Solutions exist for problems facing our public schools

I'm opposed to increasing class sizes since we already have the largest class sizes in the nation. Our high schools have 38 to 42 students per teacher.

If we are to continue doing a great job of educating our children, we must close two schools. This is difficult for the families at any school, so I feel that they should be given the opportunity to put their children in a school with equal or higher test scores.

The MATES (Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School) charter will most likely be granted by the county. I realize that this will mean the district must close another school or cut programs and increase class sizes.

We cannot make cuts of more than $1 million a year on top of the $4.5 million caused by the budget crisis without affecting the classroom.

The cost of living in California is among the highest in the nation, and per pupil funding is among the lowest.

We must be fiscally responsible with the resources we have, partner with businesses and create more career-tech classes to help students train for jobs that are needed in our county.

This will bring more students to our district and help with our declining enrollment.

We need to encourage our lower performing schools to become magnet schools. The EARTHS (Environmental Academy for Research Technology and earth Sciences) magnet is a step in the right direction. We could also have a language arts magnet or a foreign language magnet.

Lower socioeconomic students do better when they're in schools with children from more affluent families.

We also need to look at programs at the high school level like the Endeavor Engineering Science Program. Replicating what's successful in other districts is the smart thing to do.

We need to encourage all parents to participate in their children's education. Having more parents on campus will help spread the word about the great things that are occurring in our district.

These are challenging economic times, but I'm excited to think about all of the solutions that are available to us. Peggy Buckles Thousand Oaks

Buckles is running for the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education.