Decision to close Meadows school was deplorable

I mourned the loss of our neighborhood school again after the June 17 board meeting to "reconsider" the decision to close Meadows and University elementary schools.

Meadows and University families rallied together. We didn't threaten racial unrest or discrimination lawsuits. We believed the school board represented all of the district's children, not knowing that the sacrificial lambs at Meadows and University were exceptions.

This process has been the epitome of un-American.

Our children, faculty and parents brought honor to Conejo schools through our national and state awards, test scores and model art magnet programs. I heard at the meeting that it was okay to close our doors because we're small. We're small because the board didn't do its job.

Closing Meadows and University is the consequence of years of complacency by a board that's been seated too long.

We took the bait one final time. We believed that our pleas for sanity would be heard. We heard from high school parents who had no idea what's been going on for the last year. They didn't know the facts.

They received their facts from "the sky is falling" e-mails that had been distributed the two weeks prior to the June 17 meeting. The emails started a preschool-style game of telephone, resulting in some families actually believing that football programs would be eliminated, teachers would be laid off and high school AP classes discontinued.

Well, folks, you were "played." A few hot-button words thrown out regarding cuts to freshman coach stipends and increases in class sizes of one-half student; a few well-placed visits by board members to high school PTSA meetings promoting the divisiveness, and, tadah, the end result is accomplished. The board "saved high school sports!" (Whew, that was close.)

Let's all make educated choices in November and elect board members who put their own agendas aside and actually represent the district's students and their families. Meanwhile, we will continue to fix what's been broken and destroyed.

Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES) will be tremendous.

We'll continue to feed the middle schools and high schools with Blue Ribbon and distinguished students. RoxAnn Lewis Thousand Oaks