PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Shaping Tomorrow: The Critical Role of School Board Trustees

By Eleanor Torres, VCSBA President

First of all, I would like to thank all of you who attended our last dinner meeting workshop. Your presence at these meetings helps make them a success and allows all of us to get to know each other, especially since we have many first-time board members. To all of our new trustees, I sincerely hope the past four months have been meaningful and that you now have an understanding of the importance of your role on your district’s school board. You make a difference not only to your community but also to all your students and their future education. 

It has been said that excellence in the classroom begins with excellence in the boardroom. A good board member is committed to serving with integrity and placing students’ interests at the heart of every decision. Key qualities include strong communication and active listening skills, which help foster collaboration and transparency within the board and with the community. Additionally, a solid understanding of governance and accountability is essential, along with a commitment to ongoing professional development. 

I hope all board members develop a deep passion for their work. May your time on the school board be a journey of continuous learning, understanding, and growth. Most importantly, may you take pride in knowing that your efforts and decisions shape the future by helping to nurture well-qualified, capable adults.

Every one of you makes a difference. Keep up the good work! Knowledge is a powerful tool, and all our students deserve the best that we can give them. 

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Defending Public Education in a Time of Uncertainty

By Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

Public education is facing an unprecedented challenge. As political rhetoric intensifies, the U.S. Department of Education has come under attack, with calls for its elimination shaking the foundation of our nation’s commitment to equitable learning opportunities. Yet, despite these challenges, the focus of Ventura County educators remains unwavering: ensuring the well-being and success of students.

The Role of the U.S. Department of Education

While some may view these attacks as symbolic, the implications are real. The Department of Education plays a crucial role in supporting public schools across the country. It distributes federal resources and helps ensure that our schools are free from discrimination. The formal elimination of the Department of Education would require an act of Congress, which has not yet occurred. However, we cannot ignore the disruptions likely to result from the dismissal of nearly half of the department’s staff.

For now, there is no indication that Ventura County schools will experience an immediate loss of federal revenue. Federal funding accounts for approximately 10% of the total budget for our local schools, supporting services for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, students with special needs, and school meal programs. However, even if the funding remains intact, we anticipate potential delays and bureaucratic hurdles due to staffing reductions and disarray at the federal level. The most at-risk students stand to lose the most from any disruption.

Civil Rights Protections for Students

Beyond funding concerns, the weakening of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is particularly troubling. This office serves as a safeguard against discrimination, ensuring that all students are protected under federal law. While California has strong state-level protections in place, not all states do. The erosion of federal oversight threatens to widen educational inequities, particularly for students in marginalized communities.

The current administration is also taking steps that threaten our efforts to create learning environments where all students are welcome and supported. Despite the campaign to turn DEI initiatives into political kryptonite, we must not shy away from their principles. We embrace the diversity of our student body, we strive to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities, and we work to make every child feel included and valued at school. I’m proud that my office recently presented our 5th annual Equity Conference, where 500 of your friends and neighbors from all walks of life came together to support the values that make Ventura County schools so special.

The Power of Community Support for Education

At a time when public education is under scrutiny, our schools need unwavering support from the communities they serve. The narrative around education must shift from one of division to one of shared responsibility and appreciation. We need to reinforce the idea that teaching is not just a profession, but a privilege—one that shapes the future of our society. Strong, compassionate educators and leaders remain essential to guiding our schools through these uncertain times.

Now more than ever, we urge parents, business leaders, and community members to stand in solidarity with our schools to fill the crater of the meteoric attacks on our public education system. Get engaged at your local school sites. Volunteer in classrooms, mentor students, or serve on advisory committees. Your voice and involvement help preserve the programs and opportunities that students rely on every day.

Our Unyielding Commitment of Ventura County Schools

The attacks on public education cannot be allowed to erode the foundation of learning and opportunity in our country. Despite the uncertainty, one thing remains clear: Ventura County’s schools will continue to provide the best possible education for our students, preparing them for bright and successful futures. Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy, a reflection of our nation’s values, and a pathway to a better future for all.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

New Laws Impacting Schools in 2025

By Lauren Gill, Vice President, Legislation

The Assembly and Senate Education Committees held their first bill hearings of 2025 this month. Both committees approved seven of eight measures considered, granting reconsideration to the bills that failed initial passage. Here’s a quick look at key bills impacting LEAs that are proceeding:

AB 857 (Gipson, D-Carson) Cultural Competency Training

Commencing with the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires a local educational agency to provide a California Department of Education-developed online cultural competency training to support pupils of color to all school employees. The bill would also require LEAs to provide proof of completion to school employees that complete the training and to ensure that all school employees complete the required training on paid time during the employees’ regular work hours or designated professional development hours.

AB 1454 (Rivas, D-Hollister) Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning Systems

Current law requires LEAs, private schools, California Community Colleges, and California State Universities to ensure heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems meet minimum ventilation requirements and install filtration that meets efficiency reporting values. This measure would require each LEA to submit an annual inventory of their HVAC systems, inclusive of descriptions of modifications made to comply with current ventilation requirements and efficiency reporting values to the California Department of Education. 

AB 810 (Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks) Local Government: Internet Websites and Email Addresses

Existing law requires, no later than January 1, 2029, that cities and counties that maintain an internet website use a “.gov” or a “.ca.gov” domain and that corresponding email addresses provided to its employees uses a “.gov” or a “.ca.gov” domain name. This bill would apply this requirement to school districts. 

SB 19 (Rubio, D-Baldwin Park) Threats: Schools and Places of Worship

This bill would make an individual who willfully threatens to commit a crime that would cause death or great bodily injury to any person at a school or place of worship and as a result, causes a reasonable, sustained fear for safety, to be guilty of a misdemeanor or felony, regardless of whether the individual intends to carry out the threat.

Save the Date: May 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

VCSBA Dinner Meeting on "Artificial Intelligence"

VCSBA Executive Board Elections

2025-2026