VENTURA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT School Closures Advisory Committee Applications Now Open Ventura Unified School District is now accepting applications for the School Closures Advisory Committee. This committee will review districtwide data, meet monthly beginning in March 2026, and provide a recommendation to the Board of Education by October 2026. Please note that serving on this committee will require a significant time commitment. VUSD had previously delayed discussion of school closures while evaluating enrollment trends each year, hopeful that post-COVID declines might stabilize. However, with enrollment continuing to drop by roughly 300 students annually, it is now time to carefully assess where we are and determine whether the number of active schools should be realigned to better reflect our anticipated enrollment. Our goal is to ensure this work remains open, transparent, data-driven, and grounded in our district’s values. It is also important to note that if a school were to close, that does not automatically mean the property would be sold or leased. Any decision about future use of a closed school site would go through a separate, transparent process led by the Board of Education. We assure you that there will be meaningful opportunities for staff, students, families, and the broader community to share their thoughts, ask questions, and provide input throughout this process. Your voices will play an important role as this work moves forward. At this time, if the Board ultimately approves any closures, no school would close before the 2027–2028 school year. Additional details about the process can be found on the district’s School Closures Advisory Committee webpage. Applications are due by 4 pm on Thursday, December 18, 2025 and may be submitted by email to VUSDSchoolsCommittee@venturausd.org or mailed/hand-delivered to: School Closure Advisory Committee c/o Victoria Cortez 255 W. Stanley Ave. Ventura, CA 93001 If you have any questions about the process or the application, please email VUSDSchoolsCommittee@venturausd.org. Pub:  December 9, 14, 17, 2025; Ad#11899307