THOUSAND OAKS : Agencies Urged to Have United Front

Thousand Oaks schools, parks and City Hall should work as a team to develop common goals and present a united front to voters when they seek financing, officials said at a first-ever joint meeting Monday.

Together, their chances of passing a bond measure are far greater than if the three entities stand separately to ask for funds for new schools, parks or public facilities, the officials agreed.

“It could easily be done if we all three stand arm-in-arm,” said Andy Fox, a Thousand Oaks city councilman.

Otherwise, said Jerry Gross, superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, “it’s a very low-probability event.”

The Conejo Recreation and Park District has already worked with City Hall to build the library, senior center, teen center and adjacent Conejo Creek North Park, said Tex Ward, park district manager.

The park district has also worked with the school system.

“It’s no coincidence that Thousand Oaks Community Park and Thousand Oaks High School sit on adjacent parcels,” Ward said.

The meeting marked the first time that representatives from elected boards of the city, schools and park district have held a brain-storming session to determine the future needs of the city and develop a means to pay for them.

The school district needs new gymnasiums for its intermediate schools and a new pool at Westlake High School, a district official said.