Candidacy Statement

By John B. Walker

· Ventura Unified has gained 61 Academic Index Performance (API) points district-wide over the past 7 years in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

· 100% of the 27 schools in VUSD have shown significant gains over a 10 year period.

· Title 1 schools, labeled "program improvement schools" have made the highest and most significant gains over time with Sheridan Way, Will Rogers and De Anza in the lead for the highest growth over the past decade.

· Twenty VUSD schools have received the prestigious State honor as California Distinguished Schools including four Title 1 schools with the esteemed recognition as California Title 1 Distinguished Schools.

· VUSD has twelve schools scoring in the prestigious 800+ category including three schools that have scored in the 900s!

· Ventura Unified increased by another 15 points this year and now has an API of 799, which is one point shy of where the State of California expects all districts to be in 2014.

· VUSD has the highest scoring high school in the County of Ventura again this year.

· VUSD exceeds the County and State average in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

· VUSD exceeds the County and State average in attendance, graduation rates and passage of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and is proud to have a lower dropout rate than the County or State average.

· Over the past 5 years our reclassification rate for English Learners has increased by 100 students per year.

· 98% of the VUSD seniors without learning disabilities passed the CAHSEE compared to a 93% pass rate for the State of California.

The list is long, but the investment well spent. We owe much to the teachers and support staff of our district for the terrific job they have done faithfully over the years. Together we can make a great school district an outstanding school district. My personal philosophy is that the board only exists to support the students, parents and staff.

There are many more facts about VUSD and I am proud to share them with you. Talk to some of our students about the learning that takes place every day in our classrooms. Please ask us about our music and arts programs in the elementary, middle and high schools. Come by and visit our state of the art Education Service Center. Let us give you a tour of the various options we have for students such as our Two Way Immersion Program, Open Classroom, K-8 Sunset School, Foothill Technology High School Magnet, El Camino High School at Ventura College, and Homestead, all located in our beautifully maintained facilities. Come eat at our schools and enjoy the farm to school salad bars, as our Child Nutrition Services Department has earned honors at the County, State and National level. Come to one of our outstanding drama productions or take in a football game this season and see the incredible talent of our young people. Stop by and visit our after school programs at our Title 1 schools in partnership with the City of Ventura and our community. Become involved in one of our many parent / community collaboratives such as our Ventura Education Partnership Foundation which raises in excess of $100,000 per year to enhance programs and services for students.

Over the years I have fought hard both in Sacramento and Washington D.C. for our children. I have made frequent trips to both places (not at taxpayer expense) to insure we have the resources to do the job. I have made statewide contacts that have made me a more informed board member. As a member of the Board of Directors for the California School Board's Association I can see beyond Ventura to the needs of children statewide. That experience is brought back to Ventura.

With your support I want to be part of the continued success our district has enjoyed through the hard work and good business management of everyone. My professional experience as a senior corporate manager and currently as Personnel Director/Risk Manager for the Ojai Unified School District has provided me with both an inside and an outside perspective of the school system. I would appreciate your VOTE of confidence so that I may continue to work to keep Ventura schools the best in the state. Please take a moment to look at the other pages on this site and feel free to contact me anytime. Thank You!

- John B. Walker