The Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) is facing potential layoffs of up to 15 mental health staff members due to the cancellation of a crucial federal grant. The $11.3 million grant, originally awarded as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, has been rendered void after the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate such funding across the nation, effective at the end of 2025.
Nearly ten months have passed since the district was informed of the grant’s cancellation, but it has so far managed to retain its mental health counselors and services. However, this situation is becoming less tenable. According to CVUSD spokesperson Kimberly Gold, the district has relied on alternative funding sources to maintain its mental health services until the end of the current school year in June. After that date, if a court does not intervene to compel the federal government to release the funds, layoffs may be necessary.
The district’s administration has been proactive in seeking solutions. On February 4, during a meeting of the Board of Trustees, Mark McLaughlin, the district’s superintendent, emphasized that the impending layoffs are not a result of mismanagement but rather a direct consequence of federal policy changes. “This is a decision made at the federal level that we as a district have no control over,” he stated.
Efforts to recover the lost funding have included legal action. Kenny Loo, the assistant superintendent of instructional and student services, noted that the district has successfully obtained both temporary and permanent injunctions aimed at restoring the funds. Yet, despite these legal victories, the U.S. Department of Education continues to appeal the rulings and has withheld “confirmed, usable funds.”
The deadline for the final extension of the funding was February 6, which has left the district with a looming deadline. Should layoffs occur, the impact on mental health services could be significant. Currently, CVUSD employs 40 full-time mental health workers and another 40 interns, providing support across all 27 campuses. However, officials have clarified that a reduction of 15 employees does not equate to a proportional reduction in services.
“This is not a dismantling of that department or services,” Loo reassured during the board meeting. The district has obtained state grants to mitigate some of the financial losses associated with the canceled federal funding and is also participating in a new state program that allows billing insurance providers for mental health services provided to students.
The potential layoffs include a mix of positions, such as 11 mental health clinicians and the director of mental health services. The director will remain with the district, transitioning to the role of mental health services coordinator.
CVUSD was notably the only school district in Ventura County to secure funding through the federal mental health grant program, established in response to the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas in 2022. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a legislative response aiming to address both mental health and gun control issues but has since faced challenges under the current administration.
The district used the grant to enhance its mental health services, employing new clinicians across various school levels and expanding wellness centers. Last year, students reported that the mental health services significantly helped them cope with personal challenges and reintegrate into school life after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Newbury Park High School, for instance, grant funds facilitated the relocation of the wellness center to a larger space, providing more resources for students in need.
Even if the grant had not been canceled, its funding was set to expire in 2027. McLaughlin acknowledged the reality of potential cuts that would have been necessary in that scenario without an alternative funding source. “This is a tough one for the board,” said Trustee Karen Sylvester. “We’re heartbroken that this happened. We thought we’d have at least another year, and it was taken away.”
The CVUSD Board of Trustees did not vote on the proposed layoffs during the February 4 meeting, but the issue is expected to be revisited in the near future. The next board meeting is scheduled for February 18, 2025. The future of mental health services in the district hinges on the outcome of ongoing legal battles and the ability to secure additional funding through grants and state programs.
