Teachers deserve fair pay

As a parent with a child being educated in the Pleasant Valley School District, I am deeply disturbed about the fact that Pleasant Valley School District teachers are not being fairly compensated.

Our teachers play a vital role in the current and future success and enrichment of our children, which in turn has a direct impact on the wellbeing of our community and ultimately our country.

It is abhorrent that Camarillo does not value our Pleasant Valley School District teachers enough to pay them commensurate with those in other Ventura County school districts. Education should be considered a top priority. However, due to the fact that teachers' salaries rank far below those of other professions, it is quite apparent that the level of responsibility and importance of our teachers has been disregarded.

We as a community need to retain our professional and dedicated teachers, and in order to do so their salaries and health benefits must be increased. As a longtime resident of Camarillo who was also educated in the Pleasant Valley School District, I chose to raise my family in this community largely due to the quality education our public schools provide.

I volunteer in my daughter's classroom and school activities, and I have firsthand knowledge of the passion and devotion that the teachers display for the children. On a daily basis the teachers go above and beyond expectations not only to provide an exemplary education but, equally as important, to love learning and look forward to going to school.

On behalf of all Pleasant Valley School District teachers and parents, I appeal to the Pleasant Valley School District board to appreciate this quality of excellence by working to raise our teachers' salaries and improve their benefits. Please keep our teachers a priority. Jenny Chikasawa Camarillo