For Conejo schools, we stand united or we fall divided

While budget cuts continue for Conejo Valley Unified School District, district leadership hasn't emphasized that the budget deficit is a whole district problem, which is causing some parents to turn against University and Meadows schools.

This budget crisis isn't the fault of University and Meadows schools, but we're being forced to take the hit for the whole district. Before the school closure announcement, University was projected by the district to lose five to eight students next year, from 328 to 323. Wow. Big loss.

Secondary education from 2007 to 2009, when the budget cuts take place, will lose 538 students. This equals $3.1 million less income for secondary education. Elementary, as a whole, may equal that number by 2009.

While not perfect, I'm proud that University parents have never attacked or spoke unkindly about another school, and we don't rally support through e-mails to criticize Century High School, with an average 30 students, and Conejo Valley High School, with 207 students, because they are small.

In fact, we were so impressed with the students from Century who spoke at the school board meeting. What a service this small school does.

Shouldn't this apply to elementary schools, too, or does every school need to have 500 students? If so, you've just eliminated another choice for CVUSD parents that will hurt enrollment.

Parents: I urge you to help us find solutions to the budget together, not protest against us and tear us down at the June 17 meeting. (Saving schools and small class sizes should be the first priorities of the district's budget.)

For example, the district just released that the travel and leisure budget was $420,000 for 200708, but actually hit $793,842. That's $373,842 over budget. But University must close to save a whole $625,000.

University can accept it if we close but will be hurt beyond repair if the attacks continue.

I hope no other parents must go through what we've gone through any time soon.

We stand together as a district - - or we fall apart. Julie Svitenko Thousand Oaks