Ventura superintendent apologizes for controversial remarks; trustee calls for resignation

Ventura Unified School District Superintendent David Creswell sent out an apology letter to staff Monday after he came under fire last week for comments he made in a recorded sermon — but the apology didn’t stop one school board member from calling for his resignation. 

In the sermon, which the school board was made aware of last week, Creswell discussed gay and transgender individuals in a way some see as disparaging.

“In about the midpoint of the sermon I used an example that was at the expense of people in the LGBTQI+ community,” wrote Creswell, who has been superintendent in Ventura Unified for nearly a year and a half. “I deeply regret using that example and I want to publicly apologize for it. I am sorry for the words, the insensitivity, and for the pain it is causing.”

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The audio is no longer available on the website for the Redeemer Baptist Church in Riverside. Creswell said in his letter that he asked the church to remove the recording. 

In the recording, Creswell said he was flipping through a yearbook as he was waiting for a meeting with his boss. On the superlative page under “Best Couple,” Creswell said he saw two “cute girls embracing” — a gay couple. He said, “Oh, boy. Here we go. Here’s our world.” 

Under “Most Changed” was a transgender individual, who was pictured in makeup and a dress holding a photo of the male she was born as. 

“This is the definition of most changed? This is the definition?” he said, according to the sermon audio. “There’s a growing sector of our culture, of our society, that says that’s good and that’s normal, and not only do they embrace it, we’re now celebrating it.”

Creswell was referring to the consistency of God in people’s lives and the examples he provided were to demonstrate how much culture had changed, district spokesman Tim Gallagher told The Star last week. 

“I have been wrestling and reflecting with what there is in me that allowed me to say those words or to think it was OK at the time,” Creswell wrote. “I am not a hater, a homophobe, or a person with a hidden agenda. In 30 plus years of school service, and more specifically the last year and a half of service here in Ventura, no one will find any other words or actions that reflect a homophobic position because there are none to find.” 

Calls for resignation

Trustee Mary Haffner, who will be leaving the board in December, said in a statement emailed to The Star on Tuesday that she’s heard from many in the community who don’t believe Creswell can continue to lead the district. Haffner had called a special board meeting Friday to discuss the issue, but the board took no action.

“When you mock and demean the marginalized in a prepared sermon that encourages others to do the same, you should not be the leader of a K-12 public school district,” Haffer said in the statement. “His words and his tone in that 2016 sermon are completely counter to and inconsistent with the values, the vision, the mission, and guiding principles of this district. We stand for something in Ventura Unified — and that is inclusion, support and celebration of all.” 

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Haffner went on to state that the community shouldn’t have to question or wonder if Creswell’s “stated and deeply held beliefs will create a damaging culture or affect his decision-making.” 

Haffner said Creswell’s words have caused “great pain” to many students, staff and community members and suggested this will continue to detract from the work the district needs to do if he continues in his superintendent role. 

“We can all learn from what has happened. Forgiveness is important and I am glad to see that he has stated a commitment to change,” Haffner said. “... However, Mr. Creswell’s personal work in these areas needs to be done on his own time. We have a district to run and our focus should be on the needs of our students. We have to do what is best for this district. He should do the honorable thing and resign.” 

Pride Week controversy

The audio of the sermon came to light after concerns were raised at a regular board meeting Nov. 13 about the way Pride Week at Foothill Technology High School was handled. 

According to reports from the Foothill Dragon Press, the student-run news outlet, Associated Student Body members began planning Pride Week in August. The school apparently received numerous complaints from parents concerned about the event. 

Some of the complaints noted the ASB hasn’t sponsored events for other marginalized groups, Foothill Principal Joe Bova told the Dragon Press. Pride Week was moved to a newly formed Queer-Straight Alliance, which hosted the week of awareness and educational events. 

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School board member Velma Lomax said Tuesday it’s a “personnel issue,” and this limits what the trustees are at liberty to say. 

“I think that somewhere these two issues got muddled,” Lomax said of Creswell’s remarks and Pride Week at Foothill Technology High School. “We aren’t through with either issue. I do hope that we can learn from this and move on ... and use this as a learning tool.” 

Creswell said in the letter that he took the weekend to meet with people from the LGBTQI+ community.

“One of the most powerful of these meetings was with two amazing same-sex people that are married and work for the district,” Creswell said. “I spent an hour hearing their stories, challenges, joys, and the incredibly hurtful treatment and comments that they endure from others outside and inside of our school district. That conversation brought into sharp focus the need for me to lead in a manner that systematically addresses the ways we support everyone in this district.” 

Creswell ended the letter by stating what he plans to do next. He said he will: 

• Continue to take ownership and apologize for the example used in the sermon.
• Continue to meet with anyone who wants to talk with him personally about this. 
• Create a task force to specifically address the needs of LGBTQI+ students and staff.
• Provide training for all staff, specifically for the leadership team.
• Work to build trust and a positive reputation
• Continue with scheduled unconscious bias training and restorative practices 

“I am committed to being a positive supporter of all student and staff, especially for those of the LGBTQI+ community,” Creswell said. “I believe that in the end, positive change will come from all of this.” 

But some parents in the community aren’t so sure Creswell should retain his position.

“Right after I heard it, I just thought that this can’t be something that we let go,” said Beth Mansfield, parent of a student in the district. “We’ve got students, families and community members that don’t have a voice to speak up against this kind of hate. ... It just made my heart hurt that the man leading (the district) has, what I believe to be, hate in his heart.” 

Only a first step

Mansfield went on to say that Creswell’s apology letter was a “necessary first step.” 

“But it was three days too late,” she said. “And it was two and a half years too late to put that toothpaste back in the tube. He also apologized for the words; I want him to apologize for the sentiment and the tone, and I expect him to speak out and say there is no place in Ventura that should allow hateful words like that, and I think the fact that this is a taxpayer, publicly funded institution that is his employer is even more egregious.”  

Dan Nelson, president of the Ventura Unified Education Association, said in a written statement to The Star that the union believes Ventura Unified is a “place for ALL students, that ALL are welcomed and supported, and that ALL deserve respect.” 

“Creswell’s words from the sermon in 2016 were hurtful to LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff members,” Nelson said. “... Our membership has been very clear in the rejection of any word or action that makes any LGBTQ+ student feel less than loved, supported, and valued. Our LGBTQ+ youth are vulnerable, and deserve protection.” 

Here is the letter from Creswell: