PTA backs diversity document

The Conejo Council ParentTeacher Association has come forward to urge Conejo Valley Unified School District and the board of education to consider a diversity resolution approved by the state PTA. Aleta Smith, president of the Conejo Council PTA, last week asked the school board to utilize the current decline in enrollment and possibility of school closures to rethink the criteria of policies on school choices and boundaries. A state PTA resolution addresses the issue, and Smith asked board members to take a look. She also sent a request to Superintendent Mario Contini, Deputy Superintendent of Business Services Jeff Baarstad and Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Janet Cosaro. "The PTA has become aware of the fact there is segregation by circumstances in the district," Smith said. "We're asking the district to take a look at those policies and the boundaries in place that are basically creating this situation. There are many factors we need to look at." The California PTA supports school choice, the ability of parents to select their children's school from a range of options. But according to the resolution, school programs should meet a variety of requirements.

There should be adequate and objective information available, in a variety of languages as needed, about all public schools so that parents can make informed decisions about their children's schooling, the document says. And racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the receiving or sending schools or school districts must be considered and maintained. "In the school choice resolution, it's about having an equal opportunity based on curriculum and standards, and it would have socioeconomic and racial diversity in schools maintained," Smith said.

"School boundaries can be redrawn to make more diversification. As we look at school closures and some of the criteria, we're hoping it will help shake out this problem. We have this opportunity to eliminate this," she said.

Smith said Contini and Cosaro were impressed with the letter, but members of the school board haven't yet responded.