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Parents, district staff and students press board on OT caseloads, library services and closure of Buena High journalism course
Summary
Multiple public commenters asked the board to address workforce problems (occupational therapy caseloads averaging 69.3), presented library usage data to argue for preserving librarian positions, and students urged the district not to close Buena High's 65‑year journalism class; one commenter raised broader allegations about superintendent contracting and use of a coded phrase for compensation.
During the public comment period multiple speakers urged the board to act on staffing and program changes affecting students.
Maria McCury, who identified herself as a school‑based occupational therapist for Ventura Unified, said the district’s OT team is understaffed and that the county and national industry standards support a case‑load average of roughly 45–55; she said the district’s current average as of March 2026 was 69.3 and described staff departures and recruitment difficulties linked to workload.
Buena High librarian Joel Levvin presented circulation and textbook transaction figures to show the library’s heavy use (13,487 student check‑ins and more than 21,000 combined book/textbook transactions for the year) and urged that the district preserve credentialed librarian staffing amid budget choices.
Students from Buena High, including Alexandra Leven, said they were told the school’s journalism class would be closed next year and urged administrators to keep the 65‑year program, noting the difference between broadcast classes and print journalism and the program’s role in civic literacy.
A separate public commenter, Cameron DeYoung, alleged broader problems, saying he had obtained the superintendent’s contract by public records search and criticized board language he described as a coded reference for executive compensation. The district did not respond substantively to those accusations during public comment; the board did not take action at the time.
Board members acknowledged the comments and asked staff for follow‑up: several trustees requested a report compiling small‑dollar settlements and the district’s use of contracted services for special education or related compensatory services so the board can evaluate frequency and cost.
No formal actions were taken during the public comment period; staff agreed to follow up on the information requests.
