In response to David Dolnick's letter in the Aug. 10 Thousand Oaks Acorn, this is what I advocate to improve our schools and make our community a better place to live in:

1. The school board needs to listen to the people and accommodate their wishes.

2. Money contributions to board members from the unions must stop. These contributions create a conflict of interest to the detriment of the parents.

3. The school board should not meet the same day and time as the city council. This policy discourages participation by the people.

Regarding No. 1, listen to the people. Here are three of many examples where the school board refused to accommodate the will of the people. +The Glencoe Health Textbook adoption which redefines marriage as a union of partners or individuals. Statement cards ran 101 to 16 against adoption. The board voted 4-1 to adopt the politically correct textbook. This is undemocratic. I voted no. +223 parents and students from Cypress Elementary School petitioned the board asking to keep their principal. I was the only board member who would look at their petition. The parents were reasonable and should have been accommodated. +Christmas vacation: 81 percent of the people who responded to my poll said they wanted the vacation to start either the Wednesday or Saturday before Christmas. The students got one day. The teachers got nothing. The board voted 4-1 in support of the union leaders and against the wishes of the parents and taxpayers. I voted for mediation.

Regarding No. 2 (contributions), school board members should not take money from the big unions and then vote for issues involving the same unions. Money buys influence, power and controland is critical for election victoryI am the only board member not taking money from the unions.

In conclusion, you could vote for anyone running for election to the school board and the academic standards of this district would not change. Why? Because studentsteachers, parents, staff and the superintendent deserve 97 percent of the credit.

What the school board does control and what will be decided in the next election is how the parents and taxpayers are treated. If we are going to make our community a better place to live in, our school board must give the majority of the parents and taxpayers preferential treatment.

Let us never forget whose taxes pay for the public schools. Mike Dunn Trustee, CVUSD Newbury Park