Conejo Jewish Day School moves to new site

TINY SPACE, BIG IDEAS- The Conejo Jewish Day School will open on Sept. 5 at Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills. The kindergarten through sixth grade school has 70 students and teaches life skills along with academics. Themes that stress character development are integrated into the curriculum. Conejo Jewish Day School will move from its temporary location at Gateway Community Church to Temple Beth Haverim on Ladyface Court. The school will open in its new quarters on Tues., Sept. 5.

The Agoura Hills planning commission held a special public meeting Aug. 21 to expedite the school's move. The commission recommended amending the Ladyface Specific Plan and approval of a conditional use permit to allow the private, kindergarten through sixth grade school to open at the synagogue on time.

The student population is tiny-only 70 in all will attend school at the new digs. The synagogue will rent out seven classrooms in the morning and continue to hold Hebrew school in the afternoon for the congregation.

According to city engineer Ken Berkman, one of the conditions of the conditional use permit is that the school must pay for street striping as a safety measure since more cars will be traveling in the area in the morning and afternoon.

Berkman said the school's deposit will cover the entire cost of striping the street. "It should be an approved use," Councilmember Harry Schwarz said.

Although Councilmember Bill Koehler was concerned that the cost of striping might exceed $2,500, he said the synagogue provided a better location for the school.

Marty Spiegel, vice president of Temple Beth Haverim, called the collaboration between the synagogue and the school "exciting."

"I look forward to sharing common goals with the Jewish community as a whole," Spiegel said.

But Spiegel is a bit peeved at the city, which required the school to pay for the striping. "We think it stinks," Spiegel said.

He said he didn't understand why the school had to pay for the striping when recently opened adjoining businesses were not expected to pay for the traffic they would generate.

Spiegel's complaint goes beyond the $2,500 striping cost. The synagogue was required to pay $85,000 for a stop light when the congregation moved to Ladyface Court about five years ago. The city was in the midst of building the library and city hall at the same time, but was exempt from paying for the stop light.

The first business on Ladyface Court-Temple Beth Haverim- was required to bear the full expense of the light. Spiegel believes some of the money should have been reimbursed when other businesses developed property in the area.

Councilmember Dan Kuperberg said since the school adds a new use to the area, additional cars will cause extra traffic.

"I don't know (that) other facilities will generate that kind of traffic," Kuperberg said.

But Rabbi Robbie Tombosky, the head of the school, doesn't mind the expense. He chalks the requirement up to the cost of doing business.

"The city bent over backwards to get what we needed done in the short time frame," Tombosky said. "We saw the city working at its best. In the scope of things, they really got this done for us, and we are very grateful."

"One of the most beautiful things about our school is that we teach acceptance as opposed to tolerance," Tombosky said. "Our student population encompasses the gamut of Jewish affiliation and nonaffiliation, and the students come together in an environment that promotes self-esteem and acceptance of every other person in their relationship with God."

The school teaches philosophical tenets through yearly themes that center around character development and self-esteem. Last year's theme, "One person can make a difference," was integrated throughout the curriculum. This year, the theme will be one of overcoming adversity.

Tombosky said the school intends to teach more than just academics. Life skills, the rabbi said, are an important facet of a child's education.