Superintendent says 3 schools may be closed
District could save $1.5 million a year if campuses are shuttered
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

The school district's top administrator recommended to an advisory committee closing as many as three schools by fall.

Superintendent Ken Moffett said the district operates more schools than is warranted by enrollment figures and that the district could save about $1.5 million annually if three schools are closed. The state funds school districts based on such figures.

Moffett told the board of trustees in November that forecasts over the last several years had outpaced actual enrollment. The board agreed to form an advisory committee of parents, teachers, administrators, residents and business people, known as the 7-11 committee, to analyze data and recommend the best use of district facilities, which could include school closures. The 11-member committee has met twice since forming and their recommendation is expected to go before the school board in mid March.

A large group of concerned parents attended the school board meeting last week, anxious to hear if their children's school would close.

Board President Ron Speakman assured them that no decision has been made and that the board may or may not follow the committee's recommendation.

"Please be patient with the process," Speakman told the crowd.

With about 7,000 students, the K-8 Pleasant Valley School District is roughly the same size as the Hueneme School District. But Hueneme operates fewer schools and populates them with more students than Pleasant Valley. It also offers teacher higher salaries and better benefits than the Camarillo district.

Contrary to popular belief, a well-to-do community does not translate into well-funded schools. Property taxes do not go directly to school districts but to the state, which funds all school districts at nearly the same level whether they're located in wealthy or poor communities, Moffett said. In trying to make the most efficient use of its facilities and resources, the district wants between 550 and 700 students at its kindergarten through fifth or eighth grade schools. Only two schools out of 10 meet that target. None of the six campuses with a middle school population meets the district's minimum goal of 1,000 students.

"We need efficient, quality schools that can support themselves," Moffett said.

The district came under pressure from parents in 2005 when it had considered closing Los Altos Middle School. Dase recommended leaving the school open.

Moffett may be in the best position to assess whether the district should close any schools. He told the board that superintendents tend to lose their job over school closures.

"If we don't begin to take a hard look and do something about this very difficult decision, what we'll find is that we're going to have a tremendous talent drain," he said.

To add further strain to district resources, Rancho Rosal Elementary School opened this month with 330 students. Although Village at the Park developer D.R. Horton built the school, it wasn't entirely a free gift, Moffett said. The district had to furnish it and must pay ongoing staff and operating costs.

The 711 committee meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the district office. Their meetings are open to the public.