Wants board to reconsider its decision

My sixth-grade daughter recently transferred mid-year from Las Colinas Middle School to Santa Rosa Technology Magnet School. A happy, well-adjusted child, she was overwhelmed by the oppressive crowding, the cliques, the long faces she always saw at Las Colinas.

Moving to Santa Rosa was like a breath of fresh air. The teachers and staff knew her name and the students were friendly and welcoming. We both felt it was almost too good to be true. Apparently, we were right.

My daughter was looking forward to being happily ensconced in this lovely school for two more years. Now, without any prior notice, that dream has been dashed.

You [the school board] could not possibly conceive of how much your actions have hurt my family and hundreds more like mine. In my family's case, I liken it to winning the lottery, only to be told a few weeks later that it was all a mistake.

Our existing middle schools are already stressed to the limits, and the goal is to add up to 50 percent more students. This seems a recipe for trouble, if not outright disaster.

Although numerous studies, as well as common sense, say that Keight schools are a much more positive environment for middle schoolage children, you have chosen to eliminate two out of three of those programs and to warehouse masses of adolescents in one centralized place, without a clear explanation as to how this will save the district money.

You are the board who professed to put kids first, and who appeared committed to the idea of having alternative options to serve the needs of all the children of Camarillo. Indeed, you voted to make Santa Rosa a K-eight school two years ago, and it was on the last board meeting's agenda, as well.

I voted for the current school board, believing you had our children's best interests at heart. You have since proceeded to wipe out the only thing that made Pleasant Valley schools attractive and unique- the choices provided by our alternative programs. By doing this, you will only continue to lose enrollment in the district, as parents seek appropriate alternatives for their children.

I always counted my blessings that I lived in a community where I did not have to pay for private schools. But, if pressed, the parents of Camarillo will do just that, or join the 200 existing families in this city that home school their children.

I no longer have confidence that you are doing what is best for the students of this community. It is highly inappropriate that you did not allow Santa Rosa parents and staff to present their case as to why it should remain a K-eight program. If we had been allowed to do so, you would see that this move will actually cause the district to lose money, rather than save it.

You have not shown how eliminating the all-day kindergarten and the upper grades will save the district money. In fact, you must pay kindergarten teachers for a full day of work anyway. It appears that you simply wanted to be an equal opportunity distributor of punishment. This is not a responsible way to act. Parents are being called whiny and spoiled by having too many choices. Kids don't have unions. Apparently, we parents and taxpayers are the only advocates for the kids, and our voices are not being heard.

I spoke with a consultant to school districts who told me that it normally takes up to a year to work through a school closure procedure with a minimal amount of strife. She also told me it was inappropriate not to allow time for Santa Rosa parents to present a case regarding this major decision. I strongly urge you to retract the decision you made at the last board meeting in order to thoroughly and properly explore the ramifications of these actions. Kendall Morlan Camarillo