City needs to invest in schools

This letter is in response to the school closure discussion that is currently taking place in the Pleasant Valley School District. The city of Camarillo residents and leaders need to get involved in this situation. The city's leaders need to show the community that it supports the families and children who live here and pay taxes here, and that it is not only interested in attracting tourists.

Where are the city's priorities? Every week in the paper I'm reading about how the city of Camarillo is spending more money for redevelopment, hotels, shopping centers and now $200,000 for a trolley car. Meanwhile, the schools are closing and teachers are leaving. Can't this city spare some of its wealth for the children?

If this city can't do an adequate job of educating its children, what will happen to Camarillo in the future? Who are its future workers and leaders going to be? It's time this city realizes that it is in the city's best interest to get involved. For examples of how to do this, they can take a few lessons from some of the more successful school districts over "the grade."

In the Las Virgenes School District, for example, the city of Westlake Village provides bus transportation for all of its students. The mayor of Westlake, Sue McSweeny, visits the school from time to time to talk about events that are going on. She even donates a "Mayor for the Day" prize for the silent auction, where the winner gets to spend the day with her at the city offices and follow her around to learn about her job. The children in this community recognize and know the name of their mayor. Is that true in Camarillo?

In addition, the cities of Agoura Hills and Calabasas contribute directly to the schools in their communities. This also, by the way, contributes to community pride and support of city events and decisions. When you go to the LVUSD website you find a link to the city of Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.

The city of Camarillo and all of its residents need to realize it is also in their best interest to ensure the children of this community receive a quality education, as they are the future workforce and leaders of Camarillo. People will start leaving Camarillo for better schools. We are in a rapidly changing world and it is imperative that our schools and children do not fall behind. Diane Ensey Camarillo