The column fromConejo Valley Unified School Superintendent Mario Contini in your March 19 issue blames the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 for the funding problems we now face in our school system.

Contini states that funding per pupil has steadily declined in California since the passage of Prop. 13, when adjusted for the cost of living. The important words are "adjusted for the cost of living."

School expenditures for the calendar year 200607 has California listed at 47th, spending on the average of $8,117 per student. The same table listed Vermont as No. 1, spending at over $14,000 per student. Vermont's official website actually lists its funding per pupil as $9,300. See where the "adjusted for cost of living" comes into play? Also, Vermont schools only have a 2 percent dropout rate; they get more bang for their buck.

The cost of living plays a large part in school funding in our state. While California placed 47th in 2006-07 in spending per pupil, we ranked first in the nation for teacher pay.

Many facts can be found concerning education in California, if you look for them. I'd suggest that the parents of school-age children take a look at CVUSD's own website. Check out the School Accountability Report Cards (SARC) for each local school. There you will find among many reports on how much is actually spent on your child.

According to the SARC for Weathersfield Elementary, a total of $5,778 was spent per pupil during the 2006-07 calendar year. During the same year, $8,538 was spent on students at Park Oaks Elementary. Newbury Park High School spent $5,398 per student, while $7,841 was spent on students at Westlake High School. And $11,613 was spent on the students at Conejo Valley High.

I'd say that is a very wide range of funding per pupil. I'm sure there are many factors involved, but all I see are numbers.

I know how well students at Weathersfield Elementary test. So, Mr. Contini, throwing more money at the schools won't solve the problem.

Blaming Prop. 13 isn't the answer. Look elsewhere my friend. John William Clay Thousand Oaks