Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) is being asked to approve the lease and operations of the Thousand Oaks Child Care facility at 110 S. Conejo School Road.

The City Council agreed to lease the building to CVUSD on Nov. 25, the agreement to be effective July 1.

This decision ends a long and successful relationship with a private operator, Roots and Wings, a privately and womenowned business. Before the school district agrees, there should be strong consideration of whether this best serves the children of our community.

Key considerations are:

1. Children currently attending the child care facility operated by Roots and Wings.

The current proposal is to have the facility run by the Conejo Valley Unified School District's Neighborhood for Learning (CVNfL). This program is inferior relative to Roots and Wings. CVNfL, currently doesn't provide infant day care, doesn't run full-time day care programs and isn't accredited.

While CVNfLhas committed to providing services for infants and offering full-time services, the fact is that this is new territory for the program. I don't want my children to be the test-bed for their learning. CVNfLisn't likely to become accredited any time soon.

2. Children in CVUSD's K-12 schools.

Can the district promise our community that by agreeing to run a child care facility for children under age 5 that precious resources won't be diverted from K-12 programs? In a time of extreme budget pressures, the district should stick to core competencies and work to maintain and enhance K-12 services.

3. Children who move to the CVNfL-run child care facility.

Is the district committed to the lease and operation of the facility? The current lease agreement is only for two years. This again introduces instability to families who are looking for a long-term day care solution.

Who are the winners here? The school board needs to clearly answer this question before they agree to a take on the operation of a new venture. Jennifer Curtis Thousand Oaks