Teachers pay raises a must

Camarillo's dark little secret is out in the open at last. Our affluent community pays the teachers of its children the very lowest salaries in the county.

Why has this gone on for so long? From a leadership point of view, it was the path of least resistance. From the teachers' point of view, you need to understand, it is difficult to advocate for ourselves. At best, we risk sounding whiny or pathetic, at worst, unprofessional, greedy or self-absorbed. However, we do care, deeply.

We have mortgages to pay (or dreams of them), children to raise and college tuitions to cover, just like everybody.

Parents, children and even teachers at schools impacted by proposed changes are understandably concerned and unhappy.

It is hard to let go of the known and the loved. Those of us who survived the last wave of closures, "giveaways" and reconfigurations can be a voice of hope. New wonderful educational communities grew from unlookedfor and unwanted changes of the past.

We need community leaders and concerned citizens to speak up in support of the current Board of Education's effort to bring light to the problem, people who are uncomfortable with the moral ambiguity of demanding unlimited choice at the expense of the financial well-being of your own children's teachers and their families. People who understand that enlightened self-interest is clear, PVSD needs improved salary schedules to attract, retain and compensate good teachers and staff. People who see that, at this of all times, we need to put together a generous package to attract and retain an outstanding new district superintendent. We need a strong, experienced and visionary leader with the commitment to guide us out of this troubled time into a bright future. Christine Elliott Camarillo