Trustees to Air Plan for Boundary Changes

Parents will have the opportunity to air their concerns over proposed school boundary changes at a public hearing during Monday’s meeting of the Capistrano Unified School District trustees.

Supt. James A. Fleming has recommended changes for the 1997-98 school year to help relieve overcrowding in the district.

Most of the proposals involve transferring students from crowded facilities to underutilized schools and moving some sixth-grade students to middle schools. A majority of the district’s schools would be affected.

Fleming said several factors have caused the crowded conditions, including class-size reductions and rapid residential growth.

“Arguably, we’re the fastest-growing district in the state,” Fleming said.

The superintendent’s recommendations, presented to the board Jan. 13, caused a stir among parents.

Dawn Tengwall of Parents for Accountable School Board Management, a newly formed organization of parents whose children attend Newhart Elementary School, said the group is angry with some of Fleming’s recommendations, one of which is to phase out Newhart.

“We are concerned about losing our school,” said Tengwall, who has two children at Newhart. “Our district needs more elementary schools. I don’t think closing this one is the answer.”

The board will hear public comments Monday and will likely vote on the boundary proposal at its Feb. 24 session.

Monday’s public hearing will be at 6 p.m. in the Aliso Niguel High School theater.

Information: (714) 489-7000.