Ventura County board unites on immigration issue

Despite political differences, the board puts students first

In a political climate characterized by deep division, the Ventura County Board of Education recently demonstrated a powerful commitment to students, setting aside political differences to unanimously approve a letter to the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The letter urgently requests the reinstatement of a longstanding policy designating schools as off-limits for immigration enforcement and asks that immigration officers wear clearly identifiable uniforms with their faces unmasked. While the board members come from both sides of the political spectrum, their action reflects a unified stance in support of student safety and well-being.

The idea for the letter grew from meetings organized by Ventura County Superintendent César Morales, where educators shared concerns about immigration enforcement with their local representatives in Congress. Among the attendees were longtime trustee and current Board President Ramon Flores, along with the board’s newest member, Richard Lucas III, who is also the chairman of the Ventura County Republican Party. They were inspired to take action after Congressman Salud Carbajal stressed the need to give policy requests added weight by putting them in writing. Their intent was clear: to create a document narrowly focused on enforcement on school campuses, avoiding the polarization of the broader immigration debate.

The commitment to unity was fully realized as the letter was written and refined. Morales’s office provided the initial draft. However, Lucas felt that some language could potentially be viewed as divisive to conservatives. At the board meeting where the letter was discussed, he presented a revised version that maintained the key points of the original, and the essential message that schools must be places where students are not fearful of showing up.

After about 10 minutes of discussion, the board voted 5-0 in favor of sending the letter. For Flores, the unanimous vote was deeply significant, especially given his past experience with politically split boards that often resulted in stressful 3-2 decisions. He highlighted the strength found in consensus, drawing on the CSBA’s guiding principle of unity of purpose. “Regardless of which side of the aisle we’re on, our purpose is to create a safe and welcoming educational environment that fosters student learning and growth,” he said. “The fact that we’re showing bipartisan collaboration toward the goal of giving students the best academic experience is fantastic.”

As a new member of the board, Lucas said he was humbled to see his colleagues unite around this issue. “I felt there was a trust and a bond that was really there. It shows that even if we have different political views, we can come together and have meaningful conversations to effect important change in our community.”

While acknowledging that the letter may not ultimately alter federal policy, both trustees agreed on the value of sending it. “It shows our constituents that we recognize the issue and that we’re using our platform to give voice to their concerns,” Flores said. While Lucas feels there’s a low likelihood of major immigration enforcement action at schools, he noted, “If there is a concern in the community, it should be addressed, so I only see upside in sending the letter.”

For Superintendent Morales, the board’s vote shows that local leaders can be important models of cooperation at a time when it’s badly needed. “I’m extremely proud of our board members for elevating their voices to help ensure that schools remain free from the impacts of immigration enforcement,” he said. “This is a reminder that the commitment to keeping our schools safe places for learning is a value that should transcend political affiliations.”

Lucas summed it up with a simple but profound maxim for collaboration: “People aren’t the enemy, they’re the opportunity.”