Compensation scandal hits county office of education
Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)
May 28, 2026
Well, neighbors, if you picked up the latest *Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park)* this week, you probably did a double-take at the headline about a compensation scandal hitting the Ventura County Office of Education. Just before 5 p.m. on that Friday in May, Superintendent César Morales posted a message that sent shockwaves through our local education and political circles. For those of us in Newbury Park, where we pride ourselves on strong schools and transparent leadership, this hits close to home—especially since Morales was appointed to fill a vacancy back in 2021 and ran unopposed, meaning many of us trusted the process without much fuss.
What makes this more than just a bureaucratic kerfuffle is that our kids’ futures are tied to how VCOE handles taxpayer dollars. Whether it’s funding for Conejo Valley Unified programs or support for special education services right here in our community, accountability matters. The *Acorn* report reminds us that even in a county as collaborative as Ventura, we need to keep asking questions—and keep our coffee chats honest. Here’s hoping this leads to clearer skies, not more dust.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park).
City
Newbury ParkPublished
May 28, 2026
AI-curated summary from local news sources
Explore Newbury ParkAll Newbury Park NewsMore News from Newbury Park
Newbury ParkVolleyball standout seriously injured in Newbury Park crash
Our hearts are with the Terry family and the Newbury Park community after 16-year-old Kaya Terry, a standout volleyball player, was seriously injured in a crash on Potrero Road late Sunday night. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn, Kaya was struck by a pickup truck west of Wendy Drive around 11 p.m. on July 5 and rushed to Los Robles Regional Medical Center. This quiet stretch of road, familiar to many locals, has seen its share of nighttime incidents, and this news hits especially hard for those who know Kaya from the court or the neighborhood. Kaya's strength as an athlete is well known, and now she'll need that same resilience in her recovery. Our community is rallying—sharing updates, offering prayers, and keeping a close watch on her progress. If you have information or want to support the family, stay tuned to local updates. Let's wrap our arms around this young athlete and her loved ones during this difficult time.
Newbury ParkCounty’s farm production hits $2.4 billion as growers face rising costs
Ventura County's farms just hit a record $2.4 billion in production last year, according to the 2025 Crop and Livestock Report shared by the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park). That's a 4% jump from 2024, and it's something to be proud of as we drive past the strawberry fields and avocado groves that define our landscape. But here's the thing that hits closer to home: many growers are watching their profits shrink under the weight of rising labor costs, stricter regulations, and persistent pest pressures. For Newbury Park residents, this isn't just a statistic—it's the story of the farmers who supply our farmers markets, the families who've worked these lands for generations, and the open spaces we cherish. When growers struggle, it affects everything from the price of your local produce to the preservation of our rural character. The report underscores a tension we all feel: record-breaking output doesn't always mean thriving livelihoods. As we celebrate the bounty, it's worth remembering the people behind it and the challenges they face keeping our agricultural heritage alive.
Newbury ParkParvin, Gorell likely retain county supervisor seats
Election Night brought some certainty to Ventura County’s Board of Supervisors races, as incumbents Jeff Gorell (District 2) and Janice Parvin (District 4) both jumped out to early leads that held strong through Wednesday morning. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park), each candidate secured more than 50% of the votes counted so far, with official results not expected until Thursday afternoon. For Newbury Park residents, that means continued representation from leaders who already know our local roads, schools, and business corridors. While it’s still early — and the county won’t update results until 4 p.m. Thursday — the trend suggests voters are comfortable with the direction these incumbents have taken. Parvin’s District 4 covers much of our area, including Newbury Park, so this race hits close to home. Whether you voted for them or not, stable leadership on the board helps keep our community projects moving forward without disruption.