School board is unresponsive to kids and parents

In response to your recent editorial that said, "The school district undoubtedly had solid reasons for its action" (regarding not renewing the contract of Principal Darlene Hale), I'd like to add that we'll never know whether they had solid reasons because the school board will say, "We can't discuss personnel matters with the public." The rule exists to protect personnel, but is clearly being used to protect (the board).

I was surprised and dismayed by the board's action not to renew Hale's contract. I was also outraged at the appalling lack of courtesy shown to the parents who came to speak on behalf of Ms. Hale. Even if it's policy not to discuss personnel matters, common courtesy demanded an acknowledgement that this item had already been reviewed.

As the first public speaker, I was surprised when Board President Delores Didio interrupted me and asked me to wrap it up. About 10 seconds later, when I was in the process of concluding, she interrupted me again (and) explained that the warning light wasn't working properly; still, it would have been courteous to explain and give me my due time.

I have been to many, many city council, planning commission, Coastal Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings over the past 17 years and never have I seen less respect paid to speakers from the public.

The board's demeanor and actions at the hearing made it quite clear that they were merely tolerating the parents. . .with not an acknowledgment (to any of the 13 speakers).

What's most troubling, there's something rotten in the CVUSD. The district seems to have no problem ruining a meritorious career and discounting the opinion of the concerned parents.

What else is going on that affects our children and our schools that's "privileged" information?

Who and what influences the board in making decisions? It's clear that the decision to effectively fire Ms. Hale was a political one; there would be no other reason that a school district would fire a principal who was by all measurable accounts outstanding, i.e., raising test scores significantly during her brief tenure at Wildwood, when we all know that these days schools and school districts often live and die by test scores because of their importance to receiving federal funding.

Whatever their reasons for doing something that seriously affects the lives of their constituents, it appears the board discusses the important issues behind closed doors while using the public forum to congratulate themselves and socialize with district employees.

This manner of conducting business undermines the trust of citizens, thus jeopardizing the stability of the Conejo Valley public schools. Carrie Sandstrom Thousand Oaks