Huntington Beach : Trustees Vote to Close Joseph R. Perry School
Due to declining enrollment, the Joseph R. Perry Elementary School will close at the end of the school year, trustees of the Huntington Beach City School District have decided.
In addition, either the Isaac L. Sowers or the Ernest H. Gisler middle schools will close at the end of the 1985-86 school year.
The trustees’ decisions came this week during an emotional board meeting attended by about 300 residents.
Perry Elementary School, built in 1965, reached its peak enrollment in the 1974-75 school year with 738 students. At present, 493 students attend the school. Its closure is expected to save the district about $200,000.
The school has the highest minority enrollment in the district.
Districtwide enrollment peaked in the 1975-76 school year with more than 8,300 students. Enrollment is now about 5,400.
Voting for the closure were Trustees Pat Cohen, Brian Garland and Karen O’Bric. Sherry Barlow and Gary Nelson voted against the move.
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