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Ventura Unified board approves amended staff‑reduction resolution after hours of public outcry; librarians and counselors removed from cuts
Summary
After more than four hours of public testimony opposing cuts to counselors and teacher‑librarians, the Ventura Unified School District board amended and approved a certificated‑service reduction resolution, striking proposed reductions to elementary and secondary counselors and teacher‑librarians; vote was 5–0.
Ventura Unified School District trustees on Tuesday approved an amended resolution to pursue certificated staffing reductions tied to a multi‑year budget shortfall, but removed teacher‑librarians and counselors from the list of positions slated for elimination after sustained public opposition.
The board's action followed a staff presentation describing budget projections that, staff said, require the district to target about $8.7 million in reductions. Staff reiterated that several positions under consideration had been funded in recent years by one‑time grants and learning‑recovery funds. "The key assumption was that positions associated with one‑time funds were not budgeted to continue," a staff presenter told the board during the financial briefing.
The meeting drew an unusually large public turnout: the board noted about 349 people in the room and several hundred online. Parents, students, teachers and union leaders urged…
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