CAMARILLO : Parents Raise Funds for Music Program

A Camarillo parents group has presented $10,000 to the Pleasant Valley School District as reimbursement for the past semester’s music program, leaving $11,000 more to pay by Sept. 1, Supt. Shirley Carpenter said.

The group, Save Our Kids’ Music, started out the semester with a $27,000 bill from the district. Parents promised to raise the money to restart the music program after it had been cut from the budget and students went a semester without music.

Before last week’s payment, the parents had raised only $6,000.

Once parents raise the remaining $11,000, they will face a $54,000 bill to fund both semesters of next year’s program. If they fail to raise the money, district officials have said, there will be no money to pay for the program next year.

Parent Annette Okamura told district trustees last week that music students from a school in Hawaii had heard of Camarillo’s plight and raised $400 for their fellow musicians on the mainland. The rest of the $10,000 came from other private donations, parents said.

Assistant Supt. Erich Anders said the music program will continue as long as the parents’ fund-raising efforts are successful.

“I think we’re looking at the enthusiasm they’re generating,” Anders said. “It certainly looks like they will be able to reach their goal. I think as long as they come close, I don’t think the district will make an issue over it.”