There are few, if any, who have had as long a connection to the Oxnard Union High School District as Wayne Edmonds.

Whether sitting behind a desk as a student, standing in front of a classroom as a teacher, or speaking from the dais as a school trustee, he has called the district home for nearly six decades. It has shaped the future of the district, while participating in its past.

When he leaves the school board this year – he will not seek a fourth term – Edmonds resigns after helping oversee the construction of one high school, Rancho Campana, and the start of another, Del Sol.

Edmonds said he hopes to make the neighborhood a better place for students, families and educators.

“I enjoyed my 12 years,” said Edmonds, 74. “But I believe there comes a time when you need fresh ideas and new things, and I think it’s time for me to move on.”

After graduating from Hueneme High School in 1966, the Ventura County native earned a degree in history from California State University Long Beach.

Edmonds returned to Oxnard Union High School District in 1971 as a special education teacher.

“I wanted to be able to impact students and make a difference in children’s lives,” he said. “All the teachers who had been my teachers welcomed me to high school, and I felt like a part of it. It was good to come home.

During his nearly four-decade career, he worked as a program specialist, district personnel director, and adult school director.

“I’ve done a variety of things, and I think you need to stay fresh and up to date,” Edmonds said. “Doing new jobs adds vibrancy, vigor and vitality to what you are trying to do.”

His favorite role was as a school psychologist, he said.

“You’re dealing with a disadvantaged population that has unique educational needs, and you’re changing programs and making curriculum interventions to help children succeed, so it’s very rewarding work,” he said. .

In 2010, two years after his retirement, Edmonds ran for the district board of directors.

“I always wanted to contribute, and I felt my knowledge would be beneficial in this endeavor,” he said.

He said his familiarity with the district allowed him to serve the students to the best of his ability.

“I have a lot of connections and I think that’s been extremely beneficial to me,” he said, adding that his two children and two grandchildren were also school district graduates. “I think that adds to the confidence.”

Board Chairman Steve Hall told the Glans that the Edmonds experience has consistently led to informed decisions that benefit students, parents, and district staff.

“He’s responsive and always has the students as a priority when making decisions,” Hall said. “His long-standing service and wealth of knowledge to the district and his willingness to share this information provides the historical context for the issues currently being addressed by the school board.”

During his first term on the board, Edmonds said, the biggest challenge he and his colleagues faced was a lack of funding. Although the district’s budget was drastically cut, the administrators avoided firing anyone.

“We were able to reduce the shortfall without costing a single job, and that was one of the things that concerned me,” Edmonds said.

One of the board’s proudest accomplishments, he said, is the establishment of Rancho Campana High School in 2015. The school was funded through Measure H, an initiative of $135 million approved by voters in 2004 to build two high schools, one in Camarillo and the other in Oxnard.

Fourteen years later, voters also passed Measure A, a $350 million academic bond that is being used to support a long list of upgrades across all campuses in the district.

“We were able to accomplish a lot with the help of the community,” he said.

Throughout his tenure on the board, he said, he has been focused on solidifying the district’s reputation as a 21st century school district.

Administrators, Edmonds said, have worked hard to modernize campus facilities, ensure all students have their own electronic devices, and provide advanced programs that prepare students for college and careers.

“I think we’re doing a really good job of preparing kids for what comes after high school,” he said.

Attending home games, theater productions and graduation ceremonies, Edmonds said, validated his years of service.

“It’s very gratifying,” he says.

Before the OUHSD redistricting process began, Edmonds decided not to run for office.

Now that the guardianship areas are smaller, he hopes people will be more willing to show up than they had been.

He would like to see a more diverse applicant pool and believes parents in the district still have a valuable perspective. Anyone with a passion and skills should consider racing, he said.

“I think they owe it to their families and the community,” Edmonds said.

While he’s looking forward to spending his free time traveling with his 50-year-old wife, Cynthia, he’s also excited to see the council’s progress.

Edmonds said he is confident council members will continue to put student interests first amid the challenges of declining enrollment and ever-changing technology.

“I look forward to the future and certainly wish the new board success, as I believe it has an important function in our democratic society,” he said.