By Elizabeth Sagarin
Oceanside parents aggitated by first-grade redistricting proposal
A proposal to redirect students slotted to attend first grade at School 3 to School 5 because of overcrowding came under fire from parents affected by the plan during last week's school board meeting.
Parents angered by the proposed change gave several reasons for why their children should not be moved, including socialization. Maria Leathem believes the plan compromises her son Andrew's social bonds. He's an only child. He's going to be alone, she said. I made sure kids in his [kindergarten] class were going to School 3. If this had happened in the fall, I wouldn't have had a problem. I could have prepared him better. I spent a lot of time on socializing.
Leathem also said the plan compromised her ability to go back to work full time. My sister-in-law was going to pick Andrew up after school because she has a child at School 3. I don't know a single person at School 5. This is almost the same as moving to a new town.
The plan, which school administrators announced at the Feb. 5 board meeting, called for the redistricting of children living on Pine Street, Fairview Avenue in Oceanside, Davison Avenue, Merle Avenue, Homecrest Court, Castleton Avenue, Dalto Court, the part of Foxhurst Road that is west of Oceanside Road, the west side of Oceanside Road north of Pine Street, and north Pine Street from Long Beach Road to Foxhurst Road.
According to administrators, the number of students entering School 3 far exceeds the number of sixth-graders leaving. The school is expected to need five rooms for first-grade classes in 2001-02, but only four classes of sixth-graders are leaving the building.
Approximately nine children would make the transfer to School 5 next year, with more to follow in subsequent years if growth in the district continues, according to administrators.
However, officials said that children with siblings in School 3 would be able to attend there as well.
To avoid enacting a solution that might address an aberration and not a trend, the administration waited for the January kindergarten registration numbers. Those high numbers predict a need for at least one additional classroom in Schools 3 and 8 over the next three years.
According to officials, there is no room to expand at School 3, and School 8 is able to use portable classrooms until construction plans are put into motion. Also, administrators expect, as always, to see an additional 50 to 60 [kindergarten] students register before school starts.
At least one parent was worried about the longevity of the planning. Terry Camacho said that this same area was part of a redistricting four years ago when School 4 was reopened. She worries that as the district grows, these children might face yet another change.
Project far enough into the future so we don't have to go through this again. Make this a long-term solution, not a short-term solution, Camacho said.
In response, schools Superintendent Herb Brown promised that these particular children would not be rezoned.
Despite their disapproval of the plan, the parents acknowledged that their school district was faced with an overcrowding problem, and they did not want their children attending an elementary school with large classes. It would be foolish to have 29 students in classrooms, Camacho said.
I can be sympathetic to overcrowding, agreed Charles Burke, another parent who is worried about the change.
When asked if art and music in the classroom,' or paying higher taxes, or supporting a bond was an acceptable solution, there were mixed reactions. I would consider paying higher taxes or supporting a bond if that was the only option, Burke said. However, he said, We haven't investigated other options.
