Says editorial was wrong

This is in response to the editorial in last week's Camarillo Acorn, stating "Dr. Moffett was right," that schools must close when districts decline. What the editor is not aware of is that it is not the philosophy that is being questioned but the motivation and the process. Apathy is not in play either. Much has been discovered during this process.

The school board tried to get a bond measure passed for $1.5 million, citing that it was needed to expand our classroom sizes for the increasing population of Camarillo. That failed. Then, within the same year, the board stated that they needed to close schools because of declining population. Many believe that was an attempt to put taxpayer monies in the coffers to fund unification or why the flip flop in such a short period of time?

Also, the board's own financial report of June 30 shows that over the course of the last your years the district had only lost 30 students. It is projected to remain flat in 2007-08. That number is not reason enough to close three schools.

The process itself is a disgrace. Prior to November 2006 there had been no public mention that school closures were forecasted. Seats on the board were up for re-election and they all ran on a unification slate. The board canceled its Nov. 1 meeting, waited for election results a few days later, then called in Dr. Moffet on Nov. 15 to discuss the closures, now that all the board members were all on the same page. Alamillo, who disagreed with the board and unification, did not get re-elected. They also voted to stop televising their meetings at this time. In January PVSD parents received notices of school closures. It is an eightweek process ending on March 15.

This board has lost its credibility with many in Camarillo. With Berg and Kitchens up for re-election in 2008, their roles will not be forgotten. Joao Marques Camarillo