Let the people decide about a possible parcel tax

I'm a parent of two University Elementary students. Since the announcement that University was on the list for closure, I've understood and accepted the idea that my kids' school is closing. I've also wanted to believe that the process to come to that decision by the school board was fair despite things I read and heard from the community.

At the closure of the last public board meeting, I heard and read the option to put a parcel tax increase on the November ballot.

It was short, but it gave parents hope that maybe we wouldn't have to close our schools after all. Then to read the April 10 story in the Acorn titled "School board gives parcel tax no chance" led me to write this letter. Typically I don't write these types of letters, but after reading the article, I felt compelled to voice my disappointment in the school board and superintendent's response to the parcel tax initiative before even trying to obtain the voters' opinions.

I'm a registered voter in Ventura County. I even went to a "gettogether" for the current board members during their reelection campaigns so I could be an educated voter. At that time, I felt that these people really understood our community and the school system.

After reading last week's article, I no longer believe that. The board members claim to have their finger on the pulse of the community, yet they're not even letting the voters, who put them in their positions, a chance to tell them what they want.

I understand there's an issue regarding cost to put this initiative on the ballot, but I guarantee more money has been spent on coming to the decision to close University and Meadows than it would cost to exhaust one more resource to see if it can save our schools.

Please don't make a decision whether to give the parcel tax initiative a chance based on your own opinions.

Let the voters decide for once.

Fiona Maynard
Thousand Oaks