Union head should not have criticized foundation

Do the teachers in the Pleasant Valley School District deserve raises and better benefit compensation?

Absolutely. They are very underpaid countrywide and have the lowest benefit compensation.

Does this mean Suzann Zeigler, president of the Pleasant Valley Education Association, the teachers' union, should take advantage of her title and scold the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation for giving grants to schools outside of the district yet still in Camarillo?

Nope. And common sense leads me to believe that most, if not all, teachers would agree her criticism was counterproductive to their cause.

The foundation received a total of 21 applications and chose 13 to receive grants.

To my knowledge, when reviewing the grant applications, it is done without knowledge of which teacher and/or school submitted it. In fact, their policy is to disqualify any applicants that attempt to disclose what school they are from.

PVSD received eight of those 13 grants, and five went to the two charter schools.

Due to the battle between the union and the district, the union is discouraging the teachers from doing any additional work.

Teachers are already asked to refrain from web page updates and sending home weekly newsletters. Effective grant writing takes a generous amount of time and research. It is not part of the teachers' contract, yet it brings money to the district at the school site level.

The two charter schools, Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education and University Prep, are not in battle over compensation, so it stands to reason that more of their educators took the time to apply for grants.

I believe the foundation has integrity, as it has for years provided and continues to provide wonderful services beyond the grants to all the children of Camarillo. It deserves positive recognition from our entire community.

It also must be said that the appropriate response to monetary donations is a gracious "thank you."

With that in mind, it would behoove the union president to stick to the issues of teacher compensation- they deserve her total focus and commitment- and refrain from attacking establishments that provide our children and teachers with so many extras. Julie El-Khoury Camarillo