San Juan Capistrano : Council Votes $359,000 for Portable Classrooms

Relief for some crowded schools is in the offing after the City Council voted to give $359,000 to the Capistrano Unified School District for portable classrooms.

The funds will go to erect portable classrooms at Dana Hills and San Clemente high schools and help make rent payments for portables already in place at Capistrano Valley High School and Ambuehl Elementary School.

Glenn Southard, assistant city manager, said the money comes from assessments levied on developers of new residential areas. The money is then held in an interest-bearing account until the school district requests it to help pay for portable classrooms.

Although not all the schools are within the boundaries of San Juan Capistrano, the city is furnishing the money because all four schools serve children living in the city, Southard said.

William Dawson, assistant superintendent in charge of facilities for Capistrano Unified, said that the portable buildings have already been ordered and that installation of the first units will begin by Friday.

The actual amount requested by the district was more than $377,000, but because only $359,000 is available, the city will provide the difference later.