VUSD School Closures Committee Meeting October 1, 2026

The Ventura Unified School District School Closures Committee met on October 1, 2026, to continue evaluating elementary schools for possible closure amid the district’s reported $12.3 million deficit. Public commenters described the community, educational, bilingual, and support services provided by schools including EP Foster, Lincoln, Will Rogers, Wan Maria, Sarah, and others. They also raised concerns about effects on vulnerable students, transportation, receiving-school capacity, and whether projected closure savings would justify the disruption. Some speakers cited specific estimates, including approximately $981,000 in projected net savings from closing Sarah and comparatively low savings from closing Wan Maria; these were public comments, not committee findings established in the transcript.

Committee members compared schools using factors such as enrollment and utilization, facility condition and future costs, geographic access, equity, and the ability of nearby schools to absorb students. After small-group deliberations, the committee reached general consensus on a ranked set of schools for the board’s consideration, while noting disagreement over EP Foster and Sheridan Way and that the west side should not lose both. The transcript does not clearly preserve the complete final ranked list. The committee planned to review its report at the next meeting and present it to the school board on October 13. No contracts, vendor selections, purchasing decisions, or other procurement activity were identified.