Vallejo City Unified School District Severs Ties with Community Schools Contractor Following Inappropriate Statements

VALLEJO, Calif. —  The Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) has terminated its Master Service Agreement with third-party contractor JF University/Luv Our Youth, effective immediately, following an internal review of public statements made by the organization’s leadership.

Yesterday, the District became aware of a video in which the organization’s president, Eryck Bennett, made disparaging remarks about the Vallejo community and shared intentions that are inconsistent with the scope and expectations of the District’s agreement, including misrepresenting his purpose while working in district schools.

Upon review, the District took immediate action to sever all ties with both the individual and the organization. They no longer have access to any VCUSD campuses, students, or staff.

“Our public schools are, and always will be, inclusive and welcoming spaces for students of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs,” said VCUSD Superintendent Rubén Aurelio. “We will not allow anyone to misuse access to our campuses or undermine the trust we place in our partners. We take our responsibility to uphold the separation of church and state and to protect our students very seriously.”

The contractor had been engaged through two temporary, grant-funded agreements totaling more than $600,000 to support coordination for Community Schools and Expanded Learning programs. Services were provided at multiple sites, including Hogan Middle School, Vallejo High School, Cooper Elementary School, Steffan Manor Elementary, and several elementary Expanded Learning programs.

The approved scope of work for both contracts was limited to student support services, stakeholder engagement, and program coordination. The District does not permit religious instruction or proselytizing in any school-sponsored program.

VCUSD’s long-term goal is to carry out this work with dedicated district employees. New job descriptions have been developed, including Community Schools Coordinators, to support this effort and create opportunities for classified staff impacted by recent layoffs. Temporary contractors were used to meet immediate program timelines while the required collective bargaining process is underway.

In response to this incident, the District is conducting a comprehensive review of its vetting processes for third-party vendors and strengthening oversight of contractor activities on school campuses to ensure full compliance with District policies and state law.

VCUSD remains committed to its Community Schools and Expanded Learning programs and will move quickly to ensure continuity of these important services for students and families.