Meadows and University schools will be closed
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

More than a year after the process began, the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education has decided to close two elementary schools in the fall of 2009.

Board members voted 3-2 to shut down University and Meadows elementary schools, despite three hours of pleas and criticism from the public at Tuesday night's board meeting.

Board members Mike Dunn and Tim Stephens voted against the closures.

"I was elected to represent you, not dictate you," Dunn said.

"Since January, you parents and citizens of the community have petitioned me with over 500 e-mails, calls and letters asking me to please keep schools open. That's why I'm voting no tonight," he said.

Stephens, a former principal at Meadows, surprised many onlookers by voting against the closures; however, he had expressed disappointment with the schools chosen.

"It really bothers me that we are looking at closing two Blue Ribbon schools," Stephens said. "I wish we had given the committee direction to take into consideration (test) scores and awards. That didn't happen and it's the board's fault. . . . This is the most challenging and farreaching decision this school board is going to have to make. And I think we ought to get it right," he said.

The motion that passed also encourages exploring other sources of revenue- including a possible city tax initiative- but then names the two schools for closure as a last result. Many parents opted to attend the Thousand Oaks City Council meeting instead of the school board meeting to ask for help.

Deputy Superintendent Jeff Baarstad talked about advancing the tax initiative. "Because of the comments from parents, we will look at getting a tax initiative on the ballot in November," Baarstad said. He wasn't optimistic.

"A tax override has never been done for a public school district in California," he said.

To get constituents involved, Baarstad said officials have looked into a tax that would benefit the parks and recreation district, the city of T.O. and CVUSD, including increased technology in schools.

"We don't think a parcel tax to keep two schools open is going to have a lot of appeal," Baarstad said. "We hear a lot about the lack of technology in schools. . . . Unfortunately, the city doesn't hold out a lot of hope for this legally, and we need the city."

Board member Dolores Didio encouraged the group to stay committed to getting a tax initiative on the ballot.

"We need adequate and stable funding," Didio said. "Perhaps this is the time that this could really happen. Get working on it and now. Get the forces together to get this to pass."

Superintendent Mario Contini said officials from the city of Thousand Oaks had been "very cooperative" during talks about finding other sources of revenue.

In the meantime, however, Baarstad told parents that preparations for the closures would start immediately.

"We're going to move forward very aggressively," Baarstad said. "This process needs to move forward but with the caveat that you may rescind (it) well before a final decision is made."

Many parents disagreed with naming the two schools in the motion because they thought it would be harder to gain support for a new source of revenue.

"How are we going to get this passed if you name schools?" asked parent Monique Foster. "This room isn't even full. It's going to hurt (the tax initiative) to name them."

Criticism for Baarstad and the process was abundant during the time allotted for public comment.

"It's unconscionable that this board has ignored schools' performance and instead focused on race and economic class," said Paul Lasiter, a Meadows parent who suggested the board may have been taking "crazy pills."

"Performance matters," said Lasiter.

Kim Wagner agreed.

"(Test) scores do matter to us," Wagner said. "And for us to go to a school where they say they don't matter to them, that doesn't fit our needs."

Other parents wondered why Ladera and Maple elementary schools were exempt from closing because of their severely handicapped programs, and Meadows, which is the third school in the district with that distinction, wasn't. Others demanded to know why the idea to convert Meadows to a magnet school was dismissed.

"This is part of the solution to declining enrollment," said parent Heather Moloian. "The art culture at Meadows isn't just a draw around other district schools. There's strong evidence that it would draw students from the private sector and home schooling."

Didio recommended moving all of Meadows to a different location.

"I wonder if we could take the whole school program, lift the whole thing, and put it at another school," Didio said.

"Meadows is not the best facility for an arts magnet school with the traffic . . . and it doesn't have the auditorium you would like. Perhaps this could be provided at another location."

The crowd of about 200 was noticeably disappointed and outraged at the final vote, some yelling for a recall of board members as they exited the Thousand Oaks High School Performing Arts Center. Small huddles of parents talked and cried with one another outdoors after the meeting.

"There's no joy in this process for anyone," Baarstad said. "This hasn't been motivated by balancing diversity or just to balance the budget. The core of it is declining enrollment.(Kindergarten) through (grade) 12 enrollment has declined three years in a row. Over 50 percent of the districts in Ventura County are declining."