Thirteen local parents spoke last week in favor of opening a another charter school in Conejo Valley, asking the Conejo Valley Unified School District board to support an additional education option for the area.

Last year, Conejo Valley Unified School District fought the development of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School (MATES), a charter school, which was eventually approved by the county and opened this fall at the former Meadows Elementary campus.

The concept for Bridges Charter School came from teachers and parents who were unhappy with the little control they have over the open classroom magnet program at Conejo Elementary. Organizers hope to open the school next fall.

The speakers who came to voice their support for Bridges at CVUSD’s school board meeting Nov. 3 asked trustees to agree their own program would be better on its own site, under its own control.

Of the 495 students who attend Conejo Elementary, 141 are in the open classroom magnet.

Speakers pointed out that since 2000, seven principals have run Conejo Elementary and its open classroom program.

“I couldn’t find a company that found it prudent to change leadership that many times in even 10 years,” said Bridges board president Randy Witt. “It’s time to look over ourselves. We want to hire and retain principals and hire and retain teachers. That’s one of the major philosophical differences between us and CVUSD that brought Bridges here tonight.”

Lori Peters, a 15-year educator and longtime teacher in the open classroom magnet program, agreed.

“Open classroom had a lot of limitations (at Conejo),” Peters said. “We had no control over administrative changes. We would like to be an educational option that’s innovative. If you vote to make Bridges a reality, Conejo Valley will have a whole site dedicated to the whole child. I’ve sent over 200 students into the world. We’d thrive on our own site.”

Bridges supporters presented the charter school’s request to the board on Oct. 6, and in accordance with the law, last week’s public hearing was set to gauge community support.

The speakers presented a petition with more than 400 signatures of support, and 300 parents have said they intend to enroll their children if the school is approved.

“We believe in a balanced education, one that goes beyond academics and test-taking,” Peters said. Allowing time for creative thinking and reflection, she said, was important. And parent involvement is one of the most important aspects of the program.

Diversity was also discussed, as Bridges parents argued that because the school would be a charter school, kids wouldn’t all be coming from one neighborhood.

Hilda Salas said her older daughter, now 25, went to an allwhite school, whereas Salas went to a school with mostly minorities. She said she likes the idea that Bridges will offer diversity.

“I want different for my son, having all different ethnic backgrounds, all learning together and learning from each other,” she said. “I don’t believe it’s enough to be tolerant of different cultures to maintain a healthy environment in the school setting. I believe a child needs to feel his/her ethnicity is welcomed, embraced and nurtured. Bridges will offer this, and this is my greatest wish for every child.”

The CVUSD school board is scheduled to decide whether to support the Bridges petition at its Tues., Dec. 1 meeting.

Jon Baker, co-petitioner for Bridges, asked the board members to be “visionaries of the future.”

“You have the opportunity to look to the future and lead,” Baker said. “We know CVUSD has many award-winning schools. We’d like to be another star in that firmament. We need you to give us a chance.”