On Dec. 1, the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) board rejected Bridges’ charter petition.

The petition was delivered to CVUSD on Sept. 29, and six weeks elapsed before staff offered Bridges any feedback. On Nov. 10, as CVUSD closed for Veterans Day, staff issued 16 pages of questions, with a reply due Nov. 19. Bridges responded in a timely manner with 21 pages of answers.

Then, as CVUSD closed on Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving holidays, Superintendent Mario Contini sent Bridges two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with a directive to agree to all terms/conditions before staff would recommend charter approval. Many of these weren’t required by charter law.

Many so-called “deficiencies” simply represented disagreements. Bridges’ attorneys have facilitated 200-plus successfully for California charter schools; they approved Bridges’ petition. Although CVUSD staff was unavailable for questions, Bridges’ founders dedicated their Thanksgiving holiday to responding to both MOUs. Bridges’ attorneys advised against agreeing to district terms/conditions that were contrary to the charter’s best interest; in an effort to negotiate, Bridges returned “redlined” MOUs on Nov. 30, providing agreeable terms.

During the Dec. 1 school day, CVUSD e-mailed revised MOUs to teacher/lead petitioner Lori Peters expecting her, the Bridges board and their attorneys to review and accept both MOUs be fore that evening’s 6 p.m. board meeting. This placed Bridges in an impossible situation.

Consequently, the MOUs Contini brandished for public view before the vote had never been seen by Peters or most of the Bridges’ board, though they were repeatedly chastised for not signing them or requesting an extension. Any extension would have threatened appeal deadlines.

Bridges had to request a yes/ no vote.

CVUSD never offered to meet with Bridges to discuss terms. Had the district genuinely wanted to approve Bridges as professed, CVUSD could’ve initiated negotiations well before mid-November.

Trustee Betsy Connolly said Bridges’ lack of trust precluded CVUSD’s capacity to serve as charter authorizer. Bridges, however, trusted the board to investigate the charter on its merits and use its power to act independently of staff.

Bridges continues to seek a positive relationship with CVUSD and the board, even as we appeal to Ventura County for authorization.
Rose Ann Witt
Thousand Oaks