PRESIDENT'S CORNER

A New Year's Message for Trustees

By Eleanor Torres, VCSBA President

Happy New Year everyone! As we welcome 2025, there are exciting changes to many of our lives. First, I would like to congratulate those of you who won your election and are now governing board members! While there is a lot to learn and sure to be some challenges, it’s extremely rewarding to know your work will impact the future of our students. 

Also, congratulations to those board members who were re-elected and will continue the work they have already been a part of. Going forward as a trustee, your duty is to support students and work together with your superintendent to build the best district for your community.

There are no easy answers to the major issues facing board members, but one thing is for sure: if you don’t put in the work, if you don’t keep an open mind, if you don’t cultivate a relentless curiosity about education policy, finances and law, you won’t position yourself to support student success.

The Role of School Board Members

We became school board members out of a deep sense of duty, service, love, and purpose, and those qualities have never been more desperately needed. Your decisions when you vote should always be based on what is best for students. Ask yourself whether your vote will give each student a better opportunity to advance their education and provide them with the tools to be future leaders. That’s a daunting prospect and is incredibly hard work, but it’s some of the most important work there is. Our students are worth every bit of our continued attention if it helps guide them in gaining an education and finding purpose in their lives.

All students need a solid academic foundation, but also the opportunity to develop strength, self-worth, mental well-being, kindness, compassion and all of the characteristics that will carry them through adulthood.

Your position as a trustee should be dedicated to enhancing the betterment of all your students without prejudice, having an open mind, and always remembering why you chose to become a board member.

I wish you all well and have no doubt that your districts will be better with all board members working together with one purpose: giving all students the kind of education that we would want for our own children.

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Navigating Unsettled Waters

By Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

With the coming change of administration in the White House, public schools are facing some extremely pressing questions. To what extent will migrant students be impacted by increased immigration enforcement? How can we ensure that LGBTQ students continue to feel safe and supported at school? What happens if the federal Department of Education is eliminated?

There is a wide range of opinions on these issues among our elected trustees and the families we serve. It’s likely that there will be difficult conversations and tense moments at some of our board meetings in the coming months. As the temperature rises, it’s important to remind our communities that school districts are required to follow the laws of the State of California.

California Moves to Protect Students

There’s already been a flurry of activity in Sacramento to ensure that California schools can maintain their commitment to serving all children who enter our classrooms. In November, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a letter reminding school leaders about these existing provisions in state law that protect undocumented students: 

1. Students who are undocumented or come from immigrant families have a legal right to attend public school.
2. Schools are not allowed to ask about the citizenship status of students or their parents.
3. A social security number is not required to enroll children in school.
4. Schools do not allow immigration officers on campus without a warrant or court order.
5. Schools will not share student information for immigration enforcement purposes without a court order or subpoena.

In December, Attorney General Rob Bonta issued detailed guidance for schools about responding to immigration issues, which I invite you to explore at this link. 

Pending state legislation aims to build on the protections that are already in place. If passed, Senate Bill 48 would strengthen prohibitions against immigration enforcement activity on school grounds. It would also address fears that immigrant parents may have when dropping off their children by creating a one-mile safe zone around school campuses. 

There’s also a new law meant to protect the rights and safety of LGBTQ students that took effect on January 1. AB 1955 prohibits schools from disclosing information about a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity without their consent. It also protects school employees from disciplinary action for protecting student’s privacy regarding these sensitive issues. 

The Fate of the Federal Department of Education

The elimination of the federal Department of Education would have serious impacts on California students. The state receives nearly $8 billion a year in federal funding that supports critical programs for low-income students and students with disabilities. It remains to be seen whether there’s enough support in Washington to actually eliminate the department and what would happen to its programs if the department goes away. In the meantime, state education leaders and our representatives in Congress are working together to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining the Department of Education. 

During this turbulent time, local school trustees and administrators have an important role to play in advocating for the issues and programs you care about. The annual Coast2Coast trip to Washington, DC, coordinated by the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators, is an excellent opportunity to do this. Participants will learn strategies to advocate for their districts, network with Capitol Hill decision-makers, and meet face-to-face with their congressional representatives. The 2025 trip takes place from April 28-30, and you can learn more about applying by clicking here.

Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, we all share a commitment to using the power of public education to help Ventura County’s students succeed in school and in life. As long as we work together and put students first in our decisions, I’m confident our schools will remain welcoming, supportive and enriching environments for all who have the desire to learn.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

New Laws Impacting Schools in 2025

By Lauren Gill, Vice President, Legislation

Here’s a quick look at new laws impacting education in California. All of the laws noted below took effect January 1, 2025.

AB 1821

AB 1821 requires public schools to offer instruction on the mistreatment of Native Americans during Spanish colonization and the California gold rush era. 

AB 1805

Mandates that social science curriculum updated on or after January 1 include instruction on Mendez v. Westminster School District of Orange County, the landmark court case that challenged school segregation in California.

AB 1858

Requires public school officials to notify parents before AND after any active-shooter drill. So-called “high intensity” drills that simulate gunfire are explicitly prohibited by the new law.

AB 1955

Bars public school districts and school boards from requiring school staff to notify parents regarding a change in student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression without consent from the student.

AB 2865

AB 2865 requires that schools provide instruction to students about the short- and long-term harms of excessive drinking–including evidence linking alcohol consumption to chronic diseases, mental health challenges, and death. Under the new law, school boards can decide which grades receive the new instruction.

AB 1825

AB 1825, the California Freedom to Read Act, prohibits libraries that receive public funding, including school libraries, from banning books because of the views or themes in them. The law also protects librarians from being fired for refusing to remove books because of their content.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD HONOREES