Exercise every option before closing any school
      The challenge facing CVUSD and its school board today: •Close two schools and save $1.3 million, 1 percent of the budget. •Devastate 700 students plus 1,000 parents.
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Raise money, don't close any schools
      A recent weekend was very busy for families in the Conejo Valley. Thousand Oaks Little League and Thousand Oak Girls Softball held opening day ceremonies. The Conejo YMCA sent dads and kids to snow camp, and a small group of dedicated parents spent the weekend fighting for their scho...
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Save Meadows: Make it an 'arts magnet' school
      It's critical that "CVUSD must evolve to stay competitive," as Aimee Freeman said in her Feb. 28 letter to the Thou sand Oaks Acorn . One step in this direction is to make Meadows Elementary School, one of the schools targeted for closure, an arts magnet school.
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Closing University school is insanity
      The School Facility Goals Committee spent six months developing a process to determine the best candidates for school closure that would be unbiased, using primary and secondary criterias. After hearing the results of this process on Feb.
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Stephens shouldn't vote because of conflict of interest
      We're proud Glenwood parents. Like other parents facing closure of their neighborhood schools, we too want to save our school. It's unfortunate that so many feel that our school should close because it's a "low-testing school."
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Parents must lie or kids pay the price for historical visits
      I took my daughter to New York for her 16th birthday. I planned it over Conejo Valley Unified School District's four-day Presidents Day weekend to minimize the days of school she would miss. I called the Thousand Oaks High attendance line on Feb. 12 to report her absent for Feb. 13 ...
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Traffic initiative lets voters decide on development
      In response to the letter titled "Traffic initiative is about competition in the business world, not gridlock"in the Feb. 28 T.O. Acorn , I must say that Nino DeFranco and myself do not represent any business, including Lumber City/Do-it Center.
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Junk mail is arriving in more than the mailbox
      At 10 a.m. this morning I found a flier from Arboles Care Tree Service on my front door step. Then at 2 p.m. as I left to run errands, I noticed a flier from Gold's Gym hanging on my front door handle. When I returned at 5 p.m., I found a plastic bag filled with rocks and a flie...
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It's time for fresh ideas in Congress
      Regarding "Gallegly files for reelection, has Democratic challenger in November" in the Feb. 28 Thousand Oaks Acorn , Democrat Mary Pallant certainly has the right idea in suggesting "the need for change is much stronger now" in the 24th Congressional District.
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Barack Obama the wisest choice
      George Burditt gave us some fun in the Feb. 28 T.O. Acorn ("None looks good to me so far"), but I think it's easy to solve his dilemma. It comes down to defining what the president's job really is. We make the mistake of thinking of him as commander in chief- - the ...
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Let's wage war on poverty in Africa
      Recently, President Bush returned from Africa, a continent facing challenges and heartbreak. Malaria and AIDS claim thousands of lives daily. Millions lack access to basic needs like clean water and food. For all its challenges and tragedies, Africa holds hope and opportunity.
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