VUSD Connections Newsletter: Summer School, School C...

  As we continue discussions around the possibility of school closures and prepare for the first meeting of the School Closures Advisory Committee on March 19, I invite our families to join me and other members of the District Cabinet  for an online webinar to learn more about this committee process. During the meeting, we will share:  • Projected timelines for the process   • The types of data the advisory committee will be reviewing  • The role of the Board of Education  • Provide time to answer questions and address concerns T hursday, March 5   5-6 pm   Zoom Webinar: https://bit.ly/familyschoolmarch2026 Spanish interpreters will be available. This meeting will be held online to support broad family participation. The presentation will be recorded and shared afterward for those who are unable to attend live. We encourage families to attend, ask questions, and stay informed as this process moves forward.   Sincerely, Dr. Antonio Castro   February 27, 9 am : Special Education District Advisory Committee March 2, 5 pm : Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) meeting- ESC, IT March 5, 5 pm: School Closures Family Meeting- Webinar (see info in Superintendent message) March 6, 9 am: Parent Advisory Committee March 12-17:  Elementary Parent Conferences: Minimum Days Thurs. March 19 , 5:30 pm : School Closures Advisory Committee- ESC, McAuliffe  March 30-April 6: Spring Break- all schools closed (Fri., April 3- District offices closed) Contact the district offices at 805-641-5000 to obtain more information on these meetings. The 2026-2027 School Year Calendar is available on our   VUSD Calendar webpage .   School Closures Advisory Committee: First Meeting The Ventura Unified School District School Closures Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, March 19, at 5:30 pm. The meeting will take place at the Education Service Center (ESC), 255 W. Stanley Ave., in the McAuliffe Room and is open to the public. This initial meeting will focus on orienting committee members and establishing the foundation for the work ahead. Agenda items include: An overview of committee roles and responsibilities A review of Brown Act requirements and conflict-of-interest laws, including Form 700 A brief presentation of district school sites, including: A map of all sites and boundaries School information such as address, grade span, and enrollment Selection of a committee chairperson and vice chairperson Discussion and consideration of proposed criteria, scoring methodology, and priorities Public comment will be available during the designated public comment portion of the meeting. Time for public comment is limited to ensure the committee can complete its work. Due to limited staff resources, committee meetings will not be livestreamed. However, all meetings are open to the public to attend in person. Agendas will be posted at least 72 hours in advance on the School Closures Advisory Committee webpage and will include links to the data and information the committee will be reviewing. See the Superintendent's message about an online webinar for families explaining the School Closures Advisory Committee process (above).    Save the Dates: Summer School VUSD Summer School will take place July 6-30, 2026. The students who may attend are: High school students who need to make up one or two classes. Current 8th graders may get ahead by taking Health and College & Career Seminar Dual Enrollment is available for other high school students who would like to accelerate by taking a class at a community college. Students who are entering grades K-6 in the fall and are below grade level on standardized assessments or identified as homeless, foster youth, low-income, and/or English Learner will have summer school in the morning and OCEAN Summer Camp until 6:00 p.m. Camp is also open to current OCEAN after-school participants. Students in all grade levels with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) who have ESY (Extended School Year) included on their IEP. Additionally, there will be: Woodshop camp for future 7th-9th graders: June 8-12, June 15-18, and June 22-26. OCEAN Summer Camp for students currently participating in OCEAN after-school, June 22-26. Information about enrollment will be in future VUSD newsletters.   Is Your Child Struggling to Attend School? As we move through February and into March, we look forward to continuing our partnership with families to support every student’s success. Our district attendance goal is 97% , and with your help, we can get there. We are currently at  95% . We know winter months can bring challenges such as illness and weather, but consistent attendance plays an important role in helping students stay connected, engaged, and learning each day. If your child is struggling to attend school or feeling reluctant to come to campus, you are not alone, and support is available. We encourage families to reach out to their school site and connect with the school Social Worker and/or Student Support Services for guidance and assistance. Attached to this newsletter is a flyer titled “Is Your Child Missing School Due to Anxiety?”  We hope this resource may be helpful for families navigating attendance challenges related to stress or anxiety. Together, we can help students show up, feel supported, and thrive.     A small number of online posts have raised questions about the district’s budget, including management salaries, and we want to provide clear, factual information.   We would like to begin by acknowledging that these are difficult conversations. We want to clarify a few points using publicly available budget and payroll data. Management compensation follows the same structure used across the district. Ventura Unified has, for over 20 years, provided the same percentage salary increases to management teams that are negotiated with union partners. Managers receive the same health and welfare benefits as all employee groups. The Board and District have remained focused on retaining and recruiting high-quality staff to serve our students and community.  To assist in that, since the 2020-21 school year, classified, certificated, and management salaries have all increased.  We recommend that you view the attached VUSD 23-24, 24-25 Executive Cabinet Salary Schedule   and visit the  California Department of Education (CDE) Average Salaries & Expenditure Percentage webpag e to see how VUSD compares with other Districts across the state.  When looking at the CDE chart, please refer to Unified School Districts as that is what we are (not elementary or high school only) and to ADA 10,000-19,999 (the size of our District). From 2020-2021 to 2024-2025, the number of certificated positions decreased, the number of classified positions increased, and the number of management positions remained relatively stable.  While there have been many central office position reductions since 2020, several new management positions tied to oversight of the expanded learning after-school programs (grant-funded) and mental health services (previously contracted with the County and brought in-house to reduce costs) have been added.   The fluctuations in certificated salaries can be mainly attributed to a reduction in positions to match enrollment, whereas the increase in classified positions can be mainly attributed to the expansion of after-school programs, in response to a state-wide initiative for which the District receives dedicated funding that can only be used for after-school programs.  See the attached flyer titled  "VUSD 2025 Employee Salary & Benefits Breakdown" for a year-over-year comparison . When you see online comments about “other pay” for managers, this is not discretionary or bonuses. The “other pay” shown in public records typically includes items such as: Longevity stipends Principals leading summer school, which is outside of their annual contracts Reimbursements including mileage Education incentives which are also offered to all other employees These are not bonuses and are not unique to Ventura Unified 5.  When you see online comments about “benefits,” these are also not bonuses. The “benefits” shown in public records typically include items such as: Retirement (STRS/PERS) Workers’ Compensation OASDI, Medicare/State Unemployment Insurance Health and Welfare Benefits   6. Staff reductions and potential school closures are driven by structural deficits. These decisions are the result of: Sustained enrollment decline Underfunded state and federal mandates Loss of one-time state and federal funds Rising operational and benefits costs The district is required to maintain fiscal solvency while continuing to serve students. We recognize the impact these decisions have on our entire educational community, and we remain committed to transparency, accuracy, and keeping students at the center of every decision. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to speak at a public board of education meeting (or watch them on our   YouTube Channe l ) and/or feel free to email the Board of Education and/or Superintendent. President Forsythe- James.Forsythe@venturausd.org   Vice President Fredericks- Shannon.Fredericks@venturausd.org   Trustee Rodriguez- Sabrena.Rodriguez@venturausd.org   Trustee Dannenberg- Jerry.Dannenberg@venturausd.org   Trustee Peterson- Calvin.Peterson@venturausd.org   Superintendent Castro- vusd.superintendent@venturausd.org       The Board of Education met on Feb. 24, 2026.  Here are links to some of the discussions that occurred. Citrus Glen Elementary Leader in Me Presentation Buena High School Board Report- Naima Dickerson Pacific High School Board Report- Kacie Sargent Ventura High School Board Report- Sela Duque 2025-2026 Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Mid-Year Report 2024-2025 Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Annual Report Presentation on Current Demographics and Enrollment Projections for VUSD 2025-2026 School Closures Advisory Committee Update The entire Feb. 24 Regular meeting can be found on our VUSD YouTube Page   The next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for March 10, 2026.  The agenda, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person), locations, and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, is available at least 72 hours before the regular board meeting date on the   Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page .   If you would like to reach out to the Board members, their email addresses can be found on the Board webpage .     The Ventura Avenue Library invites students and families to participate in Mindfulness Mondays throughout the month of March. Families are encouraged to start the week with relaxing, creative activities held every Monday from 2:30–5:30 pm. For additional details, please see the  attached flyer.

Friday, Feb 27 2026

VUSD Connections Newsletter: School Closures Meeting...

  For several years, Ventura Unified has been openly sharing information about the financial challenges facing our District. These challenges, affecting many school districts across California, include declining enrollment, rising costs, and uncertainty about state funding. Addressing them responsibly requires careful planning and, at times, difficult decisions. On Monday, February 9, we sent a detailed email to all families and staff outlining Ventura Unified’s current financial outlook and the steps under consideration for the coming months. If you have not yet read that message, we strongly encourage you to do so. Staying informed is especially important as this work continues. That message included information about: The District’s long-term financial challenges and our responsibility to plan for both today’s students and staff and those we will serve in the future Staffing reductions, which were discussed as a possibility in the February 9 email, were approved by the Board of Education at its February 10 meeting. Additional details are included in the Budget Update below. Ongoing negotiations with our employee groups The School Closures Advisory Committee process, including its timeline, the data under review, and when recommendations may be presented to the Board We recognize the very real impact these decisions have on employees and families, and we do not take them lightly. These steps are part of a broader effort to responsibly manage District resources while continuing to prioritize student learning, safety, and well-being. We know this information can feel disappointing and difficult. Our commitment remains to communicate clearly and honestly, and to provide opportunities for our community to stay informed and engaged throughout this process. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and engaged as we navigate this work together. With appreciation, Dr. Antonio Castro   Fri. Feb. 13 and Mon. Feb. 16: all schools and District offices closed Thurs. Feb. 19, 5:30-7 pm:  Local Control Accountability Plan Meeting (LCAP) March 12-17:  Elementary Parent Conferences: Minimum Days Thurs. March 19 , 5:30 pm : School Closures Advisory Committee- ESC, McAuliffe  March 30-April 6: Spring Break- all schools closed (Fri., April 3- District offices closed)   Contact the district offices at 805-641-5000 to obtain more information on these meetings.   The 2026-2027 School Year Calendar is available on our   VUSD Calendar webpage .     School Closures Family Meeting Superintendent Castro and several cabinet members invite you to join an online, all VUSD families meeting to share information about the district’s upcoming School Closures Advisory Committee process, including the criteria the advisory committee will be utilizing, the Board of Education’s role, and projected timelines.  The meeting will be held on Thur. March 5 from 5-6 pm via Zoom webinar,   https://bit.ly/familyschoolmarch2026.  We are holding this meeting online to support broad family participation; the meeting will be recorded and shared.   Have Your Say: LCAP Survey Now Open This is an important moment for our families, staff, students, and community to share their voices. Ventura Unified School District is inviting you to take this year’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey . This is the most important survey you can complete for the District each year. Your feedback directly helps guide how district funds are used and which programs, services, and supports are prioritized for students in the year ahead. Now more than ever, your perspective matters. Please take a few minutes to share what is most important to you as we shape the future of Ventura Unified together. Deadline to complete the survey: Sunday, February 22 at 5:00 p.m. Take the survey: bit.ly/lcap2026   Has your student missed days of school?   Did you know students can make up missed instructional time by attending Saturday School? Saturday School offers students a chance to: Make up attendance credit Catch up on assignments Get extra help from staff Participate in fun, engaging activities Please contact your school site to reserve a spot for the next Saturday School session. If you’re unable to attend the session at your own school, ask about attending Saturday School at another site; students can still receive credit for the day.     Negotiations On February 11, 2026, the VESPA, VUEA, and District negotiations teams met regarding Total Compensation. The teams were exploring plan options, including lower-cost plans from Kaiser and Anthem PPO. Attached are the monthly rates for the Kaiser CDHP DHMO 80 and CDHP PPO 80 (Anthem) as well as the counter proposal that was made at that meeting. The attachment lists the monthly health and welfare benefit premium costs for all current plans and the proposed additional plans. The district presented a counterproposal that included no employee cost for health and welfare premiums for the 25-26 school year. See the attached chart in the counter proposal on page 2. This provides the employee contribution for each plan for 2025-26, and the annual premium the district will fund for 25-26. The attached chart also shows the amount the employee contribution for legacy employees (12 months) would have been for 2025-2026 if the district was not fully funding the employee premiums. In addition, the district's offer includes 7 out of 11 health and welfare plans with no employee contribution and a district contribution to the employees' health savings account (HSA) for qualifying plans from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026 (as rates for the 2027 calendar year are not yet available). This chart can be found on page 4 of the counter proposal attached. For 2026-2027, if the health and welfare benefits premiums for 2027 increase by more than 7% as determined by the Group Purchasing Organization (GPO)/California Schools Employee Benefits Organization (CSEBO), the district agrees to reopen negotiations for the health and welfare component of total compensation. For more information and supporting documents, visit the   District’s Negotiations website , which includes all related materials.   Board of Education Approves Staffing Reductions At its February 10 meeting, the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education approved staffing reductions for the 2026–27 school year. As most are aware, these decisions were necessary to protect the short- and long-term fiscal health of our District. At the same time, we recognize that living with these reductions is challenging on many levels. The reality of not being able to provide everything we would like to provide for students, particularly our highest-needs students, weighs heavily on all of us. At a time when many districts across California are making similar decisions, this can create a broader sense of uncertainty. For families and staff, that uncertainty can naturally lead to questions about what lies ahead. We understand that. Approved Staffing Reductions The Board approved the following: 20.0 FTE Certificated Positions 26.73 FTE Classified Positions Approximately 10.6 FTE Conference Item Adjustments , including: Secondary counseling adjustments to align with contractual ratios 1.0 FTE College and Career position Elementary counseling adjustments at 17 sites reduced by 0.2 FTE each, subject to site funding decisions 2.0 FTE vacant district-level positions, including Translator and Title I support It is important to note that staffing is based on enrollment projections and site-based budgeting decisions. As enrollment is finalized and school site plans are approved, some positions may be restored before the start of the school year. We staff to enrollment, and adjustments occur each year based on student needs. Looking Ahead As challenging as this moment is, we continue planning for a district of fewer than 13,000 students. Ventura Unified has experienced significant change over the past several years, including declining enrollment, the end of one-time federal funding, and rising operational costs. At times, it may feel like we are waiting to catch our breath. While we have worked through hardships together, we are not yet at the end of this process. We are beginning the School Closures Advisory Committee process, which will help define who we are as a district moving forward. This is an important and thoughtful step as we make structural adjustments needed to stabilize our future.  Families are encouraged to review the information regarding the upcoming School Closures VUSD Family Meeting scheduled for March, where we will continue this important conversation. Even in uncertainty, one thing remains constant. The people who work alongside and for our students care deeply about their work, about one another, and about the families we serve. Every decision is made with today’s students in mind and with tomorrow’s students equally in view. This is a moment to acknowledge the weight of where we are. It is hard. We are grateful to our families and staff for enduring what has been several years of significant change. Community members may review the February 10 Board meeting discussions at the links below: Consideration of Resolution to Reduce or Discontinue Particular Kinds of Certificated Services for the 2026-27 School Year Consideration of Resolution Regarding Reduction or Discontinuance of Classified Services Additional Budget and Personnel Reduction Information The Board resolutions and presentation slides are also attached for those who would like to review the full details. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate this work together.   Commitment to Transparency: Leadership and Board Compensation Based on recent questions and requests for information, we want to ensure we are being as transparent as possible regarding compensation for Ventura Unified’s Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent(s), and Board of Education members. Ventura Unified has submitted all required compensation data to Transparent California. At this time, their website reflects 2023 information. We have already provided 2024 data; however, it has not yet been uploaded by Transparent California, similar to many other districts statewide. The timing of those updates is outside of the District’s control. All compensation information is public record, and contracts for top administrators are reviewed and approved during open, public regular Board of Education meetings. For convenience, we have attached that information here.  This salary schedule does not include health and welfare benefits or incentives such as the education incentive. We also want to clarify Board of Education compensation. Board members receive: A monthly stipend of$400. Health and welfare benefits consistent with Board bylaws. We understand that financial transparency is important to our community. We remain committed to openly sharing information and ensuring that accurate, up-to-date details are accessible to everyone. If you have additional questions, we encourage you to reach out to the district offices.    Feb. 1 The Board of Education met on Feb. 10, 2026. Here are links to some of the discussions that occurred: Gratitude Award Nominations for January Buena High School Black Student Union Highlight El Camino High School Student Board Member Report- Lizzie Okubo Foothill Technology High School Student Board Member Report-Santanah Schnizler Ventura Adult and Career Education Student Board Member Report Ventura County Office of Education Correspondence re: 2025-26 First Interim Budget Consideration of Resolution regarding Release of Temporary Certificated Employees for the 2026-27 School Year Consideration of Resolution to Reduce or Discontinue Particular Kinds of Certificated Services for the 2026-27 School Year Consideration of Resolution Regarding Reduction or Discontinuance of Classified Services Bond Funds- Roof Replacements Additional Budget and Personnel Reduction Information   The next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for Feb. 24, 2026.  The agenda, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person), locations, and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, is available at least 72 hours before the regular board meeting date on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page .   If you would like to reach out to the Board members, their email addresses can be found on the Board webpage .    

Friday, Feb 13 2026

VUSD Connections Newsletter: New Safety Enhancements...

  I hope you are having a good start to the new year and that January has been a smooth transition back into routine for your family.   I want to share that members of the School Closures Advisory Committee have now been selected. You can learn more about the committee and its membership in the update below. As we move into the next phase of this work, the committee will begin meeting in March as part of a structured process focused on reviewing data, asking questions, and better understanding enrollment trends, usage of current school sites, long-term planning considerations, and more. This phase is centered on learning and listening. No decisions have been made, and no schools would close before the 2027–28 school year.   As this work continues, there will be opportunities for families, staff, students, and community members to provide feedback and share perspectives with the committee and the Board. We will continue to share information about how and when input can be provided, and we encourage families to stay tuned as the process moves forward.   We know these conversations are important to our school communities. Our commitment remains clear; communication, transparency, and care throughout is our priority during this process. Thank you for staying engaged and informed. With appreciation, Dr. Antonio Castro   Fri. Jan. 30, 9-11 am:  Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting via Teams Mon. Feb. 2, 5 pm:  Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) Meeting- ESC Fri. Feb. 6, 9-11 am:  Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Fri. Feb. 13 and Mon. Feb. 16: all schools and District offices closed Thurs. Feb. 19, 5:30-7 pm:  Local Control Accountability Plan Meeting (LCAP) March 12-17:  Elementary Parent Conferences: Minimum Days Thurs. March 19 , 5:30 pm : School Closures Advisory Committee- ESC, McAuliffe  March 30-April 6: Spring Break- all schools closed (Fri., April 3- District offices closed)   Contact the district offices at 805-641-5000 to obtain more information on these meetings.   The 2026-2027 School Year Calendar is available on our   VUSD Calendar webpage .     School Closures Advisory Committee Update At a recent Board meeting, the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education considered staff’s recommendations and voted to approve members of the  School Closures Advisory Committee . Here is the full list of committee members: Committee Members: Stephanie Caldwell, Sara Cameron, Maruja Clensay, Kevin Corse, Jorge DeLeon, Evaristo Escoto, Oscar Gomez, Kathryn Heller, Kevin Herrera, Kristin Ippolito, Melanie Lindsey, Sandy Lomeli Harrison, Peggy Maryanski, Sarah McLaughlin (VUEA President), Kathlyn Mundo-Graffa, Jeanette Park, Carol Peek (VESPA President), Andrea Rodriguez, Sydney Traub, Emmanuel Velazquez, Annette Walters, Monica West, Stacey Whitaker Alternates: Antonia Badone, Amy Coccia, Monique Cybulski, Jenny Makosky, Candace Schmidt Committee members represent a broad range of perspectives, including local homeowners and renters, current VUSD high school students, parents and guardians, certificated and classified staff, business owners, school site administrators, and individuals with relevant professional expertise. Members have ties to the Ventura community from east to west and reflect a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.  For more information on the board members, please see the attached list.  To learn more about the purpose of the School Closures Advisory Committee and how the committee will approach its work, families are encouraged to watch Budget Bites, Episode 4 ,  where Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro outlines the process.   Ventura Adult and Career Education (VACE) Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE) has also undergone a thoughtful rebranding process and will now be known as Ventura Adult and Career Education . While the well-recognized VACE acronym remains, the updated name and logo reflect a modern, career-focused mission that supports adults in building meaningful pathways to employment and personal growth. This new identity emphasizes empowerment, opportunity, and excellence, aligning with the accredited, high-quality training VACE provides.  We look forward to all VACE will continue to bring to the community!   Auto Repair Courses for Adults at VACE This class is designed to teach participants how to care for their cars.   Topics such as automotive tools, cooling systems, engine overhaul, breaking and more will be covered.  The cost is $65 and will be held in the Ventura High School auto shop. The course runs from Feb. 18- May 27, registration is required.  See attached flyer.    Did You Know?  If your family is experiencing food insecurity or could use extra support right now, help is available across Ventura Unified. Schools throughout the district are partnering with community organizations to provide food and other essential resources for families. One example is EP Foster Elementary School, where a new monthly Food Pantry is available through a partnership with Food Share of Ventura County and the school’s OCEAN Afterschool Program. Through this program, EP Foster families can receive nutritious dry goods at no cost to support household wellness. Efforts like this reflect the broader commitment across Ventura Unified School District to ensure students and families have access to the resources they need to thrive. If your family needs food assistance, please reach out to your school site or contact Student Services at 805-641-5000. Our team is ready to help connect you with available resources. You are not alone. Support is available.       VUSD’s Commitment to Reducing Absenteeism Our district’s goal is to reach a 97% attendance rate. Currently, we are maintaining a steady rate of 95%.  Ventura Unified School District is actively working to improve student attendance through its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)   , a strategic plan that outlines district goals, actions, and funding priorities. Thanks to ongoing efforts, chronic absenteeism dropped from 22% to 15.8% between 2022 and 2025. VUSD aims to continue this progress, with a long-term goal of reducing chronic absenteeism to 11%. For the 2025–26 school year, Goal Two of the LCAP focuses on elevating student achievement and strengthening positive learning environments. A major part of this effort includes reducing chronic absenteeism across all student groups and promoting strong attendance habits districtwide. Thank you for working in partnership with us to improve student achievement and attendance.    New Safety and Audio Enhancements Coming to VUSD Schools Ventura Unified School District is upgrading paging and bell systems, master clocks, and classroom audio systems across the district through the  Measure E Bond program . These updates will support clearer classroom instruction, improve school-wide communication, and enhance safety by allowing faster communication between classrooms and school offices when needed.   Installation will begin at high school campuses over the next few months and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete at all sites. Existing paging, clock, and bell systems will remain fully operational until each site’s new system is installed, tested, and ready for use. The new system does not include video cameras or classroom recording devices. District and site leaders will develop standard operating procedures for system use, and all staff will receive training before the system is brought online.   These upgrades are part of VUSD’s continued commitment to creating safe, supportive, and effective learning environments for students and staff.   Watch this video for more on the new system, https://youtu.be/qEXmW-KXq08 . A huge thank you again to those who voted for Measure E. Every day, we are improving our facilities, which in turn improves student success.   Upcoming Board Meeting  The next Regular Board of Education Meeting is planned for Feb. 10, 2026.  The agenda, including information on how to make public comments (which must be in person), locations, and the start times of both closed and regular sessions, is available at least 72 hours before the regular board meeting date on the Board Agendas and Minutes webpage . All regular Board meetings are livestreamed and recorded. To view, please visit our Ventura Unified School District YouTube page .   Your Library. Your Voice. Your Moment to Make a Difference. The Ventura County Library belongs to all of us, and right now, they’re asking the VUSD community to help shape its future. The Library has launched a comprehensive  strategic planning initiative that will guide their services, programs, and priorities for the next several years. But here's the thing: they need the community’s participation. With three library branches serving the city of Ventura: E.P. Foster Library, Avenue Library, and Hill Road Library, your voices are critical to ensuring these branches truly meet your needs. This is your chance to share what's working, what's not, and what's missing. What programs would change your life? What resources does our community need? How can the Ventura County Library better serve students, families, seniors, and everyone in between? Your feedback will directly shape how the Library identifies community needs, improves access to resources and creates spaces where everyone feels welcome. To Participate: Take the online survey  here : it's quick and accessible from anywhere. The deadline is Friday, February 6. This is your library, and they’re ready to listen!  

Friday, Jan 30 2026