Blames school woes on district officials

I am a parent of three children in Pleasant Valley School District, and it pains me to see such a division between the parents, teachers and the PVSD.

Camarillo has always been a model community: a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. Most people would say they are blessed to live in such a place.

Unfortunately, in the past weeks our community has been divided by the issue of school closures.

This issue has snowballed out of control and has created animosity among all that are involved. I believe that there must be accountability for lack of leadership and the failure of the board to do what is needed to help this community move forward.

The school board has a responsibility to ensure that the district is managed in the most efficient and effective manner so that our students receive the best education possible.

This includes providing competitive salaries to acquire and retain teachers. In order for that to happen three schools must close in the PVSD. Anyone in business will tell you when you can't pay the bills there are two choices: cut back and consolidate or generate more capital. The answer is clear; money is limited, so the schools must close.

With two certified public accountants on the school board you'd think it would be a nobrainer for them. The reality is the PVSD school board is not willing to show the leadership that is needed simply because they feel they would be committing political suicide. I submit to them they already have. Leadership is being able to make the hard decisions and seeing it through no matter what the political outcome. What a bunch ocowards.

In the time my children have attended PVSD, I have seen good teachers leave, some to other districts and some to othestates because they cannot afford to live in this community. ask, "Who do you want teaching our children- teachers with experience or teachers earning their experience in order move on to better paying districts?" It amazes me that the parentof the affected schools are so

shallow that they believe thatheir school is somehow superior to the other schools in PVSD. It is the teachers and the community that make ouschools, not the buildings.

We must not lose sight of the priorities- our children and their education. Great teacherequal a great education for ouchildren. If we do not properly compensate the teachers, who will teach our children? Tony Belvedere Camarillo