Historically, every contentious issue that’s come before the Conejo Valley Unified School District board usually has two sides.

Unfortunately, over the past several weeks, speakers at school board meetings, letters to newspapers and e-mails to trustees have represented only Bridges Charter School’s perspective. Sadly, there was much misinformation disseminated by Bridges to residents, the school board and district staff.

What follows is the district’s point of view, based on facts surrounding the placement of Bridges:

1. The University site isn’t vacant. The district has moved several programs there this school year, with plans to completely occupy University by September. The district has spent more than $100,000 in the last nine months converting the site into a Child Development Center.

2. The University site isn’t walk-in-ready for Bridges. The district would likely spend over $300,000 to move the Child Development Center to other locations and prepare the site to be occupied by Bridges.

3. Placing Bridges at University will actually cost CVUSD valuable dollars over time. Over the long term, we expect to earn well over $100,000 per year in facilities fees from the Child Development Center for use of the University campus. Bridges would pay less than $50,000. We believe the center will attract more young families to CVUSD and enhance our ADA-based income in years to come. Placing Bridges at University brings that plan to a halt.

4. It’s not just about money, as the University Child Development Center will benefit the entire community. The 21,000 students and their families will directly or indirectly benefit from the center. Placing Bridges at University benefits a very small group and their families.

After the school board’s vote on March 30, I’m hopeful that the board and Bridges can work together to meet the needs of the 21,000 students in CVUSD and the 180 students who will be attending Bridges Charter School.

As the district continues to be challenged by a myriad of issues, one and all need to display civility and the willingness to support compromise and winwin solutions. The benefactors of this behavior will be all the students in CVUSD.
Tim Stephens
Westlake Village
Stephens is a CVUSD board member.