My son feels lucky to be in open classroom at Conejo Elementary School. He’s benefiting from an educational philosophy that supports a balanced education—social, cognitive and emotional. His life has been enriched by the many experiences he’s enjoyed in this program.

His teachers have taught him using hands-on methods, without relying on hours of workbooks. Not all students are as fortunate.

The founders of Bridges Charter School are working hard to build a school where more children receive the type of education currently benefiting my son.

Sadly, I personally know three students who’ve been waiting four years to get into the Open Classroom Magnet.

How many others are being denied this opportunity? Additionally, some 300 families in Conejo Valley are home schooling—at an average two students per family, that’s a whole elementary school’s worth of students.

How many other families also have unmet needs? How many other students have difficulty fitting the one-size-fits-all structure of a 20,000-plus student school district?

Bridges will have room for them next year if the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education leads the way and approves the charter.

Given the success of other whole-child-based charter schools in Ventura and Camarillo, Bridges should have no problem filling many of the classrooms now shuttered and collecting dust at schools like University Elementary. Bridges has already received more than 300 students’ intent-to-enroll rorms—even be fore its petition has been granted.

I invite the CVUSD trustees to join the Bridges community, one which celebrates diversity and learning about other’s perspectives. Bridges will welcome everyone to their family and make them feel part of something bigger than just a group of individuals. Students will learn teamwork, and other skills to prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges.

Bridges will shape our future leaders. Matt Lee is a prime example of a leader who’s a product of whole child education in Conejo Valley. He’s now completing his studies at Oxford after graduating from Yale University. Jim Floyd Thousand Oaks