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Board splits on Data Middle marquee; parents and ELAC call sign a "lifeline," trustees cite process concerns
Summary
After extended public comment in English and Spanish urging a new marquee at Data Middle School to reach families lacking internet access, the board voted on a consent‑agenda marquee purchase and the motion failed on a 2–2 margin. Parents and ELAC leaders said the marquee is essential communication; some trustees said the decision exposed deeper site‑governance tensions and vowed to revisit school‑site council bylaws.
The Ventura Unified board on Tuesday declined to approve a $20,000 marquee purchase for Data Middle School after an extended public comment period and a divided trustee vote.
More than a dozen parents, many speaking in Spanish with simultaneous translation, urged trustees to approve a modern digital marquee that they say delivers timely, visible information to families who lack reliable internet or ParentSquare access. "For these families, the marquee isn't a luxury. It's a lifeline," one parent said during Spanish‑language testimony. Teachers and ELAC representatives said the current marquee is outdated, unreliable and manually updated, and they argued that an electronic sign would improve outreach for events, meeting notices and student recognition.
Trustees who opposed immediate approval framed their reservations around process and stakeholder engagement. Trustee comments centered on whether the school site council had been given authentic, majority‑based input under recent site‑bylaws changes and whether other communication fixes (repairs to the existing sign and better use of student work for content) could meet the community’s needs without the purchase. Trustee Sabrina Rodriguez, who opposed the action, said the issue revealed deeper tensions at the campus and asked for more inclusive dialogue.
A motion to approve the marquee was moved and seconded; the roll‑call vote recorded two yes votes and two no votes (Trustee Dannenberg voted yes; Trustees Frederick and Rodriguez voted no; Trustee Foresight voted yes). President Calvin Peterson had left the dais during later items, so the motion failed for lack of a majority.
Trustees agreed to return the broader topic of school‑site council bylaws, stakeholder engagement and communication strategy to a future agenda so the district can gather more input and present options. District staff also noted the site can pursue interim fixes and said they would provide information on alternative uses for the funds and whether the existing marquee can be wired or updated to meet parents’ requests.
