A charter school might raise the bar in CVUSD

Once again, union-sponsored school board members have ignored parent requests and instead chosen to cancel Principal Darlene Hale's contract. Given the academic strength exhibited by Wildwood students under Ms. Hale's leadership, this decision seems illogical.

Ms. Hale's decision to group students by ability for mathematics is likely one reason for Wildwood's recent success, and it is unfortunate for students that many influential educators promote the elimination of such groupings.

Parents hoping to reform our schools via the political process would be wise to read "The Princeton Story" by Chiara R. Nappi. This document, posted on The Fordham Foundation website, chronicles the efforts of reform-minded parents in the Princeton school district who were stymied by intransigent educators at every turn.

Reformers eventually succeeded in founding an academically focused K-8 public charter school which garnered applications from 25 percent of that district's student population.

So far, Conejo Unified board members have yet to admit that the abrupt drop in K-6 enrollment (600 students) is anything other than a shift in demographics.

Failing to provide strong academics and adopting the twice rejected Everyday Math program have exacerbated falling enrollment. Parents need to be prepared as the district has indicated it will be closing a school in December if enrollment continues to lag.

Unlike CVUSD, San Diego's school board points to the increase in enrollment for charters and private schools and is taking action. Princeton district educators confessed the need to improve once faced with competition from the public charter. Similarly, San Diego is now considering opening a number of magnet schools focused on a variety of disciplines to lure students back.

What CVUSD needs is a good dose of competition from an academically focused K-8 publicly funded charter school staffed with success-minded educators such as Darlene Hale. Perhaps then CVUSD will consider providing K-8 programs parents want for their children.
Jo Anne Cobasko
Thousand Oaks