A local school district board approved a new science and technology magnet on Tuesday, while parents unveiled their plans to open an arts and technology charter by fall 2009.

The Conejo Valley Unified School District board voted unanimously during a special board meeting Tuesday night to approve a kindergarten to eighth grade program, which will also open in fall 2009.

The Environmental Academy for Research Technology and earth Sciences, or EARTHS, will open its program at the current site of Manzanita School in Newbury Park, said principal Jennifer Boone.

The establishment of this magnet means school boundaries will be reconfigured.  Current Manzanita School students could stay in the new program or transfer to nearby schools to make room for other incoming EARTHS students.

"We are focused in giving parents choice," said Boone. "In looking at choice, we wanted to offer parents an opportunity to build on existing foundation pieces in our community.  We know that we have issues in our school with socio-economic balance and that is a way a magnet school lifts boundaries and creates an opportunity to balance schools."

As of June, Manzanita had 401 students, but the school has room for 590, Boone said.

EARTHS students will be chosen through a lottery process, which has yet to be determined, Boone said.

Applications for EARTHS could be available as early as October and will open by fall 2009, Boone said.

The curriculum will be built around an "integrated, interdisciplinary process," while students will learn through hands-on experiments and projects, Boone said.

There are plans to partner with several nearby colleges, hospitals and national parks to enhance EARTHS' program offerings.

"We do know from a number of (Manzanita) parents that they are anxious to have priority to stay," said Superintendent Mario Contini to the board. "We will bring back to you some sort of plan where we can reserve seats for people in the area and for a number of people outside of the district so we can have a nice cross section."

In other news, Meadows School parents presented their plans for a charter school during a public hearing portion of the meeting.

On June 17, the board decided in a 3-2 vote to close Meadows and University schools by fall 2009 because of continuing declining enrollment.

Marlo Hartsuyker, co-founder and president of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School, or M.A.T.E.S., said the charter would provide another viable choice for parents and students.

Hartsuyker pointed to the cadre of professionals— a college professor, microbiologist, accountants, lawyers, and credentialed teachers— who are founding members of the charter.

"The intent and purpose behind the charter laws is to give greater autonomy and local control to those so they can create academic achievements." Hartsuyker said. "The Meadows community is the exact community that would embrace this type of empowerment. We are ready for this opportunity, and more importantly, we are qualified as well."

M.A.T.E.S. supporters said the kindergarten to fifth grade program would attract parents who have left the district and those whose children currently attend private and home school programs.

M.A.T.E.S. officials said parents of 256 students have already indicated they would send their child to the charter, while 12 of the 15 current Meadows teachers support the proposed program.

Hartsuyker said the state Department of Education has already indicated the charter is eligible for a maximum school grant of $250,000.

While more than 20 Meadows parents and community members implored the board to consider the charter proposal, the five board members did not offer any comments since it was a public hearing.