000 per average daily attendance equates to roughly $3.6 million annually and about $36 million over a decade. To respond, the school board has formed a Brown Act‑governed School Closure Advisory Committee that will begin meeting March 19 to review demography, enrollment projections, specialized programs, facility condition and deferred maintenance, transportation impacts and alternatives to closure.
The committee will rank schools against agreed criteria, consider program preservation for specialized instruction (including supports for students with disabilities and dual‑immersion programs), review environmental and historical factors, and solicit public comment. Castro emphasized the district’s intent to consider alternatives to closures and to plan carefully for any receiving school if a closure is recommended.
Deputy Mayor Halter asked whether the city can help residents navigate the process; Castro pointed to coordination on housing policy and public outreach and advised residents to follow the district’s dedicated web pages for meeting schedules and materials. Councilmember Mcrenolds asked how the public could follow the committee; Castro said all committee meetings are public, minutes and presentations will be posted, and staff would publish the demographer’s report and supporting materials.
The district’s timeline as presented would put a report to the board by October 2026 with potential board action in November–January depending on committee pacing; Castro stressed that any school designated for closure would not be closed until the 2027–28 school year to allow families and staff time to plan.
Why it matters: School closures can reshape neighborhoods, affect staffing and transportation and trigger fiscal shifts for the district. The advisory committee model and the district’s commitment to publish data and hear public input set the procedural expectations for the months ahead. The earliest committee meeting begins March 19; residents are encouraged to review posted materials and attend.
