How many states regularly spend more money per child on education than California?

Is your child's class size consistent with other children across the nation?

The issue of a budget deficit for the education of our children has become one more weight on parents in our community. Understandably this issue can be overwhelming, and many don't know how to get involved.

You may feel you don't know how or where to begin, but you can do something.

Take some time to talk to other parents at your school. Find out who your school has appointed to be your District Advisory Council (DAC) representative. Find out what DAC is.

These parents are sitting through hours of meetings to understand the district's budget, doing additional research and attempting to work within a system to minimize cuts in the classrooms.

Thank them and then let your voice be heard to our elected officials- - in Sacramento and the Conejo board. Send e-mails, write letters or attend upcoming school board meetings.

Payroll is our biggest expense, and given the declining enrollment and need to look for big savings, we need to start here. If the majority of parents don't want teachers teaching in classrooms to be cut, let someone know.

If you want benefits paid to district employees, especially those who don't teach in classrooms, to be in line with benefits received by workers in the rest of the community, get involved.

Is it true that administrative personnel in our district are eligible for benefits/healthcare if they work under four hours a day? Find out.

Should district benefits for nonteachers be consistent with the benefits received by the majority of our community?

If keeping cuts away from the classroom is a priority, get involved with the hard choices being made.

Shrinking government is never easy, but the number of children in our district is shrinking. The district has done a wonderful job doing more with less over the years.

Now the cuts are too big and the longterm strategy for our district needs to reflect this reality. Darlene Butscher Thousand Oaks