Uncertainty about funding puts child care program on hold

After determining that funds may be cut within the state budget, the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education voted against creating a child care program, although the issue will be revisited.

The board voted unanimously against a contract with the city of Thousand Oaks to establish a Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning child care program.

As of now, the state budget has eliminated funding for First 5, which is where some of the money for the proposed child care program would originate.

Board members did ask Janet Cosaro, assistant superintendent of instruction, to request that the city add a clause to the contract that would allow the district to rescind on the agreement if funding was lost. With that change, the board might consider accepting the contract.

"We can't take it on as encroachment to our general fund," said Jeff Baarstad, assistant superintendent of business services. "It doesn't hurt for us to ask for that clause given what's come down from Sacramento."

Cosaro said she didn't think it would be a problem.

"They get it that in these economic times we can't take on this burden," Cosaro said.