Forming a community college in Thousand Oaks is an idea that Mayor Dennis Gillette recently suggested to the City Council. Fellow council members approved forming a committee to explore the possibility of creating a joint-use facility in the city.
In addition to Gillette and Councilmember Jacqui Irwin, the committee would also include representatives from the Conejo Valley Unified School District and the Ventura County Community College District.
"We'll make general inquiries of the principles in this to see if there's some opportunity that exists for a facility of this type to be brought to Thousand Oaks," Gillette said. "That kind of academic facility would be an asset to our overall education resources in the community."
In initiating the request, Gillette pointed out that between 1,500 and 2,000 Thousand Oaks residents regularly commute to Moorpark College, the closest community college to the city.
Last year Moorpark College scrapped a plan to build a satellite branch in Thousand Oaks in conjunction with the construction of a CVUSD continuation high school near Janss Road and the 23 Freeway. CVUSD is continuing with its own plans, according to Gillette, but the community college backed out due to escalating construction and instructor costs and project delays.
"This is very preliminary," Gillette said. "Any development plans would come back to the council."
--Sophia Fischer
Plans for construction of a warm-up pool at California Lutheran University got a boost last week when the Thousand Oaks City Council approved $37,500 toward the schematic design.
The city and the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) are covering the $75,000 cost of the design, to be completed by Aquatics Design Group.
The money is part of the initial $500,000 appropriated by the city from its Shapell Development Agreement Fund to build the pool. The city is expecting to kick in additional funds. The final design is expected to be presented to the City Council in the fall, along with additional budget requests.
The initial donation was approved as a one-time contribution by the council last summer. The major athletic complex being built by CLU would include an aquatics center with a 50meter Olympic-size pool, a 50by-75-foot warm-up pool and adjacent locker rooms and ofPool plans at CLU move ahead Six show interest in running for school board fices. When not in use for major competitions, the warm-up pool would be available to Thousand Oaks residents.
A joint-use agreement is being negotiated between CLU and the CRPD.
--Sophia Fischer
All three Conejo Valley school board members whose positions are up for grabs this November are likely to run for reelection this fall.
The three incumbents- Timothy Stephens, Pat Phelps and Michael Dunn-have all drawn papers to run for reelection, according to Karen Ise, executive administrative assistant to the superintendent.
In addition, three challengers--Timothy Penix of Newbury Park, Gregory Lennox of Thousand Oaks and John Andersen of Newbury Park--have already stopped by Ise's office to pick up their papers.
To make their candidacy official, all prospective board members must file their papers with the Ventura County Registrar's Office. So far, according to Deputy County Clerk Olivia Lopez, none of the candidates has done so.
The deadline to file is Aug. 11 and those still wishing to run are encouraged to stop by the Conejo Valley Unified School District offices to pick up the required papers.
Stephens and current board president Phelps were both elected to the school board in 1998. Dunn was elected in 2004 to a two-year term (as opposed to the regular four years) because he ran to fill the vacancy left by departing board member Mary Jo Del Campo, who moved out of the area midway through her term.
-Kyle Jorrey
