Thank you to the letter writers who have shared their insights about our local public schools and current trustees Karen Sylvester and Lauren Gill.
Memories of Dark Days in CVUSD
October 18, 2024
The “memories” function in social media often reminds us of happy times. But lately, my Facebook memories have been of dark days in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. This week, it was waiting three hours to make a public comment at a 2018 Board of Education meeting. (Typically, an entire board meeting—including public comments—concludes within this time.) These recollections have made me relieved about where we are now and determined not to move backwards at next month’s election.
When a far-right majority infiltrated the CVUSD board and began their efforts to ban books, I started attending the bi-monthly meetings. I witnessed some truly terrible things that people who are new to the Conejo Valley and/or our schools may not be aware of.
Blatant violations of the Brown Act (the state law guaranteeing the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies) were just the tip of the iceberg. I saw: a board member threatening to have a constituent fired for disagreeing with him, out-of-towners harassing and even threatening meeting attendees, significant police presence, unhinged screaming from the dais, teachers afraid of retaliation for expressing opinions, and eventually a non-credentialed and wholly unqualified board banning books by minority authors.
Thankfully, the tide turned with a massive community effort to elect a functioning board dedicated to meeting students’ unique needs. I’m so grateful for the hard work of all our current trustees, including Lauren Gill and Karen Sylvester who will be on the ballot next month. Their dedication and expertise sharply contrast the question-dodging and chaotic behavior of their opponents. We cannot go backwards to a board wreaking havoc from within the district. I urge all voters to support Gill (Area 5) and Sylvester (Area 1) as we head to the polls.
Shannon Diffner
Newbury Park
Keep CVUSD thriving with incumbents
October 18, 2024
I fully support Lauren Gill, CVUSD Trustee Area 5, Newbury Park. The community worked diligently to elect her in 2020, and we’ll do it again.
My husband and I have lived in Westlake and Thousand Oaks for more than 40 years. Our two children attended CVUSD schools, as did our goddaughter the three years she lived with us.
What I don’t support is the blatant spreading of misinformation, or if I’m going to call a spade a spade, lies, in the letter to the editor written by Joelle Mancuso.
Joelle starts with a two-year-old assessment of student performance. She went searching for failure and is falsely holding up Black and Latino students to prove her point.
Let’s be serious here. High school students are not concerned with state testing. What they are concerned with is getting good grades in the current classes they are taking. They would much rather focus their time on their current classwork than study for state testing, which is irrelevant when it comes to university and college applications.
Trust me when I tell you, and I quote Joelle: Lauren Gill does not “spout off.” She is proud of our CVUSD students and their many varied accomplishments. She supports all CVUSD students.
Yes, our CVUSD “2% of the schools in the nation” graduation rate is stellar, and should absolutely be celebrated. Why would Joelle so loudly discount that fact?
If you would like to keep our CVUSD schools thriving, vote for Lauren Gill (Area 5) and Karen Sylvester (Area 1)
And before the Acorn needs to add a disclaimer: yes, I have worked for CVUSD for more than 20 years.
Dawn Stines
Thousand Oaks
Top Candidates for School Board
September 27, 2024
I’m a CVUSD parent and was so pleased to learn that our three public high school newspapers—the Panther Prowler, Westlake Wire and the Lancer—were working together to hold a panel for CVUSD board candidates.
Then I watched the video and read the transcript. To say that I was truly impressed by the student journalists’ skills and professionalism would be an understatement. They are a testament to their excellent education.
From the first minute, when candidates were asked for their permission to record the session, the journalists showed their expertise.
Every person was asked the same question and each answer was timed. If a response ran over, a student reporter politely ended the discussion and moved onto the next query.
The final 20 minutes were spent on individual questions based on their campaign platforms. It was a masterclass in how these kinds of events should be managed. Anyone interested in watching/ reading it for themselves should visit the schools’ websites.
In my mind, the candidates to support are clearly the incumbents: Karen Sylvester (Area 1) and Lauren Gill (Area 5). Their intelligent and thoughtful answers revealed so much about the important accomplishments they have made as trustees and also their goals for the work that remains.
Their thorough understanding of California state laws, business acumen, dedication to vital-but-unfunded programs such as art and music and sincere concern for every student are only some of the reasons they have my full support.
Some Acorn readers will remember the chaos and ineffectiveness of our past school board, when very little was accomplished for our students due to a dangerous board minority. Trustees Gill and Sylvester have led us back to success, and this recent student event proved it.
Michelle Fishman
Newbury Park
Keep the course: vote Sylvester, Gill
September 27, 2024
It’s great to be back at school with the kids, and as a CVUSD employee, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible improvements our schools have gained through Measure I funds.
The infrastructure improvements across our campuses are just as impressive. From Tesla charging stations that help conserve energy at lower costs to the new technology and lab equipment now available for our students, these upgrades are truly benefiting everyone.
What’s especially commendable is how our current school board took the time to listen to parents and staff, making sure anyone could participate in the Measure I oversight committee. This truly became a community-driven effort that has greatly benefited our district.
I’m proud of the teamwork and collaboration that our current board has shown in making these initiatives happen.
That’s why I’ll be supporting Lauren Gill (Area 5) and Karen Sylvester (Area 1) in the upcoming November election for the CVUSD School Board. Their leadership, dedication to community involvement and strong teamwork over the past four years have made a real difference, and I’m confident they will continue to help our district thrive.
Ana Avila, Thousand Oaks
Supports CVUSD Incumbents
September 20, 2024
It’s no surprise that one of the jewels of the Conejo Valley, our CVUSD school district, ranks in the top 2.5% nationwide, according to Niche, a service that helps connect schools with students and families. (https://www.niche.com/k12/d/conejo-valley-unified-school-district-ca/#rankings)
We have dedicated teachers, skilled staff, invested parents, high-performing schools, robust program offerings in core academics, arts, Career Technical Education and, of course, great kids.
Behind the scenes of the amazing work being done every day in our district is a board of education that shows up for our kids in every way.
We have a fiscally resilient district, evidenced by a balanced budget and awards for fiscal reporting and transparency (watch the Sept. 4 board meeting for an exciting update). Not an easy feat post-Covid.
I see our board members at school events, from Reading Across America activities to football games. Last spring, trustee Lauren Gill went up to an outdoor school in Ojai for the day to accompany sixth graders on a hike and learn about biodiversity alongside the kids. Trustee Karen Sylvester went to as many graduations and promotions and culminations as she possibly could. That’s dedication.
And all of the board members attend just about every parent-led District Advisory Council meeting to hear discussions of highlights and concerns about our schools so they can turn that information into policy and action.
If you’re in Trustee Area 1 (Westlake) or Trustee Area 5 (Newbury Park), let’s reelect good-governance candidates Karen Sylvester and Lauren Gill to our school board so they can continue our vision of pursuing excellence and equity every day in our schools.
Gerald Ludlow
Thousand Oaks
Being a school board trustee is a real job
October 18, 2024
Being a school board trustee is a real job, not just a title. Both Lauren Gill and Karen Sylvester understand the assignment and that is why they should be reelected to the CVUSD board in Area 5 and Area 1, respectively.
They are for the people and strive to represent all families in the district. I can honestly say this because I have interacted with both candidates and have been impressed by their intelligence and grasp of complex school board issues.
When I participated in the Principal for a Day program this year and toured Conejo Academy, I was thoroughly impressed with the offerings of the school.
Not only does the district offer students a great deal of educational opportunities, but they work overtime to assure that parents have every opportunity possible to be a part of their child’s education. Parents can even get shoes for their children if they are in need.
The dual immersion program gives students a running start for their future and the teaching staff truly cares about the success of every student.
Seeing this success allows me confidently to say that Gill and Sylvester should be reelected to the CVUSD governing board and I believe that even more success can be achieved if they are reelected.
Chaise Rasheed
Thousand Oaks
Good news at the Sept. 4 CVUSD Board of Education meeting
September 20, 2024
The Conejo Valley received some good news at the Sept. 4 CVUSD Board of Education meeting. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Victor Hayek gave a financial overview, and the data are reassuring.
Before digging into the details, Dr. Hayek shared that, for the fourth year in a row, CVUSD received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International. Our district was praised for its “commitment to transparency and high-quality financial reporting.”
Dr. Hayek proceeded to present the Unaudited Actual Financial Report for the 2023-2024 school year. (The audited report is presented in December or January.) The pages of financial details about both the restricted and unrestricted budgets led to one bottom line: the district is breaking even.
All of this is not just good news for parents, students and teachers, but for everyone who lives in our community.
If you are interested in learning more about the district’s financial reports, the presentation can be found on the CVUSD website and begins at minute 41:38, providing a great example of the district’s diligence and transparency.
Like all public school districts, CVUSD faces challenges—including the fact that costs are rising faster than funding and that the state of California continues to underfund public schools.
In these challenging times, I’m grateful to incumbent board members Lauren Gill (Area 5) and Karen Sylvester (Area 1) for their contributions to our district’s financial stability. Please join me in offering our full support for their reelection.
Denise Lucarelli
Thousand Oaks
Wants Sylvester reelected as trustee
October 18, 2024
I am writing to support Karen Sylvester’s reelection as CVUSD school board trustee.
I have known Karen for 10 years and have worked with her on committees at Westlake Hills Elementary, Colina Middle School and Westlake High School.
Karen has been a trustee for the past four years and has served the school district well. She has served on many committees during her board tenure including budget, career tech education, and the strategic plan for visual and performing arts.
Among her priorities are ensuring educational opportunity and success for every student and making sure that there is efficient management and financial oversight in the district.
She regularly visits school sites and is always available to help parents and staff.
Prior to her work on the board, Karen served the district for nearly 20 years as a parent leader and served on numerous school site councils as well as offices in PTSA and PFA. She works well with parents, teachers and staff, and is always informed on the latest information from the district.
I am happy to serve on Karen’s campaign committee and I will be voting for Karen Sylvester for school board trustee for Area 1 on Nov. 5. Please join me.
Deanne Chen
Westlake Village
Voting against CVUSD challengers
October 25, 2024
The last thing professional educators employed by the Conejo Valley Unified School District need is the elevation of unqualified MAGA extremists to its board of trustees.
I wholly concur with Ken Ferber’s critique in his Oct. 4 letter of realtor turned-candidate Nancy Van Volkinburg, whose views appear to align with those of Florida governor, Ron “Big Brother” DeSantis.
It would appear that Ferber’s critique would equally apply to recent letter writer Joelle Mancuso and to realtor-turned-candidate Frank Enderle, who Mancuso endorses. None of the three are professional educators.
According to a Sept. 2, 2022 Acorn article, Mancuso holds only an associate degree in communications. She lost to the far better qualified educational consultant, Lisa Powell, who holds a doctorate in social work and two master’s degrees.
According to USNews.com, with the exception of high school math, CVUSD proficiency test scores were at or above 57% for both reading and math. Ignoring those systemic results, Mancuso isolates test results for Hispanics, who account for 30.9% of students, and African Americans, 1.2% of the student population.
With no knowledge of specific circumstances, the writer, whose critique smacks of racism, proclaims that low test scores—a 47% reading proficiency (Hispanics) and an alleged 8% in math (Blacks)—are linked to time spent teaching diversity, equity and inclusion as well as social and emotional learning.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is simply an organizational framework that seeks to promote fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups that have been historically discriminated against. Teaching historical truths about racial and gender-based injustices doesn’t detract from learning to read or to understand math.
The American Psychological Association explains the importance of SEL (social and emotional learning): “SEL teaches students interpersonal skills and how to understand control, and express their emotions and has been part of education for decades—skills that are essential to student health.”
Ernest A. Canning
Thousand Oaks
Sylvester has right stuff for school board
October 25, 2024
I I’m writing to express my full support for Karen Sylvester for a second term on the CVUSD School Board.
Karen’s experienced business mind and depth of knowledge in education policy are critical for our district to succeed.
She keeps a professional demeanor and clear-headed leadership at all times, which includes fully understanding the issues and the education regulations involved in what comes before the board.
Additionally, Karen has been an exceptional fiscal steward for our district. She is a proven leader and has earned another term to serve our students and families.
Please join me in keeping our school district the best it can be. The current board is committed to the success of all students and keeping our schools safe.
That’s good for all residents.
Dianne McKay
Thousand Oaks
Volkinburg values differ from CVUSD candidate’s
September 27, 2024
A short time ago, I found a flyer on my doorstep for Nancy Van Volkinburg who is running for CVUSD Area 1.
Anxious to learn more about her than the glossy bullet points provided, I did a little digging. And in so doing, something very illuminating was revealed.
On her website, this candidate makes basis of gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
AB 1555 was vehemently opposed by powerful libertarian and far-right lobbyists such as the Texas-based Liberty Justice Center, the Orange County-based California Policy Center, the religion-based California Family Council and, most notably, Elon Musk.
Ms. Van Volkinburg has a right to her own policy opinions. By aligning herself with these extremist lobbyists and MAGA loyalist Musk, it is quite clear her viewpoints are not aligned with the public school parents and residents of Thousand Oaks.
Ken Ferber
Westlake Village
Reelect Sylvester to CVUSD board
October 11, 2024
I am writing in support of Karen Sylvester who is up for election as Area 1 Trustee for the Conejo Valley Unified School Board.
My family has lived in the school district since 2006. I have known Karen since the early years when our respective children attended elementary, middle and high schools together. Over the years, I’ve seen her grow from volunteer coordinator at Westlake Elementary to becoming board of education president, all the while gaining volumes of experience.
Karen places education, safety and children’s emotional welfare as the highest priorities in her various roles. She has demonstrated compassion for vulnerable students as well as families with full-access.
Her academic credentials are a testament to the belief that a sound education is essential to aspirations in life achievements.
Rational curriculum choices that Karen and her colleagues oversee serve students whether they move on to achieve advanced degrees or select vocational roles.
In these polarizing times, we need the continuity, gap-bridging, and active in- volvement that Karen Sylvester brings as a trustee. Thank you for this opportunity to share my endorsement.
Cheryl Farrell
Oak Park
Sylvester has right stuff for school board
October 25, 2024
I am writing to express my strong support for Karen Sylvester’s reelection to the CVUSD school board.
Having known Karen for more than a decade, I can confidently say that she is an exceptional leader, deeply committed to the well-being of our schools, students and community.
Karen’s dedication, coupled with her brilliance and extensive qualifications, makes her the ideal candidate to continue serving on the board.
Karen’s academic background is remarkable. She holds an undergraduate degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Her strong educational foundation has informed her leadership during her four years as a trustee, where she has helped run the school board with efficiency, transparency, and a calm, focused approach.
This stands in stark contrast to the disruption caused by individuals whose primary goal seems to be dismantling public education.
While Karen’s opponent diminishes anything beyond the basics of education (reading, writing and arithmetic) as fluff, Karen understands the critical importance of a well-rounded education.
CVUSD schools are known for their academic excellence, outstanding athletics, distinguished arts programs and forward-thinking educational opportunities, and Karen has been instrumental in supporting these offerings.
Karen has always been transparent, approachable and willing to engage in meaningful (dialogue). She has proven her commitment to parent involvement over nearly two decades, serving in leadership roles on various CVUSD councils, PTSA and in theater arts. In addition, Karen has contributed to the broader community by serving on the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging and the Measure I Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.
As a school board trustee, Karen Sylvester will continue to ensure that every student has access to educational opportunities and measurable success. Her track record speaks for itself, and I wholeheartedly support her.
Susan Hanscom
Simi Valley
Karen Sylvester shows up for our schools and our kids.
September 20, 2024
As I sat at the first District Advisory Council meeting of the school year and looked over at the smiling faces of our current school board trustees, I was reminded just how often school board member Karen Sylvester shows up for our schools and our kids.
My son’s culmination from fifth grade, she was there. The assemblies, the open houses, the school carnivals, the promotion from eighth grade, the back-to-school nights, she was there. Not only was Karen in attendance but she was there engaging with families, students and teachers.
I have been fortunate to get to know school board candidate Karen Sylvester over many years. In her roles volunteering for our schools and as a school board trustee, I have come to know the competent, caring and invested person that she is. She comes prepared and educated to school board meetings to get the work done.
I strongly encourage all of Trustee Area 1 to vote for Karen Sylvester. She knows our schools, knows our community and will continue to be a fierce advocate for our public schools and all of our children.
Heather Skelly
Westlake Village
Sylvester is well prepared for Term 2
October 4, 2024
One of the reasons my family moved to Thousand Oaks was for our excellent public schools.
We’ve been impressed with the district and its leadership, and believe our daughter is getting a great education in CVUSD, first at Westlake Hills Elementary and now at Colina Middle School.
I volunteered at Westlake Hills, including in classrooms and by serving on its School Site Council, and I have attended CVUSD trustee meetings to stay informed.
Our Area 1 Trustee, Karen Sylvester, has impressed me as a thoughtful and involved elected official. She attends school events regularly and she is also very responsive to parents who contact her individually.
Karen prepares thoroughly for trustee meetings and is thoughtful in considering new issues—for example, most recently she proposed changes to schools’ cellphone policies.
Her business background is evident in the methodical way she approaches issues. My observation has been that she considers and balances the concerns and input of parents and educators, identifies challenges and potential solutions efficiently, is mindful of the plethora of state laws that apply to school districts, and asks constructive questions.
We are fortunate to have a functional and productive CVUSD board of trustees, and Karen contributes to that dynamic. I believe that Karen Sylvester has earned another term on the CVUSD School Board and I urge my neighbors in Area 1 to vote for her.
Belinda Macauley
Thousand Oaks
Sylvester puts needs of students first
September 27, 2024
Karen Sylvester is running to be re-elected to represent Area 1 to the Conejo Valley Unified School District board.
I have worked with Karen on the CVUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and on the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging. I have found her to be a very smart, thoughtful and respectful person who thinks about and carefully researches the facts about the issues.
Most importantly, she thinks about what is best for the kids, and the proposals she has supported in her current term show her understanding of the needs to keep the district up to date, as technology and personal student needs continually change. She works well with others and looks to build consensus rather than conflict.
Her priorities include working to ensure successful outcomes for all students; ensuring equitable access and prioritizing positive social emotional and mental well-being.
Some of the successful programs she has helped implement involve the Spanish immersion program; development of a strategic plan for inclusion of students with disabilities; opening wellness centers at all secondary schools and providing elementary school wellness services; focusing on visual and performing arts by hiring a dedicated coordinator to develop a strategic plan for the visual and performing arts; and hiring credentialed music educators so that all students in grades one through five have weekly, standards-based music instruction.
Most importantly as the school population decreases and education costs continue to increase, we need someone with Karen’s background and experience to help guide CVSD to provide the best educational experience possible for our kids.
Please vote for Karen Sylvester for CVUSD trustee to represent Area 1.
Tony Gitt
Westlake Village
Top Candidates for School Board
September 23, 2024
After watching the Conejo Valley Unified School Board candidates’ forum last Thursday night, it became clear who the most qualified candidates are and who will have my support for school board trustee in 2024: Lauren Gill (Area 5) and Karen Sylvester (Area 1).
These two women demonstrated extensive knowledge of test scores, the application of California law to our school district, and took a balanced approach to the issues we face, such as cell phone usage on campus and tackling gun violence in a world where campus safety is a top priority for many parents.
In contrast, their opponents seemed fixated on culture war issues and making baseless accusations that were easily addressed by the incumbents. This November, I’ll be urging our community to vote for Lauren Gill and Karen Sylvester to ensure a drama-free and productive Conejo Valley Unified School District.
Ana Avila, Thousand Oaks
Likes Sylvester for CVUSD board
September 20, 2024
I am writing to express my strong support for Karen Sylvester, who is running for reelection to the CVUSD school board.
Ever since I first reached out to Karen about a year ago regarding my desire to update our district’s cell phone policies, she has been consistently responsive to my concerns and suggestions. She listens with care and considers every viewpoint and piece of data. She demonstrates a genuine commitment to the well-being of all students and families in our district.
Karen’s involvement with CVUSD began many years ago as a parent at Westlake Hills Elementary, where she served in every capacity possible. She was a ‘room parent’ and the PFA president. She continued to serve as her children moved on to Colina, as the executive vice president of Colina’s PTSA, and finally president of Westlake High school’s PTSA.
During this time, she also served as a member of the District Advisory Council for nine years and was on the School Site councils for Westlake Hills Elementary School and Westlake High School.
This hands-on experience gives her an intimate understanding of the needs and challenges faced by our schools at all levels.
As a parent myself, who has begun serving in some of these capacities, let me tell you, these volunteer positions are time-consuming and require much thought and care. These meetings are where things happen in our district.
Finally, her background in business consulting and her education (BS in Economics from Wharton, MBA from Harvard) lends her a wealth of knowledge that has continued to help keep our district financially successful.
I encourage the community to support Karen Sylvester for CVUSD school board. Her combination of experience, leadership and dedication will continue to serve our students and families well.
Julie Frumin
Westlake Village
Pleased with CVUSD, board member Gill
August 23, 2024
It’s Back to School Week for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, and as the parent of a junior at Newbury Park High, I’m feeling good. Based on my 11 years of experience with our schools, I feel I have a solid idea of what’s ahead.
I’m ready for lots of communication from teachers and the principal, Mr. Lepire, who was named Principal of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators for Region 13, which covers Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. I appreciate the many emails and texts outlining the happenings on campus.
I’m excited to hear about my daughter’s classes. The impressive course selection truly offers something for every student: from the rigorous academic demands of the International Baccalaureate program to woodworking principles to construction technology to financial algebra.
I’m grateful for the school’s partnership with Moorpark College. When my daughter didn’t click in a required class, she was able to work with her counselor to become part of the school’s dual enrollment program and take the course online via the college.
The diverse student population gives students ample opportunities to “find their people.” On-campus clubs—there are around 90 of them—include Board and Card Games, AI Ethics, Knitting, as well as Surfing and Hiking. Both in the classroom and out, the school offers something for everyone.
Every student deserves a safe learning environment where they can move along different pathways to success, and Newbury Park High School recognizes that “success” means different things for different people.
Of course, it’s not perfect—nothing is. But the district’s continued commitment to excellence is of huge value to our community.
In November, I’ll be casting my vote for CVUSD school board trustee Lauren Gill, the incumbent for Area 5, which includes Newbury Park. I’m grateful to Ms. Gill, the high school and the district at large for their devotion to our kids—all of them.
Shannon Diffner
Newbury Park