I just wanted to sit down and take a minute to address how strongly I feel about the opening of Meadows Art and Technology Elementary School (MATES).

Last year my husband and I found ourselves in a quandary. Although we've truly enjoyed our child's first-year experience in Oak Park school district, we've made a decision to move him to MATES.

As the school year progressed, MATES held greater interest for our family. At a MATES parent information meeting, I realized that MATES was the right choice for my children.

I was persuaded to move my older child, now in kindergarten, from Oak Park to MATES due to the creative, bottom-up approach to learning. This is a technique that our kids desperately need.

Grasping a concept from the roots, as opposed to learning for immediate results, is an approach that I support. The innovative style and the focus on arts and technology will encourage my children to be excited about their daily tasks.

I've become increasingly concerned on how the current state budget cuts will affect the day to day school experience for my child now in kindergarten.

Knowing that the charter school has less overhead is a comfort since I know that my tax dollars will be spent more in the classroom and less on red tape.

As committed parents, my husband and I are more interested in building a foundation that truly works, and we believe that MATES, as a charter school, will provide this foundation.

I can honestly say that this decision is based on the data available regarding charter schools— they work! Sharri Lear Thousand Oaks