Oxnard Union reports higher counts of students in need as superintendent warns of budget shortfall

Oxnard Union High School District leaders on Jan. 15 highlighted both program successes and financial pressures as staff presented updated CALPADS reporting that identified more students eligible for services.

Superintendent Dr. McCoy told the board the governor's initial January budget proposal showed significant one‑time withholdings affecting schools statewide: "the governor's budget is currently withholding $5,600,000,000, or about $1,000 per student from our schools," he said, noting the district is planning conservatively as the Legislature debates the budget through June. Dr. McCoy said the district projects a decline of roughly 275 students next year—about $5 million in revenue shortfall—and that personnel costs make cuts difficult: "about 78 to 83% of our budget is spent on people."

The superintendent also reported program highlights: a first cohort of certified nursing assistant (CNA) graduates from Hueneme High School achieved a 100% pass rate on state licensure exams; several district schools earned AP Honor Roll recognition; and the Port of Hueneme donated $10,000 to Hueneme High robotics.

Later in the agenda the district presented an in‑depth CALPADS (California longitudinal pupil data) staff report explaining how fall 1 reporting affects LCFF allocations, unduplicated counts and grant eligibility. Business and data staff told trustees that improved data collection and outreach identified thousands of students who had been previously undercounted: staff cited identification or recertification of about 2,446 students as McKinney‑Vento (housing insecure) and noted an unduplicated pupil percentage (UPP) of approximately 75.61% as of the 7:01 p.m. certification.

Director Campbell and the Learning Support Services team described how the universal benefit application, community eligibility provisions, and alternative income forms feed into state reporting and how accurate identification affects LCFF supplemental/concentration funding and eligibility for state and federal grant programs. "Our community schools team builds trust in the community; they help families complete forms and access services," the report said when discussing how outreach improved counts.

Trustees asked about the implications for students with IEPs and justice‑involved youth; staff said those groups are tracked in other required metrics and that the CALPADS process supports targeted interventions and service eligibility. Trustee Estrada and others praised the data team for their work finding previously uncounted students and for cross‑department coordination.

On consent and action items the board approved a set of routine items and two prom venue contracts (items 13L and 13M) after discussion about travel distance and student safety; trustees asked staff to continue exploring more local venue options. The board also took first readings on revisions to district policies on student and staff wellness and on evaluation of student achievement, changes staff said align district practice with grading for mastery and state requirements.

Next steps: staff will return with an updated interim budget preview in February and continue CALPADS work through subsequent reporting periods (fall 2 and end‑of‑year reports) that feed the state dashboard in August.