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New Congress begins slowly, but seniors’ priorities remain on the docket

by Marci Phillips NCOA Public Policy and Advocacy

As the partial government shutdown extends and becomes the longest one on record, we continue to monitor the effects on benefits and services that older adults rely on.

Only 5 of the 12 FY19 appropriations bills have been enacted into law. Those 5 bills provide 75% of federal government funding, and many aging services programs are included. FY19 funding is secure for Older Americans Act (OAA) and Elder Justice Act (EJA) programs, Senior Corps, the Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

However, several other programs have not been funded. These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), low-income housing assistance, senior transportation programs, and elder justice and consumer protection initiatives administered by the Justice and Treasury Departments. To date, there have not been any reductions in these services for older adults. But if the shutdown continues, harmful effects will begin to emerge in February and March.

Also caught up in the FY19 funding debate are continuing efforts to extend expired Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs that allow older adults to remain in their own homes longer. These include the Money Follows the Person (MFP) and Spousal Impoverishment protection programs. On Jan. 8, with leadership from new Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the House passed the Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019 (H.R. 259), which provides 3-month extensions for these programs. We are hopeful the Senate will pass the bill by unanimous consent soon.

What’s ahead for FY20

Traditionally, the annual appropriations debate kicks off with the release of the President’s budget request in early February. Due to the shutdown, we believe this will be delayed and the Congressional debate will be postponed until all FY19 funding is enacted.

An important element for FY20 will be the need for another 2-year deal to raise the caps on discretionary spending. Congress has done this in increments over the past few years, and this year they are facing a 9% cut (from $597 to $543 billion) in non-defense discretionary spending and an 11% cut (from $647 to $576 billion) for defense spending if the caps are not raised.

For FY20, NCOA will continue to focus on funding for a range of aging services, calling particular attention to protecting and increasing investments in falls prevention, Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME), SHIPs, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

Due later this year are renewals of key statutes impacting older adults.

The first is renewal of authority under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) to provide targeted funding for SHIPs, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), and the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment (NCBOE) to find and enroll eligible low-income older adults into benefits programs. The current authority expires Oct. 1. NCOA is advocating to make this initiative permanent to eliminate the need for regular renewal.

Also up for renewal is the Older Americans Act. Reauthorization provides an opportunity to update and modernize the OAA to better serve the rapidly growing older population and strengthen the ability of the aging services network to address their needs. We are focused on strengthening research, demonstration, and evaluation activities through the creation of a new Innovation Center; protecting investments in falls prevention, CDSME, and SCSEP; enhancing efforts to coordinate and promote federal resources for home modifications; building upon senior center modernization secured in the last reauthorization; and enhancing the measurement of economic security of older adults.

As these debates ramp up, the NCOA Public Policy and Advocacy team will provide additional details about these proposals and how you can help ensure benefits and services for older adults are protected and strengthened in this Congressional session.

Vol. 12, No. 9 – Jan 30 – Feb 12, 2019 – Mailbox

Dear Editor,

I’m writing to you in regards to a vile and disrespectful “cartoon” you published in your Jan. 16-29th edition. 

I was appalled at the tasteless and unpatriotic smear of our current President. What so many seem to forget or have just decided they don’t care, half of the population voted for and supports this President who was elected into office by the American citizens of this great country. 

Allowing such a hate filled and biased piece to be in this newspaper was mind blowing to me and my family. We will no longer be reading your once appreciated paper. 

Beth Brokken

Beth:

Thank you for your thoughts. A difference in opinion is what makes America great (not great again we have always been great). Being able to express different views is vitally important to a democracy so keep your thoughts coming. Hope that you will give us another chance and continue to read the Breeze.

And for the record there are about 200 million eligible voters in the USA and Trump received about 63 million or 31% (not half)and Hillary received over 2miilion more votes than Trump.

Breeze

Breeze:

Well, well, well, it appears as though not everyone shares my opinion regarding Patagonia… 

Ah the difference of opinion; a key cornerstone in what Made America Great.

Freedom of choice is an inherent value in a democratic society.  You can choose to give charitable contributions and you can choose not to.  You can donate 1% of your annual sales to help the climate concerns, and do this quietly; or you can choose to boast of a charitable sum of $10M for the purposes of marketing your brand.  Believe me I get it; broadcast to the country that you oppose the President and watch the sales revenue climb.  Conversely endorse the President and watch your revenue slip away.  Sadly, It’s today’s economics 101.  

My point; which I’m allowed to express ( thank you Sheldon) is that; great I dig efforts to help in any manner in which one chooses, but why tie it to politics.  Some of this countries greatest philanthropists are never known, they chose to donate to a cause for the simple reason that they felt compelled to, versus trying to drive revenue.

Describing a marketing campaign as a charitable contribution is disappointing.  Again I say shame on Patagonia.

Hector Borrego

Editor:

I live south Oxnard as do my friends and I would like to share our concerns. We feel south Oxnard has the most crime in the city, my neighbors and I are uncomfortable in our own community. We feel there are not enough quality stores, restaurants and places to shop in the south area. The vagrants are extremely aggressive and are increasing.

The stores that are located in our area are run down, inundated with homeless individuals, crime and the quality of the items being sold is usually sub par. Vagrants scour the parking lot at Ralphs accosting people as they load groceries in their cars and the parking lot is full of potholes. My neighbors refuse to shop there so we get in our cars and drive to Camarillo or Ventura to shop.

There are no decent restaurants in our area so what do my neighbors and I do when we feel like eating out? Same. Same for all shopping needs because we are afraid of having our cars broken into or worse. Crime is a huge problem in our area, there is usually a shooting or stabbing every weekend and every several days, someone is arrested for driving with a loaded gun. Drunk drivers and hit and runs are common. This past weekend a drunk crashed into a backyard on Pleasant Valley Road. Vagrant standing on the median kick cars that are stopped at the light. There is a homeless encampment behind Oxnard College. My retired neighbor wants to move out but the value on his five bedroom home with a huge backyard is won’t pay for a condo in another city because the property values are so low. South Oxnard is in need of an overhaul.

Jose Medina Oxnard

Editor:

I, and many others, have waited for over two years for President Trump to release his tax returns. Why has he refused to do this? What is he hiding? Let’s hope the House of Representatives make this a top priority!

Judith A. Beay Ventura

Editor:

Regarding the announcement in the Star that “Time Out” will be reduced to a single page highlighting just 10 local events each week, all I can say (to quote Donald Trump) is:  SAD!

I’ve been a Ventura resident for over 20 years, and in that time, I’ve watched the sad decline of the Ventura County Star from a truly vibrant local newspaper devoted to providing full coverage of local news (with a complete section unto itself totally devoted to local events, local nonprofits, clubs and societies, local issues, etc.) to a mere slip of a rag that simply reprints USA Today, along with local crime reports and obituaries.

I belong to a local nonprofit that hosts a local show each year—a nonprofit that primarily depends on that show for its operating income.  Years ago, before being purchased by USA Today, we could count on the Ventura County Star to give us a full article—often times on the front page of the Local news section—to help promote our show.   All was good and well with the world.  Well, that section of the paper totally evaporated, but we thanked our stars (so to speak) that “Time Out” still persisted and still provided at least a modicum of coverage with a tiny 1-inch space in the calendar section.

Now:  Poof!  That, too, is gone in this day-and-age of Donald Trump and the sad, sad, sad dissolution of local news reporting.

And you have the gall to spring it on us at a moment’s notice!  Nice going!  At this rate, I’ll be cancelling my subscription and just getting a free copy of USA Today at a local hotel.

One unhappy long-time Star subscriber,

Jim Brace-Thompson

And putting your information in and reading the Ventura Breeze of course.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nia technique arrives at Avenue Adult Center!

by Nia Green Belt Teacher (and native Venturan) Christy Cantrel

The dance fitness modality called Nia has been practiced in Ventura for more than 15 years. Starting in February, the movement form for will be available through the city of Ventura Parks and Recreation at the Avenue Adult Center, offered several times per week.

Nia (originally an acronym for non-impact aerobics) is a holistic work out designed to be adaptable to individual needs and abilities. By rewarding pleasure over pain and embracing comfort, Nia delivers a full body and brain workout experience while helping people form a deeper connection to themselves and their body.

Nine movement forms from the dance arts, healing arts, and martial arts combine with 52 moves for the base, core and the upper extremities to inspire the class with a variety of dynamics used to provide body friendly choreography that can create opportunities to increase flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability!

Registration now open, checkout the My Ventura guide mailed to residents, call (805) 658-4726 or go to www.cityofventura.ca.gov/recreation.

Questions and more information? (805) 216-5216.

Vol. 12, No. 9 – Jan 30 – Feb 12, 2019 – Ojai News & Events

Villanova celebrate one of Villanova’s traditions, International Day.

Villanova students, staff and families gathered on Monday, January 14 to celebrate one of Villanova’s traditions, International Day. The annual event honors the rich diversity of Villanova students’ heritage through food, dance, traditional dress, and music. International Day at Villanova dates back to the early 1990s, when resident student, Victor Yang ’94 from Taiwan, expressed a desire to share his culture with his American classmates. The tradition has since blossomed into a highly-anticipated celebration with Villanova faculty and parents helping students develop food menus, and learn cultural dance and music.

Lanny Kaufer’s Herb Walks series will present Jess Starwood, clinical herbalist and forager of wild medicine, on Saturday, February 9, for a workshop in Ojai entitled “Tasting the Wild: Foraged Flavors of Local Plants and Mushrooms.” Starwood is the owner of SunRaven Apothecary in Thousand Oaks,

Participants will identify and experience several wild winter plants and mushrooms to be found in Southern California locales this time of year. In the kitchen, Starwood will share her popular medicinal mushroom chocolate truffle recipe and all participants will go home with some truffles they made by hand themselves, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The group will meet in the morning for an Herb Walk led by Kaufer and Starwood at the Ventura River Preserve followed by the afternoon session in a downtown Ojai kitchen and workshop space.

This workshop will go on rain or shine with substitution of morning indoor activities in case of heavy downpour and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that morning.

The cost of the workshop including all materials is $75. To register, please visit HerbWalks.com, email [email protected], or call 805-646-6281. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info prior to the event.

Ojai Art Center February 10th at 6:00PM for a musical evening “From Berditchev to Broadway” featuring the world renowned Cantor A.L. Hurwitz and Reb Doniel on the piano.

Cantor Hurwitz is a soloist and performer from Brooklyn, NY whose brilliant voice has been featured all over the world.

The Ojai Arts Exchange has teamed up with Flamenco Dancer Wendy Castellanos to curate a night of authentic Flamenco music and dance. The show will feature Tony Triana strumming the Guitar, Antonio de Jerez, singing timeless gypsy melodies, Cristina Lucio, Jamie Padilla and Wendy Castellanos, setting the stage on fire with their entrancing movements.

The Ojai Underground Exchange is located at 1016 W. Ojai Avenue. Tickets are $25. Visit www.squareup.com/store/undergroundexchange for tickets and www.ojaiartsexchange.com/events for more information.

More than 150 attendees gathered at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club on January 17 to attend the third annual Ojai Women’s Fund Grantee Gala Awards Celebration. A total of $105,000 in grant money was distributed to 13 nonprofit organizations providing services to the Ojai Valley community in arts, education, environment, health, and social services. The grants were funded by donations from 358 Ojai Women’s Fund members and a contribution from the Wilson Family Fund grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation. The Ojai Women’s Fund is an all-volunteer circle dedicated to making substantial grants to organizations that address critical needs in the Ojai Valley

Vol. 12, No. 9 – Jan 30 – Feb 12, 2019 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura  Police Department and are not the opinions of  the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned  are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty  in a court of law.

Suspicious Circumstances

On January 15, at approximately 2pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center started receiving multiple 911 calls from employees inside of the Human Services Agency at 855 Partridge Dr. reporting shots being fired inside the lobby. Numerous officers from the Ventura Police Department responded to the scene and contacted the suspect, later identified as 31 year old Port Hueneme resident Royce Denson, who was found unarmed in the front lobby. Denson was detained.

During the investigation officers learned that Denson was in court earlier today and had public services taken away from him that were provided by the Human Services Agency. Denson went to the main office and started disturbing inside the lobby. He became upset with the employees and began banging his fists on the counter. Employees secured the front office, while other employees inside the building heard what they thought were gunshots and called 911.

Officers conducted a thorough search of the entire building to ensure it was safe for the employees, who had gone into a lockdown.

As a precaution, nearby Portola Elementary School was immediately placed on lockdown until it was determined no further threat existed.

Denson was arrested for trespassing and a violation of probation.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Denson has been convicted 8 times in the past 2 years. The various charges included resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Assault with Deadly Weapon (handgun used)

On January 18, at approximately 12am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a gunshot victim in the area of Mission Park. Officers quickly arrived on scene and were informed by witnesses that the victim was transported by a passerby to Community Memorial Hospital. Officers met the victim at the hospital as the victim was suffering from a single gunshot wound to his lower leg. The Victim was stabilized and was later transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he was treated for his moderate injuries.

The Officers that had arrived near Mission Park located a crime scene and evidence of the shooting. Detectives were notified and along with a crime scene investigator took over the scene. No officers were injured in this incident. The suspect was a 49 year old adult male, his name has been withheld.

This is an active investigation, and anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Ventura Police Department Detectives at 805-339-4488.

Conspiracy to Commit Crime, Battery and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Arrest

On January 20, at approximately 6pm the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a 20-year-old male reporting that he had been shot in the back by subjects in a passing vehicle. The victim started to follow the suspect vehicle while he remained on the phone with the dispatcher, but stopped after it was determined he had been shot by a paintball gun. The victim sustained minor injuries to his back.

With the description of the suspect vehicle provided by the victim, officers were able to contact the owner of the suspect vehicle. The suspects, later identified as a 17-year-old male Ventura resident, who was the driver and 18 year old Ventura resident Terrell Vaughn, identified as the shooter, met with investigating officers at the Ventura Police Department.

At the conclusion of the investigation, officers determined that the 17-year-old and Vaughn conspired to drive around the city and shoot people with the paint ball gun.

The juvenile was cited and released to his parents for conspiracy and battery. Vaughn was arrested for conspiracy, battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A third 18-year-old passenger that was in the vehicle was not arrested.

If others were victimized by being shot with a paintball gun, please contact the Ventura Police Department Watch Commander at 339-4416.

Strong Arm Robbery

On January 24, at approximately 12:15am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 from a witness that heard the victim yell for help saying that his phone had been taken.

Officers arrived and contacted the victim who said he was at the 76 station waiting for a friend to pick him up when the suspect came over to him and engaged him in a conversation about the music he was playing. While the victim was talking to the suspect, the suspect grabbed the victim’s I-phone from his hand and began to run away. The victim tackled the suspect and tried to get his phone back, but the suspect began to hit the victim several times in the head and face. The suspect was able to get away and fled northbound on Victoria Ave.

Ventura Police Officers and The K9 unit attempted to locate the suspect but were unable to locate him. The suspect was described as a white male, 25 years old, blonde hair, wearing a grey flannel and black pants. Using the Find My I-phone app officers were able to locate the victim’s phone nearby as the suspect either dropped or discarded the phone as he fled.

The victim sustained minor injuries from this incident and was treated at the scene by Ventura Fire paramedics. This is an ongoing investigation, anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to call the Ventura Police Department at 805-339-4488.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Carol brings her incredible sense of humor.

by Patty Jenkins

You are not the only one! Come join us and meet others who live daily with the challenges of a disability. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is having a Round Table Discussion on Wednesday, February 13th from 1PM to 3PM at the Lexington Assisted Living (5440 Ralston Street, Ventura). Come share your unique life experience that just might also help others. And come to laugh! Our discussion will open on an amazing positive note with a very special guest, Carol “Call Me Capable” Leish!

Carol has an incredible sense of humor and has lived with her disabilities for most of her life. As a child, Carol sustained speech and vision disabilities as a result of an auto accident. Instead of focusing on her injuries, Carol has chosen to focus on her abilities and strengths. Carol enlightens people by focusing on the strengths that people with disabilities have and demonstrates that there is always a way to get around a situation by either improvising or accommodating to it.

Carol has realized the importance of educating adults and youth to become more accepting of others and started her “Call Me Capable” in-service presentations, and also developed the Call Me Capable™ Game. She inspires her audience with her humor and genuineness and leaves them with an awareness that we are all more similar than different.

“Through the lessons of life, I have realized my goal to help others.” says Carol. “Remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘Life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood.’ I have and continue to learn lessons of how to educate others, to make them more aware of what I can do–what they can do, too. Thus, remember to Call Me Capable, and Yourself More Capable.”

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, we host our meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3PM. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot.

Attendees are invited to check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. Reservations are not required For more information, call Patty at 805-766-6070. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is an independent and volunteer-organized group, not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.

Vol. 12, No. 9 – Jan 30 – Feb 12, 2019 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Classic clicks at Conejo

Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, has come to life on the Conejo Players stage. It was required reading for me in high school and made a lasting impression. The story tackles many aspects of humanity including innocence, fear, prejudice, assumptions and racial inequality. It is as relevant today as ever.

Now playing at the Shubert Theater on Broadway, the play is enjoying a revival across the nation. Conejo’s contribution to the revival is noteworthy, engrossing and thought-provoking.

Set in Alabama in the 1930’s, the play centers around the accusation, trial and conviction of a young black man. He is represented in court by Atticus Finch, a local attorney known for his compassion, dedication and fierce determination to see justice applied fairly. Sadly, he knows going in that he probably will not be victorious. The townspeople rally against him, threatening his family, their mob mentality leading the way.

Finch does all he can to protect his two children, Scout (modeled after Lee’s own childhood) and Jem. The children become acutely aware of the wrongs being done and question the proceedings.

Veteran director Tom Eubanks makes his debut with this season opener, doing so in fine style. The setting is a street scene that transforms into the courtroom and back again.

Experience shows in this capable cast. Leading the way as Atticus Finch is Alan Waserman, who portrays the inner strength and fortitude necessary to weather the negativity that surrounds him. Daughter Scout is ably played by Julia Kirkpatrick, paired with Neirin Winter as son Jeb. Both display comfortable stage presence. My one challenge to them is to project more fully so that all their lines can be heard. In the first scene that sets up the entire play, the underscoring music, while lovely and meaningful, tended to overshadow their soft voices.

Turning in a notable performance is Todd Tickner as Bob Ewell, the father of the supposed victim. Tickner seems to revel in the scummy character.

James Miller becomes Heck Tate, the local sheriff, sympathetic to Finch but also aware of the reality of the era and neighborhood feelings. A grown-up version of Scout (Jean Louise) played by Ronna Jones, adds clarifying narration and insights as the play unfolds. Other solid characterizations are presented by Dale Alpert as the Judge, Sharyn Grose as Calpurnia, the children’s nanny, Melanie Lindgren as Stephanie Crawford, and Rita McCaffrey as Mrs. Dubose.

The cast is excellent overall, each giving full measure to their characters. The experience shows, even in the smallest parts.

To Kill a Mockingbird withstands the test of time in terms of ongoing relevance and continues to make an important statement. Yes, there are a few outdated, prejudicial terms used, as was common at the time. In this case they are key to the plot.

This revival will surely spur discussions and retrospection into our outlooks on justice. Go see it if you can.

To Kill a Mockingbird continues through February 9. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. www.conejoplayers.org or 805-495-3715 for tickets. Adults $20, Students, Seniors and Military $18.

Project Understanding: Serving People in Need in Ventura County-Part one

Tom Hilton -VP of Development, Brandy Beesley -Executive Director, Jann Huling and Carloyn Pillado -Tutoring manager helping the community.

Sustainability Now News
by Maryann Ridini Spencer (@MaryannRidiniSpencer)

“Giving a hand up, not a handout,” is Project Understanding’s slogan. For over 40 years with the support of the community and many faith-based congregations, Project Understanding has been able to carry on a mission to provide hope to individuals and transform lives by developing and directing resources to provide food, housing, and educational programs to people in need. The goal of the organization is to move clients out of homelessness providing support, resources, and monitoring a client’s progress with a system of accountability.

“We can’t fix the entire world, Project Understanding exists to help the people we can,” said Project Understanding’s Former Board President and Treasurer, Kellie Meehan, also Owner/Creative Director, Searle Creative Group. “People get into bad situations for so many reasons, addiction, mental health issues, bad luck, and sometimes just bad choice. We provide our clients with a second chance; lifting them up in small ways that can make a big difference.”

“Unfortunately, the need for help in our county has not diminished, but continuously grows with many members of the community continuing to struggle with limited access to resources,” said Brandy Beesley, Executive Director of Project Understanding. “As the cost of living in Ventura County continues to rise, many are left with a choice between putting groceries on the table and paying rent. The reality is, the majority of people are living paycheck to paycheck, and all it takes is one minor setback or unfortunate situation to occur before they are facing homelessness.”

On an annual basis, Project Understanding provides 600-800 families per month providing groceries on a Bi-weekly basis. In 2017 They assisted 125 homeless to find residences through their Homeless 2 Home (H2H) program, helped approximately 64 individuals find supportive housing (through Shore at the WAV), and support a dozen pregnant women through Tender Life Maternity Home.

“We also help in times of major crisis. For example, we were extremely busy during and after the Thomas Fire providing special services and supplying things like clothes and blankets, which doesn’t ordinarily fall into our scope of services. However, in situations like the fire, when the need is so great, we strive to contribute in any way we can,” said Meehan.

To find out more about the organization as well as how to donate and volunteer, visit: projectunderstanding.org. Stay tuned for more about Project Understanding in Ventura Breeze’s next issue.

Ventura Unified School District appoints new superintendent

Dr Roger Rice has a distinguished career of more than 20 years of service to Ventura County youth.

The Board of Education is pleased to announce their unanimous vote to appoint Dr Roger Rice as the new Superintendent of Ventura Unified School District (VUSD). Dr Rice, who currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Student Services for the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE), comes to the district with a wealth of knowledge and skills he will use to further VUSD’s commitment “For the Future of Every Student.”

The community was very clear in their request that the new Superintendent be someone who will advocate for all students, who has experience working with at-risk and marginalized youth, and who will effectively communicate with our students, staff and community. When considering whether to spend several months and thousands of dollars conducting its third search in four years, the Board agreed to look first at local candidates with a proven track record of working with and for all students. Dr Rice immediately came to mind — having been a highly regarded finalist in the previous Superintendent search.

Dr Roger Rice, who has a distinguished career of more than 20 years of service to Ventura County youth, has worked to develop and support innovative programs for Alternative Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Special Education, and other programs to meet the needs of At-Risk Youth. Dr Rice served as the Chair of the State of California’s Student Services Group. In addition, he was selected as the County Education Leader of the Year for 2018 by the Ventura County Leadership Academy. Dr Rice has worked as a Classroom Teacher, Dean, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Oxnard Union High School District and Deputy Superintendent of VCOE. He holds a BA in English from Colorado State University, Masters in Education from Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California.

Dr Rice brings experience and a passion for helping students with both their academic and social/emo- tional needs. He has demonstrated himself to be a conscientious, collaborative leader who has invested in his own professional training on issues that directly impact students — cultural proficiency, equity and access, IDEA training, creating professional learning communities, restorative practices and more.

Dr Rice’s first day with Ventura Unified will be Friday, March 1st. Dr Jeff Baarstad, retired Superintendent of Conejo Valley Unified School District, has agreed to serve as Interim Superintendent until that time. Dr Baarstad will work closely with Executive Cabinet, the District Leadership Team, Dr Rice and the Board to ensure that all students and staff have the support they need to be successful during the transition. Our sincere goal is to regain the stability of our District and to remain focused on supporting our students and staff moving forward.

The Board would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Jeff Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Human Re- sources, who has admirably served as Interim Superintendent since December 22nd, and will remain in that role until Monday, January 14th. Dr Davis is a highly valued member of our Executive Cabinet. He worked with staff during the Winter Break to ensure consistent services to our schools and reassured the community that Ventura Unified remains committed to the needs of all our students.

Dr Rice looks forward to working with staff, students and the community to build a bright future for every student in Ventura Unified.