I take issue with the Acorn’s editorial accusing Bridges of setting a poor example for children while losing our moral compass.

Firstly, my children have learned valuable life lessons from the charter school process.

They’ve learned that rather than merely complaining about problems, they must propose and work toward solutions. They’ve learned to advocate for causes they passionately support.

They’ve learned the joy of volunteering. They’ve learned that some with different perspectives may ostracize or discriminate against them for standing up for their beliefs. They’ve learned that following their conscience sometimes costs more than they think they want to pay but that the pride of standing up for their convictions is worth the price.

My children have learned much from the effort to build Bridges, and I think their lessons have been positive.

Secondly, regarding the moral compass, I ask the Acorn how state money provided to Bridges to educate students leaving Conejo Valley Unified School District costs CVUSD money?

If California pays $6,000 in ADA (Average Daily Attendance) funding to educate a student at Bridges, MATES, CVUSD or in Oak Park Unified School District, that school or district should spend that student’s $6,000 on his/her education. If that child leaves one district for another, or for a charter school, the expense of that student’s education leaves with him/her.

CVUSD isn’t a for-profit venture running at 10 percent margins where every student lost costs $6,000. If CVUSD receives $6,000 per student, they should spend $6,000 to educate that student; if they lose that student, they’re no longer responsible for educating him/her, and the funding should, and does, follow the student. Charter school ADA funding costs CVUSD nothing.

The foundation of your argument accusing Bridges of costing CVUSD money is uninformed and inaccurate.

Moreover, CVUSD should consider why OPUSD has no charter schools and routinely attracts students from CVUSD. This newspaper should address CVUSD’s unwillingness to confront its own mismanagement.

They’d be more successful fighting the charter movement by providing education that parents want and are fleeing to other districts to find.

CVUSD should wage its fight by providing real choice.
Randall S. Witt
Westlake Village
Witt is the board president of Bridges Charter School.