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group of students and staff cutting a ribbon at a new playground
Elmhurst Elementary Celebrates New Inclusive Playground with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Marieanne Quiroz

 Elmhurst Elementary Celebrates New Inclusive Playground with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. This is just the beginning for Ventura Unified — 15 more playgrounds slated for construction thanks to Bond Measure E.

Excitement filled the air at Elmhurst Elementary School in the morning of Friday, April 25, 2025 as students, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of three brand-new playgrounds — the first of 16 new play spaces being constructed across Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) thanks to voter-approved Measure E bond funds.

Designed using a comprehensive, evidence-based approach, the new playgrounds were created to support the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, sensory, and communicative development of all children, including those with disabilities. The vibrant play areas now offer Elmhurst students inclusive, engaging spaces to learn, connect, and grow.

District and school leaders shared remarks during a short ceremony, followed by a festive ribbon-cutting and a group photo. Students immediately took to the new equipment, exploring nature-themed structures, sensory elements, and a crowd favorite — the zipline. Three new play structures were constructed at Elmhurst; one for the TK/K students and the other two for the rest of the school.

"These playgrounds are more than just places to play — they’re places where students of all abilities can come together, feel safe, and build friendships," said Elmhurst Principal Bret Klopfenstein. "We are incredibly grateful to our community for passing Measure E and making projects like this possible."

Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro also addressed the crowd, emphasizing the broader vision behind the playgrounds: “This is an important day because these new playgrounds represent our commitment to equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all students. Thanks to the support of our community through Measure E, we’re able to create spaces where every child feels like they belong, where every child can grow and thrive." He thanked the community for their investment in the future of Ventura students and recognized the hard work of the Measure E Team, VUSD Bond staff, and Elmhurst staff for their dedication to seeing the project through. He also thanked the students for the patience they showed while the playground was being built.

Board of Education Trustee Sabrena Rodriguez shared a heartfelt message, highlighting the importance of voter participation in making projects like these a reality. "This playground represents what happens when a community comes together to say ‘yes’ to investing in children. It’s about more than swings and slides — it’s about creating an environment where every student feels seen, included, and supported. This is exactly the kind of future we want for all of our students." Rodriguez thanked families, staff, and the broader community for their ongoing commitment to supporting safe, inclusive, and inspiring learning environments.

Adding a special touch to the day’s celebration, Elmhurst teacher and alumna Mrs. Lockwood reflected on how far the school has come. "I attended Elmhurst as a student back in the 1970s, and now, in my 32nd year teaching here, I can truly say this is by far the best playground we have ever had. It finally meets the needs of all our students," she shared. "We've had so many kids run up to us saying, 'This is the best day ever!' The variety of activities and structures is incredible — there’s something for everyone to enjoy."

Elmhurst’s playgrounds have already earned national recognition, recently receiving three National Demonstration Site Project Excellence Awards from PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education (CORE) — one for inclusive play design and two for nature and physical activity-focused zones.

The students' excitement was impossible to miss. As they zipped, climbed, and explored, many shared their favorite parts. One student exclaimed, "This is the best playground ever!" Another added, "There’s so much to do — we can run, climb, spin, and even race on the zipline!" Students praised the natural design, wide-open space, and colorful features, while teachers and staff noted how the playground was already fostering teamwork, creativity, and joyful play.

Tiana, an Elmhurst student, summed it up best: "We love the playground! It’s so big that we can have a restaurant under it! I love the color green because it’s the color of nature — and the zipliner is my favorite part. We appreciate the people who built it, even though they had to work in the rain!"

 

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Superintendent Message: Anticipated Budget Challenges and Staff Reductions
Marieanne Quiroz

The following message was sent to all families on 1.30.25

Dear VUSD Families,

I want to share important information regarding our school district’s anticipated staff reductions and the steps we are taking to address upcoming budget challenges while keeping our focus on improved student outcomes and student success. Over the past few years, our district has received one-time federal and state funds that provided crucial support intended to address significant student needs resulting from COVID. Unfortunately, although these temporary funds have run out, we continue to face the challenges of residual learning loss, ongoing declining enrollment, and the need to maintain and improve competitive salaries for staff.

To help with these challenges, the District has taken several actions over the past few years to reduce budget limitations which have included retirement incentives, energy savings initiatives, grant awards, reduction in central office positions, and seeking a parcel tax extension. While this has helped, more needs to be done.

Despite these challenges, our school board and district administration remain steadfast in their commitment to:

  1. Advancing Literacy Initiatives: Ensuring every student has the skills and support they need to succeed.
  2. Improving Outcomes for Our Highest-Need Students: Providing targeted resources and programs to close achievement gaps. This includes exploring new mental health delivery models to extend the benefits of access to the district’s expanded mental health initiatives.
  3. Offering a Variety of Academic Options at the High School Level: Preserving a wide range of opportunities for student exploration and growth.
  4. Maintaining and Expanding Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities: Continuing middle school and high school co-teaching models and growing elementary inclusive models, beginning with transitional kindergarten through 1st grade.
  5. Exploring Educator Workforce Housing Options: Seeking solutions to support VUSD staff struggling with the cost of affordable housing.

 

Looking ahead, we are hopeful that new funding and cost-saving measures, that are planned, will help further reduce the financial stress in the 2026-27 school year.  Our goal is to keep our district stable long-term while focusing on what students need most.

We understand that these staff reductions may raise concerns, and we will maintain open lines of communication throughout this process. Please know that these decisions are not made lightly and are guided by our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students.

Your support and partnership are invaluable as we navigate this challenging time together. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to call, email me, or attend our upcoming school board meetings.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our schools and our VUSD community.

Respectfully,

 

Dr. Antonio Castro

Superintendent

 

Superintendent, Dr. Antonio Castro, Antonio.Castro@venturausd.org

Board President, Calvin Peterson, Calvin.Peterson@venturausd.org

Board Vice-President, James Forsythe, James.Forsythe@venturausd.org

Board Trustee, Sabrena Rodriguez, Sabrena.Rodriguez@venturausd.org

Board Trustee, Shannon Trani Fredericks, Shannon.Fredericks@venturausd.org

Board Trustee, Dr. Gerald Dannenberg, Jerry.Dannenberg@venturausd.org

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Message from Superintendent re: Immigration Officials on School Campuses
Marieanne Quiroz

The following message was recently sent to staff and families in the VUSD Connections Newsletter. 

Dear Ventura Unified School District Families,

District staff recently received multiple inquiries regarding the federal government’s proposed actions to use Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce immigration laws on school grounds. We want to reassure you that Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is committed to fostering safe and supportive learning environments for all students, including those who are immigrants or come from immigrant families.


It is important to know that students, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution and state law. In California public schools, the law requires us to uphold the following:

  • Non-Discrimination
    • All students, including those who are undocumented or come from immigrant families, have the right to receive a quality education free from discrimination and participate in school activities.
  • Safe School Environment
    • Schools are prohibited from voluntarily allowing immigration enforcement officers to access campus without a federal court warrant or subpoena. Additionally, schools cannot request Social Security numbers or ask about the citizenship or immigration status of students or their parents/guardians unless explicitly required by law.
  • Confidentiality of Student Information
    • We are required to protect the privacy of our students. Schools cannot share personal information about students or their family members for immigration enforcement purposes without a federal court warrant or subpoena.

Our schools must remain safe places for children to learn and for educators to teach. Under current state law, school officials are required to allow immigration agents to enter campuses with a federal court warrant or subpoena issued by a judge or magistrate.

If an immigration officer approaches any staff or student during school hours or on campus, they will be directed to the school principal or front office to address their request. Such actions can be traumatic not only for involved individuals but also for students and staff who witness these events.

If an immigration officer requests to speak with or detain a student while at school, we will notify the student’s parent or guardian immediately. Unless there is a court order or judicial subpoena, we will not provide access to the student while on campus.

We encourage families to explore resources on the Ventura County Office of Education’s Educational Rights webpage: https://www.vcoe.org/rights. While reviewing all the information is beneficial, families may also find the following resources helpful.

 

Thank you for partnering with us to create a safe and supportive environment for every child in our district. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school’s principal or the Educational Services department at the district office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Castro
Superintendent