Public Response To The Conejo Guardian’s Request

This is my public response to the Conejo Guardian’s request (below) for an interview.

No. I will not submit answers because:

The Conejo Guardian is propaganda, not a legitimate news source.

The questions submitted to me distort the truth, misstate facts, and use inflammatory language; this is fear-mongering, not journalism.

Participating in a sham interview would grant legitimacy that has not been earned, undermine the work of professional local journalists (and even students in reputable journalism classes), and potentially confuse voters seeking fact-based reporting on issues of enormous consequence to students, families, and community members.

While the First Amendment protects the rights of the Conejo Guardian’s funders to print their opinion flyer, I retain my right to draw a bright line between propaganda and legitimate journalism.

I subscribe to our local newspapers of record: the TOAcorn, the VC Star, and the LATimes. A robust democracy requires an informed citizenry, and our local journalists strive to provide fact-based reporting on the stories that matter to us here in the Conejo. Genuine newspapers like the Acorn, Star, and Times adhere to ethical editorial standards.

The Conejo Guardian is appearing on driveways now because we are close to an election.

Perhaps the funders of the Conejo Guardian hope that voters will be swayed by fear and invented controversies.

I believe that our voters care deeply about choosing leaders based on qualifications. I believe that our voters seek elected officials who are responsible, prepared, and committed to good governance. I believe our voters will seek out facts and vote with serious intent.

For an unbiased candidate interview, please read the interview of 2020 School Board candidates conducted by the Panther Prowler and published June 15 (http://pantherprowler.org/meet-the-2020-school-board-candidates/)

Regards,

Lauren Gill

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[The following email message was received from linda12333@yahoo.com on 7/27/2020]

Dear Ms. Gill:

I am a reporter for the new local paper, The Conejo Guardian, which is home-delivered monthly to 39,000 households in the Conejo Valley.

For the upcoming elections, we are inviting the candidates to answer a list of the same questions. We will publicize the results in an upcoming issue.

Are you willing to participate?

Here are the questions we are asking both you and Sandee Everett.

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1. What motivates you to run for School Board?

2. What will you try to accomplish if you are elected?

3. Do you believe it would be a good idea for schools to cancel in-person education this fall for COVID? Should high-school sports teams be allowed to continue?

4. What do you think of the role of charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling in our community? Do they have a legitimate place? Please give us your opinion about vouchers, which would allow parents to use their education dollars at a school of their choice.

5. Last year, there was a great deal of community controversy about sexually graphic books on the required reading list for high-schoolers and middle schoolers. Do you believe that such books have a legitimate place?

6. Another source of controversy is the issue of letting students leave school for abortions without parental permission or notification. Please give us your view.

7. Do you support teaching about transgenderism in grades K-5?

8. In terms of fiscal issues at CVUSD, do you believe that the recent decision to give raises to administrators, teachers and staff during the COVID budget cuts was justified? Please explain.

9. What else that you would like voters to know about how you would govern as a Trustee?

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We look forward to your reply and hope you will participate in our Election Issue.

Sincerely,

L.R. Ames

Pull Together

The pandemic is now disrupting a rhythm that had been stable across generations--the return to school.

All of us in the CVUSD school community feel this disruption. We are experiencing an uncomfortable mix of emotions: sadness and disappointment, a sense of unfairness, a yearning for the routines that keep us centered, concern about learning loss, worries about child care and about balancing work schedules. It’s hard, perhaps the hardest thing we’ve had to do.

And let’s be candid. There’s anger. Anger at what the pandemic has taken from us.

So what do we do with all this anger and frustration? Hard emotions like anger can motivate us to productive action; but anger can also settle into grievance and divide us into opposing camps.

Everyone wants our students back in their schools.

From the moment the stay-safe-at-home order abruptly closed schools back in March, CVUSD district leadership, teachers, and school staff have been engaged in intensive planning to get students back in schools safely. At the same time, our educators collaborated and created plans to deliver high-quality learning experiences remotely in the event that public health authorities ordered temporary closures. Planning continues around the clock this summer. Teachers are mastering a new online learning platform, creating engaging learning activities, and preparing to welcome their students.

That flexibility in our district’s planning is key to maintaining the stability of school that we all crave and that we know is essential for our students and families.

Whether on campus or not, our teachers will be working hard to find creative ways to connect with students--which will look different for all learners. The ties that bind us to each other in our school community persist.

-Lauren