Superintendent's column
It's time for a decision on which schools to close
By Mario V. Contini Superintendent Conejo Valley Unified School District

Superintendent Mario Contini

It's time to decide

March will be a month for many important decisions. Taxpayers will be frantically deciding what to include in their 2007 tax returns. A spirited frenzy called "March Madness" will overcome college students and alumni across the nation as the NCAA's annual tournament will determine this year's championship basketball team. Conejo Valley Unified School District will make an extremely difficult decision on school closure.

Nearly two years ago, the school district projected a severe pattern of declining enrollment. Last September, after considering several alternatives and adopting a budget that diverted $800,000 from other uses to keep schools open another year, the Board of Education voted unanimously to close two schools in the fall of 2009. The closure of two schools will only cover about 27 percent of the loss of revenue from declining enrollment, leaving 73 percent to be covered by other means. Compounding the situation is the looming state budget crisis that is forcing school districts and other governmental agencies throughout California to make draconian cuts that will adversely impact education and community services.

The Facilities Advisory Committee has worked tirelessly to forward the district's strategic plan with respect to declining enrollment. It was compelled to stay within a defined set of approved criteria in preparing its recommendation to the board, knowing full well that no matter what recommendation it would make, it would not be well-received. On March 4 the committee recommended University and Meadows elementary schools for closure.

The board has stated all along that even after it makes its decision on which schools to close, it will rescind that decision if enrollment numbers and the fiscal situation improve sufficiently to make school closure unnecessary. Two initiatives have taken prominent notice: the creation of magnet schools and suggestions that a tax measure be placed on the November 2008 ballot. Magnet schools could offer more options and attract families who may not currently be attending CVUSD schools. A tax measure- whether a sales tax or parcel tax- could offset revenue losses from declining enrollment and allow schools to remain open.

The last tax measure survey done by the district did not reveal community support, but times have changed and the potential for school closure may have spurred interest. Although city and park district officials have no authority over school closure, they have maintained close contact with the district. Both have been very supportive and are willing to work cooperatively within their appropriate roles to explore ballot measure alternatives.

Over the past several months, the board and staff have received volumes of input on school closure at staff, parent and board meetings, through email and through personal contact. The input has been tremendously helpful and greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, it has been impossible to respond to every e-mail (sometimes up to 400 in a given day) or to provide enough time at board meetings to hear everyone who submitted a speaker card (more than 200 on March 4).

In an earlier column, I mentioned the Stockdale Paradox. Admiral Stockdale learned a valuable lesson as a prisoner of war. He said that we must face the brutal facts and have confidence that we shall prevail in the end. A decision of this magnitude will take courage, compassion, wisdom and faith in the future, not only by the board, but by all of us.

On March 18, after hearing additional input from the public, the board will consider action on the Facilities Advisory Committee's recommendation. By that time an abundance of data, diverse opinions and many important factors will have been heard and weighed.

Declining enrollment is real and the anxiety over "which schools it will be" will need to come to an end. Delaying a decision will change little and put everyone through the grueling agony all over again if alternatives fall short.

It's simply time to decide.