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Ventura County partners present 'Isabella Project' to Santa Paula board, seeking sites and funding to expand early childhood care
Summary
Community foundation leaders and Isabella Project co‑chairs told the Santa Paula Unified Board the initiative has identified major gaps in local early childhood capacity, a workforce shortfall and potential state/federal funding — but stressed the district and donors must identify facilities quickly to unlock money.
Leah Lacayo, incoming board chair of the Ventura County Community Foundation, introduced the Isabella Project at the Santa Paula Unified School District board meeting, saying the initiative aims to expand access to high‑quality early care and education across the city and county.
Dr. Gabino Aguirre, presented Phase 2 findings and described a local capacity gap: roughly 2,200 children under age 5 in Santa Paula and about 900 formal ECE spaces. “For every $1 invested, you get $4 to $9 in return,” Aguirre said, adding the project looks beyond academics to include wellness and wraparound family supports.
The presenters emphasized workforce and facilities as the primary barriers. They said the Isabella Project’s analysis estimates hundreds of new infant/toddler spaces and dozens of new lead and assistant teachers would be required; partners named include Cal State Channel Islands, Ventura College and Ventura County workforce organizations. “We can fill 400 early‑care slots in partnership with the district if we start there,” one presenter said, urging trustees to identify usable locations.
Vanessa Bechtel (president and CEO, Ventura County Community Foundation) described philanthropic investments so far and an urgent window for tentative donor commitments: the foundation has invested more than $2 million and said several million more are tentatively available once locations and a written plan are identified. She also described a small guaranteed‑income pilot that will provide $500 a month for two years to a set of home‑based early‑care providers to stabilize operations during program uptake.
Trustees asked detailed questions about workforce pathways, sustainability and whether funding would be universal or income‑based. Presenters said the funding streams exist at state and federal levels but that the missing ingredient is infrastructure — physical classrooms, certified providers and a clear plan for sustainability. A district representative said the Isabella Project can help offset costs but that final site and program decisions remain the board’s educational prerogative.
Public commenters and written submissions were strongly supportive of expanding preschool and described classroom gains for children. Several written public comments asked whether the Isabella Project requires repurposing or closure of existing schools (naming McKevitt/McKeavitt), asked for documentation of any enrollment/transfer policy changes, and requested clarity about whether grant funding has been secured. Board members repeatedly framed the presentation as a request to partner and asked staff to return with a concrete road map showing costs, locations and timelines.
The board did not take action on the Isabella Project at this meeting; presenters and trustees agreed to continue planning and for staff to return with more detailed proposals and a site‑identification roadmap.
