Killing the golden goose
It's been a wonderful 25-year run for the pubic schools in our area. During that time the communities of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Oak Park and Westlake Village drew families like a magnet with the promise of a pristine environment, affordable homes and, most importantly, schools that had a reputation for excellence.

As the economy grew and job growth accelerated, the influx of young parents with school-aged children grew commensurately. What followed was an award-winning performance from the halls of almost every school in the Las Virgenes and Oak Park districts. Educators and parents grew proud beyond words.

In the classroom, little has changed, mind you. Local schools are still the envy of many outsiders. Problem is, there are fewer families trying to move here. They can't afford homes in the area and the situation has led to a decline in student enrollment and questions about the sustainability of the districts.

As the prices for homes began their decade-long climb in the mid-'90s, property tax revenue increased and schools were able to expand and offer the best in public education. Today, with growth having exceeded demand, school districts such as Conejo Valley Unified are talking about closing some of their campuses.

Even though the Oak Park and Las Virgenes districts are experiencing similar downward pressures, LVUSD is about to open a new elementary school at Yerba Buena. The timing isn't the best.

In Oak Park, which was once a haven for young families, outofdistrict student transfers were shunned, even forbidden. Today, the school district is actively seeking students from all areas to help offset the declining numbers. The sagging enrollment was a big reason why last November's bond measure for new facilities failed. Voters couldn't justify adding new buildings when the school district was no longer growing.

The irony is that the nice neighborhoods that attracted families and helped cultivate the schools in the first place are now too expensive to keep the party going.

Now more than ever, it's time to support your local school district as a volunteer and as a donor. As schools struggle to find equilibrium in the new environment, it's important to be there when it counts.