Meritor defended

Both of my children (ages 2 and 6) attend school at Meritor Academy and my experience with this school has been nothing short of remarkable.

Recently, our school has encountered difficulties with regard to a permit/zoning issue and with complaints from some residents of Village Homes [located] immediately behind the school regarding the level of noise emanating from the school during the day.

The long and the short of it is that the school is doing all that it can to remedy the problem by limiting the time the children are allowed to be in the play yards and by cordoning off specific areas of the school grounds during certain hours of the day, all in an effort to reduce the noise level and minimize disturbance to the Village Homes neighbors.

It is my understanding that the school is also in the process of erecting retaining walls as required by the city of Thousand Oaks obviously designed to reduce noise to the neighbors as well.

Despite these actions, I recently read an article in the Los Angeles Times which seemed to be unfairly slanted against the school and which quoted some strong statements by certain homeowners. While I can appreciate the complaints of the homeowners who are allegedly affected by the noise, I think they may have overlooked the most important part of this entire equation and that is the children.

Each month, the children at Meritor are provided with a "Core Value" such as "Respect," "Perseverance" "Courage," etc.

The Core Values are incorporated into the children’s lessons each day and the children are encouraged to incorporate those values into their lives. Additionally each month, the classrooms at Meritor get involved in some type of community service.

This month the community service [is] food collection for Manna. In December, the school adopts a needy family. The community service is designed to teach our children about giving back to the community.

My point here is that not only are these children receiving excellence in academic education but they [are being] given valuable tools and priceless lessons to enable them to become decent, caring and contributing members of this community.

Meritor Academy is providing a valuable service to the families in our community and most importantly it is providing a wonderful opportunity to the children.

I ask that we all bear this in mind while attempting to resolve the current difficulties and ask that Meritor Academy not be unfairly judged without knowing the extent of the very worthwhile service that the school provides to this community.

Jami Seta Wain

Westlake Village