Residents, adult‑education students and advocates press Ventura Unified over housing, vocational program cuts and safety concerns

A series of public commenters at the Ventura Unified School District board meeting on May 4 pressed the district on three issues: using surplus land to build affordable workforce housing, preserving career and technical education (CTE) courses in adult and K‑12 programs, and following up on an allegation of inappropriate conduct by a school employee.

Hulu, who the clerk identified for the record as the Ventura County Housing Coalition coordinator, told the board the value of the Stanley property should not be measured only by the highest sale price and urged the district to prioritize proposals that include affordable and workforce housing for teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and other employees. "Public land owned by the district is one of the few tools available to directly address the crisis," Hulu said, arguing that losing that land to market‑rate development would accelerate displacement and worsen staff turnover that harms students and school stability.

Several speakers from adult and career education described abrupt program changes they say are reducing instructional time and limiting students'9 workforce prospects. "When did my future get decided for me?" asked Jackson Bailey, a student in the Ventura adult career program, describing an abrupt closure of enrollment in a SolidWorks/AutoCAD course and a reduction in his instructor'9s hours that students say leaves long class days without teacher support. Ryan Gardner and other adult education students and alumni said the courses are on state lists for financial aid (PELL/EPLL) and are essential for adults returning to work. They urged human resources and district leaders to reconsider staffing and scheduling decisions so instructors can maintain full‑time schedules and complete course material.

Community advocates also raised a separate safety concern involving an allegation at a middle school. Dexter, identified as director of Project 50, relayed a parent'9s report that a 12‑year‑old student described a male administrator asking invasive questions and allegedly telling the child "don'9t tell anyone." Dexter said the child'9s subsequent disclosures to staff raised questions about whether the school properly made mandated‑reporting notifications; he urged the district to pursue child protective services and law enforcement when required. District staff acknowledged they are following up with the family and said they take such reports seriously.

Board members did not vote on the public comments. Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro told the meeting he and staff would follow up with the families who sought follow‑up and would review the vocational and adult‑education staffing issues raised by students.

Ending: Board members thanked speakers for their testimony and noted staff would follow up outside the public meeting under Brown Act rules.